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Meth User. Shooting It In My Arm. Arm Is Swollen And Black. Suggest Any Home Remedies
Question: I have used iv drugs (meth)with in the last few days and right after shooting it in my arm ir started swelling became very sore red and now the whole arm is swollen and is solid black & blue. This hurts and burns very bad! I don't want to go into clinic/hospital for this but is there any home remidies??
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Hi and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your question...
From the symptoms you have described, you appear to be having a "venous thrombosis / thrombo-phlebitis" (i.e. blockage and inflamation of the vein) along with a probable infection ("cellulitis") also. The important thing to be worried about here is that since this is in the stream of blood flow, this problem can rapidly spread to the systemic circulation leading on to XXXXXXX consequences. Therefore, if treatment is taken quickly, it will save you a lot of trouble later on. Treatment usually involves anti-inflamatory medication, antibiotics and local measures to reduces the swelling. I don't intend to scare you, but please remember that apart from the severe pain that you are going through, this can result in serious complications.
I'm not sure why you are hesitant to XXXXXXX a doctor. It could be due to the embarassment that the problem has been caused due to your iv drug use and that the doctor would be critical and judgemental about you. But please keep in mind that it is every doctor's responsibility to provide the necessary medical care in cases of emergency, irrespective of what the cause may be.
Simple home remedies may not help much, but you can try gentle hot fermentation, keeping the affected arm elevated on pillows, taking adequate fluids and getting as much rest as possible. Avoid massaging or moving the arm frequently. In case you develp fever, chills or if the arm becomes red and warm, then it means that you are developing complications and you need compulsory medical attention.
Wish you all the best.
- Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist
From the symptoms you have described, you appear to be having a "venous thrombosis / thrombo-phlebitis" (i.e. blockage and inflamation of the vein) along with a probable infection ("cellulitis") also. The important thing to be worried about here is that since this is in the stream of blood flow, this problem can rapidly spread to the systemic circulation leading on to XXXXXXX consequences. Therefore, if treatment is taken quickly, it will save you a lot of trouble later on. Treatment usually involves anti-inflamatory medication, antibiotics and local measures to reduces the swelling. I don't intend to scare you, but please remember that apart from the severe pain that you are going through, this can result in serious complications.
I'm not sure why you are hesitant to XXXXXXX a doctor. It could be due to the embarassment that the problem has been caused due to your iv drug use and that the doctor would be critical and judgemental about you. But please keep in mind that it is every doctor's responsibility to provide the necessary medical care in cases of emergency, irrespective of what the cause may be.
Simple home remedies may not help much, but you can try gentle hot fermentation, keeping the affected arm elevated on pillows, taking adequate fluids and getting as much rest as possible. Avoid massaging or moving the arm frequently. In case you develp fever, chills or if the arm becomes red and warm, then it means that you are developing complications and you need compulsory medical attention.
Wish you all the best.
- Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My arm does feel better, it's not as red, or swollen as it was either or as sore, but I was massaging it. Is it ok to use ice in it?
Do you think it will improve and keep getting better day by day?
Thank you
XXXXXX
Do you think it will improve and keep getting better day by day?
Thank you
XXXXXX
Hi again...
It's good to hear that you are doing better and that your symptoms are coming down. Yes, it is okay to use cold fermentation with ice to reduce the swelling and ease the pain. Since you have had significant improvement in the last couple of days, it is likely that your arm may continue to improve. But, the risk of infection and spread to the bloodstream is always there and you should be well aware and alert about it. If there is any worsening of symptoms or fever / chills / redness/ warmth (which are all signs of an infection), you should immediately seek medical help.
Also, please keep in mind that unsterile methods of injecting drugs has probably resulted in this condition. So, you have to be very careful about this in the future.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
- Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist
(Kindly close this query if you are satisfied with the answer)
It's good to hear that you are doing better and that your symptoms are coming down. Yes, it is okay to use cold fermentation with ice to reduce the swelling and ease the pain. Since you have had significant improvement in the last couple of days, it is likely that your arm may continue to improve. But, the risk of infection and spread to the bloodstream is always there and you should be well aware and alert about it. If there is any worsening of symptoms or fever / chills / redness/ warmth (which are all signs of an infection), you should immediately seek medical help.
Also, please keep in mind that unsterile methods of injecting drugs has probably resulted in this condition. So, you have to be very careful about this in the future.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
- Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist
(Kindly close this query if you are satisfied with the answer)
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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