Does an iv injection hurt?

Question

I have seen someone get one, and the needle looks huge! I am just wondering if it hurts? I hate needles!

Answer 1

Not really.   Once its in they tape the tube where the needle is  to your arm then you just watch what you do so you dont pull it out.  Other that that you dont even notice it.  You can walk around the halls if your in a hospital,  go outside, restroom, you just have to drag a pole around that is on wheels that holds the bag or bags of solution the they call a drip,  with you.  It aggrivating but not painfull.

Answer 2

It feels like a prick. It hurts when they cannot find the vein and wiggle the needle, that's when it really hurts.

Answer 3

It depends on who is starting it.  There is a technique were you inject a very small amount of normal saline at the site, then take a needle and make a small incision at the site, then insert the IV needle.  There is very little pain with this technique.  

Answer 4

By IV injection, are you asking about starting an IV?  

IV starts if done by a skilled person can be a mere sting for a moment.  The part that goes into the vein is a clear teflon catheter.  The needle part is just to get into the vein.  Once in the vein, which can be checked by a "flashback" of blood, then the catheter is gently slipped into the vein, then hooked up to IV fluids.

A large bore IV, like a 14 gauge can hurt more than a smaller IV, such as an 18 or a 20.  It also depends on where it is placed.

I've had a lot of IV's in my life- as well as started a bunch, too- and can tell you that it looks worse than it is.  For some people, their fear of being stuck is so great that  any touch makes them cry.  Other people have difficult veins to stick, which can make it harder for them.