Question:

Hi,

Today i got a standard blood test done, during the blood test i felt fine, 1 had a bit of faintness afterwards in which i lay down for a little while in the pathology department. Shortly after i left the place i started getting a dull pain in my arm (left elbow region where the blood was taken from). Since then i have been keeping my arm mostly in a brace position as it hurts whenever i reach out for something or try to pick something heavy up, now about 10 hours after the test my hand has started to tingle and go numb, the feeling is slowly spreading up my arm and i`m getting occassional jabs of pain in my inner upper arm just above the elbow. It is nighttime and when i try to lie down to sleep i feel ill and need to sit up. I`ve tried a basic painkiller but this has done nothing so far.

I`m just wondering if this is abnormal and should i go back and consult a doctor about it.

Answer:

Minor pain and/or irritation can occur after a venipuncture, but the symptoms really should be minor and be improving over the next 12 hours rather than getting worse, which I think you are describing. It sounds as though you should contact your physician and bring these symptoms to their attention.

For more information:

Go to the Bleeding and Clotting Disorders health topic.