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What Causes Numbness After Injection Of Heroin On Buttock Muscle?
Question: I injected heroin into my buttock muscle and the skin is numb. The numb area is approximately the size of a small apple. I have knots in the muscle from repeated injections (I've been off of heroin for two days now) and was wondering if some swelling could be pressing against a nerve. Will that numbness go away? What can I do to help it?
Brief Answer:
Yes, it might be compressing on nerve.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You might have got a gluteal injection hematoma which might be compressing on neurovascular bundle or you might have injected heroin in the neurovascular bundle itself.
Ideal would be to see the doctor, since early treatment is such cases is more desired.
Numbness might resolve once the hematoma and surrounding inflammation has resolved.
You can take oral anti-inflammatory drugs and apply warm compresses to the region till you see doctor.
Hope this helps.Please ask if there are doubts.Regards.
Yes, it might be compressing on nerve.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You might have got a gluteal injection hematoma which might be compressing on neurovascular bundle or you might have injected heroin in the neurovascular bundle itself.
Ideal would be to see the doctor, since early treatment is such cases is more desired.
Numbness might resolve once the hematoma and surrounding inflammation has resolved.
You can take oral anti-inflammatory drugs and apply warm compresses to the region till you see doctor.
Hope this helps.Please ask if there are doubts.Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I just took some ibuprofen and will continue to take that and use my heating pad until I can get in to see my regular doctor in person. Dr. XXXXXXX if the issue is as you stated above, are there any permanent/long-term symptoms/problems? How possible is it that the numbness is permanent? Will it spread? The numbness isn't causing me any problems as it stands, it's just kind of annoying sometimes. Thank you so much for your time and attention to this Doctor.
Brief Answer:
In most cases the numbness is temporary.
Detailed Answer:
In most cases numbness resolves once hematoma and inflammation resolves.Only issue is it should not be very close to nerve.Rarley you may inject very close to nerve damaging it.But it is rare.
Only long term symptoms would be loss of sensation in this area and if larger nerve is involved then atrophy of that group of muscles can be seen.
Since it is only annoying numbness and not actual weakness, we can assume this will resolve without any residual symptoms.
But since you are worried about this, let me say that heroin is actually causing much more harm to your rest of the body than this numbness.Only thing is it is going unnoticed.
Regards.
In most cases the numbness is temporary.
Detailed Answer:
In most cases numbness resolves once hematoma and inflammation resolves.Only issue is it should not be very close to nerve.Rarley you may inject very close to nerve damaging it.But it is rare.
Only long term symptoms would be loss of sensation in this area and if larger nerve is involved then atrophy of that group of muscles can be seen.
Since it is only annoying numbness and not actual weakness, we can assume this will resolve without any residual symptoms.
But since you are worried about this, let me say that heroin is actually causing much more harm to your rest of the body than this numbness.Only thing is it is going unnoticed.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Nothing else can help.
Detailed Answer:
This treatment will help only to relieve acute part of the knot that has formed after recent injections and reduce surrounding inflammation.
But the knot formed over repeat injections cannot be treated as it has reached stage of fibrosis. I am sorry but there is no corrective treatment for this.Regards.
Nothing else can help.
Detailed Answer:
This treatment will help only to relieve acute part of the knot that has formed after recent injections and reduce surrounding inflammation.
But the knot formed over repeat injections cannot be treated as it has reached stage of fibrosis. I am sorry but there is no corrective treatment for this.Regards.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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