Last night I donated blood. It was my second time donating. The first time, when I was done, I just felt a bit dizzy for a while and didn't have much enrgy, but the next day I felt fine. This time, I feel like I bruised the bone that goes from my elbow to right bellow my thumb. The paper I was given says bruising is normal. Is this what they meant by bruising? B/c it doesn't hurt where they took the blood. It hurts on the bone.

If she hit your bone drawing blood, she has a serious problem aiming. The veins are quite a aways from the bones, and if she'd gone that deep you'd really have screamed.

I believe it feels like it hurts on the bone because she might have struck a nerve. The bruising they talk about is that some blood will leak after they are done drawing the blood, and leave a hematoma.

If he struck a nerve, is it anything I should worry about. Do you think it will go away soon?

No, and yes.

Some people just ache due to the temporary reduction of blood flow to the tissue below the IV site. It's quite common and the pain will subside within a day or so.

Okay, my next question is, is it normal for the would to open up again, 26 hours later? I donated blood at 7 pm yesterday. At bout 9-10 today I closed my elbow, and I felt this sharp pain and the area where the pricked the needle opened up. So I applied preassure and held my hand over my head and it stopped bleeding. I am wondering, is this normal though?

Maybe you pulled the skin too hard moving your arm.

It's not abnormal. I wouldn't worry about it. It's a teeny little hole.

yea, it's ateeny hole, but it hurt! I just like closed my arm and like jumped OW, how did that happen. IT was a bit well, a lot surprising.

Yep, the Phlembotomist hit a nerve. Fun - no?

The issue with the wound opening is not abnormal at all, look at where the puncture is, it is right in the lines of where the skin bunches up and straightens out a lot.

I bet it opened up after you had your arms bent for a while and I am willing to bet that you haven't been opening your arm all the way from the incident with the nerve.

Is there any swelling at the point of puncture? If so use ice, does it look purplish around the entry point? If so use ice.

If its just sore and feels weird, try heat (moist warmth) in the form of a wash cloth soaked in hot water, rung out and applied for a minute or so until it cools off. This will help alleviate the discomfort of the wound and the point where the nerve was hit.

Depending on the damage, it can take a couple of days or a couple of weeks for the pain and or tingly sensation to go away. My last knee injection Doc hit a nerve, made one side of my whole leg tingly and my little toe numb. Two weeks later - no pain, no numbness no tingly feeling. All better now.

If there is swelling or bruising DO NOT use heat, heat will cause further bruising and swelling.

Use an over counter pain reliever as directed on the packaging.

Also, since it is at the elbow joint, try to work the joint by slowly moving the elbow back and forth making larger and larger arcs. Do this often through out the day.

Cheers