After surgery pain - NORMAL OR NOT?

Question

I had emergency surgery on Wednesday afternoon. At one time I had three IVs in my left arm - but they only used 1. I was also poked with a needle to take blood samples numerous times. My right arm got it too but not as bad as my left arm. When I was released from the hospital on Thursday I felt beat up of course (kind of like being in a car accident is how I put it). My left arm has deep bruising and I am in pain because of it. I have one area on my left arm that is swollen, red and sorta hot to the touch. Is this normal from all the trauma to the arm? When I touch this red area it hurts!

Normal given the circumstances?

Thanks!

PS - I don't feel any pain to the area they operated on (my uterus).....just on the place they poked me so many times.

Answer 1

A probablem that sometimes happens with IVs is Phlebitis. Phlebitis is the irritation of the vein that is not caused by infection..It's just caused by the prescense of a foreign body in your vein or it can be caused my medications or fluids that were given through the vein.  Signs and symptoms are redness, pain, & swelling.  You can take an anti-inflammatory like Ibuprophen for the pain and swelling.  You can put a warm compress on it as well.  It should go away on its own though.  If it gets any worse in a few days, you can see a doctor.  It's unlikely, but it could be infected.