Cannula Injury?

[Scarlett]

Two weeks ago, I had a nerve block in my back, for which I needed a cannula in my left hand. The nurse put it in the wrong place initially, which really hurt and made my ring finger leap, like a nerve was being damaged. I told her that she had hit a nerve, and she denied it.
She then put it in the vein, in the right place. A week and a half later, I can’t bend my hand forward at the wrist without a pulling pain around the area where she went in with the needle. It hurts all the time. My GP obviously says it’s nothing to do with a cannula, and I did wonder if it was linked to me leaning on my elbow too long. If she has damaged the nerve, how long will it take to get better? Pretty desperate here.

[Sqad]

At the time of cannula insertion (? in the wrong place) was there much bruising?

[Scarlett]

No, there was no bruising. It was like an electric shock when she went in the first time, more like nerve pain than something being punctured. It also took nearly 2 weeks for this pain to start.

[Sqad]

Your GP is correct.......it has nothing to do with the cannulation.
You are correct.......you have irritated your Ulnar nerve as it winds around your elbow.
No idea how long it will take to resolve but on the worse scenario, you may need surgery to untrap the nerve.
For now just take pain killers and keep your fingers crossed.

[Scarlett]

Thank you Sqad. When I tap on the site of the puncture, I get a nerve pain. Like a tingle. Exactly the same as when I had an arthroscopy on my ankle and they clipped a nerve – when I tap on it, I get this weird tingle thing. That’s why I thought it was the same thing – nerve damage.
What should I do now? My job is playing the piano, and I don’t want to risk it getting worse by doing nothing.

[Sqad]

Just carry on as best as possible with your piano playing........