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Hard Lump Where Meth Was Injected, Burning, Itching, Painful Arm, Cannot Straighten It. What Should Be Done?

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Posted on Sat, 8 Sep 2012
Question: hard lump where metg was injected in veinmy friend has been injecting drugs for about 4 months now and she isn't real good at it. she usually had her boyfriend do it but be refuses to now. so almost everytime she injects Meth sshe gets a large lump and it's extremely hard and she says it Burns and itchs really bad. now her arm constantly hurts and she can't put it straight. what should she do?
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Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (38 minutes later)
 Hello
Thanks for the query.
You seem to be suffering from phlebitis. 
Phlebitis  is a condition in which a vein becomes inflamed.This generally happens because of use of blunt needles,poor technique of injecting and use of irritating intravenous chemicals like METH. The inflammation may cause pain and swelling. When the inflammation is caused by a blood clot or thrombus, it is called thrombophlebitis.
  Thrombophlebitis usually occurs in leg veins, but it may also affect the veins in the arms. 
There are two sets of veins in the arms and legs, 1) the superficial veins that run just under the skin, and 2) the XXXXXXX veins. 

Superficial phlebitis affects veins on the skin surface. 
If the doctor makes the diagnosis of superficial phlebitis, the treatment includes warm compresses and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.  
If there is a skin infection associated with the superficial phlebitis, antibiotics may be prescribed. 
You must consult your doctor and get the required treatment as early as possible because it may lead to complete blockage of vein and may result in gangrene also.
Best of luck
Thanks 
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1978

Answered : 6704 Questions

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Hard Lump Where Meth Was Injected, Burning, Itching, Painful Arm, Cannot Straighten It. What Should Be Done?

 Hello
Thanks for the query.
You seem to be suffering from phlebitis. 
Phlebitis  is a condition in which a vein becomes inflamed.This generally happens because of use of blunt needles,poor technique of injecting and use of irritating intravenous chemicals like METH. The inflammation may cause pain and swelling. When the inflammation is caused by a blood clot or thrombus, it is called thrombophlebitis.
  Thrombophlebitis usually occurs in leg veins, but it may also affect the veins in the arms. 
There are two sets of veins in the arms and legs, 1) the superficial veins that run just under the skin, and 2) the XXXXXXX veins. 

Superficial phlebitis affects veins on the skin surface. 
If the doctor makes the diagnosis of superficial phlebitis, the treatment includes warm compresses and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.  
If there is a skin infection associated with the superficial phlebitis, antibiotics may be prescribed. 
You must consult your doctor and get the required treatment as early as possible because it may lead to complete blockage of vein and may result in gangrene also.
Best of luck
Thanks