There are a lot of people who can’t stand the sight of needles – but they’re usually not dangerous. However, there can be complications when a professional uses a needle incorrectly.
Many doctors will schedule their patients for blood draws to get a better analysis of their health, test for diseases or examine their blood count. Many people are frequently jabbed with a needle when donating blood. If the attending phlebotomist isn’t correctly trained for their job, they could cause you serious medical problems.
Here’s what you should know:
A tiny puncture could cause long-term issues
Drawing blood isn’t the most complicated procedure, but phlebotomists still need to put in several months to a year of training to perfect their practice. This, in theory, should be enough time and training for anyone to rub an alcohol swab and stick a needle into someone’s arm – yet, one little mistake can go a long way.
If a puncture from a needle continues to bleed longer than intended or there is lasting pain and swelling, then you may need to see your doctor about issues from your blood draw procedure. The resulting bleeding and pain from a needle could be caused by a hematoma – blood outside the vein.
While hematomas are generally benign and heal on their own, patients may develop other medical conditions because their phlebotomists hit a nerve while drawing blood. Nerve damage could cause pain or numbness (like feeling pins and needles when your foot falls asleep). Nerve damage from a needle stick may be temporary, but that’s not always the case. When there are lasting effects from nerve damage, that could create difficulties for your daily routine or work.
A puncture to a major artery, while often difficult to do because of the thicker walls, can be extremely painful. A punctured artery could also lead to nerve damage, swelling, soreness and even excessive bleeding.
If a medical professional was negligent during a procedure, which caused you lasting health issues, then you may need to know your legal options while recovering.
