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Feeling Swelling In Arm After Intravenous Injection. Should I Be Concerned For Blood Clots?
Question: My husband just got out of the hospital. Where he had an IV his arm is slightly swollen and feels like there is a
lump. I am concerned about blood clots. He had saline and the day before he left the hospital they pushed iron along with the saline.
lump. I am concerned about blood clots. He had saline and the day before he left the hospital they pushed iron along with the saline.
Hi there.
Please do not worry. Post I.V. (intravenous) injections, this is a common occurence. Assuming there is no cut on the outside, please apply (dont rub) a local heparin based cream 2-3 times a day eg Thrombophobe or Dolobene gel (some trade names)& this will surely help reduce it. Note there may be an underlying hematoma that will resolve with some residual pigmentation in the area & will change colour but resolve over the subsequent days or week.
The blood clot if any will be tiny & resolve with the use of this cream/gel & one need not worry about anything major. If in 24-48 hrs, he continues to experience pain or the swelling increases over the next 24 hrs, then please take him to the ER. If not, relax, these things settle down with time & all will be well. Cheers.
Do please close this query & if time permits, hoping we have managed to allay your fears, please do rate us favourably. Godspeed & wish you continued good health.
Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD
Please do not worry. Post I.V. (intravenous) injections, this is a common occurence. Assuming there is no cut on the outside, please apply (dont rub) a local heparin based cream 2-3 times a day eg Thrombophobe or Dolobene gel (some trade names)& this will surely help reduce it. Note there may be an underlying hematoma that will resolve with some residual pigmentation in the area & will change colour but resolve over the subsequent days or week.
The blood clot if any will be tiny & resolve with the use of this cream/gel & one need not worry about anything major. If in 24-48 hrs, he continues to experience pain or the swelling increases over the next 24 hrs, then please take him to the ER. If not, relax, these things settle down with time & all will be well. Cheers.
Do please close this query & if time permits, hoping we have managed to allay your fears, please do rate us favourably. Godspeed & wish you continued good health.
Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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