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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Weird Sensations In Arm Post Peripherally Inserted Catheter?

Last year I was hospitalized with sepsis, as a result I had a picc line from December 2009 through mid Feb, 2010. After the second (abdominal abscess) relapse the picc line was reinserted for approximately 3 weeks in late May. I now have an extreme sensitivity to heat and cold in the vein that runs up the inside my left arm (site of the picc line) and around my armpit. It also is irritated if I lift something heavy. Even on a good day, when it doesn’t hurt, I can feel it, and would describe it as irritating on a bad day the pain ranges to about 7 or 8 on the pain scale. Please don’t tell me to use a heating pad or cold compress, this does not work and only makes the matters worse. What could be causing this? What can I do to alleviate the pain?
Wed, 10 Sep 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I a so sorry to hear about these symptoms that you have reported. I am of the thinking that a nerve ending was probably injured during this procedure and is responsible for the constant pain. If local measures like heat and cold packs no longer help, then trying pain medications would help. I will suggest you start with topical agent like capsaicin/local creams and see if there is an improvement. I believe you would be able to identify a product that works well for you and this would be used thereon to control your symptoms.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
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What Causes Weird Sensations In Arm Post Peripherally Inserted Catheter?

Hi and thank you so much for this query. I a so sorry to hear about these symptoms that you have reported. I am of the thinking that a nerve ending was probably injured during this procedure and is responsible for the constant pain. If local measures like heat and cold packs no longer help, then trying pain medications would help. I will suggest you start with topical agent like capsaicin/local creams and see if there is an improvement. I believe you would be able to identify a product that works well for you and this would be used thereon to control your symptoms. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.