Brief Answer:
Wait and watch if there is no weakness

Detailed Answer:
Hi...

Thank you for your post.
I have read your query and understand your concern.

There could be many reasons for this:

1) The injection used contained too much preservative such as benzyl alcohol which will cause tissue damage, and stimulate a local inflammatory response. The pain from this can be moderate and goes away in a few days.

2) There could be Haematoma formation which could be compressing surrounding nerve.

3) Direct injection into neurovascular bundle (occurs rarely)

4) If injection contains heroin and if it enters neurovascular bundle it can also cause local numbness.

5)Rarely infection of injected site can also cause these symptoms.Aspiration is a necessity and should be done as soon as you have confirmed that it is indeed an infection.

Since there is no weakness, there is less chance of serious nerve injury.
Your symptoms will disappear once haematoma or surrounding inflammation resolves. It may take some time. You can wait and watch for remission of your symptom.

Meanwhile I would advice you to take Anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil and continue applying hot compress.

But if your symptom is worsening/ not improving after some time or you are experiencing weakness then kindly consult your doctor for detailed examination.

Hope I have cleared your doubts.
Kindly get back to me if you have further query.

Take care. Bye.

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Brief Answer:
It differs from person to person & medication to medication.

Detailed Answer:
Hi....

Thank you for follow up query.

By "weakness" I meant loss of motor activity/ inability to move limb ie use muscle/ loss of muscle tone/ atrophy of group of muscles(occurs only after long time)

Unfortunately there is no proper evidence to know the duration of IM injection complications ( like numbness in your case ). It differs from person to person, medication to medication and type of nerve involved.( For example if nerve involved is a motor nerve it takes longer time to resolve compared to sensory nerves.)

If you have only numbness and no other complaints I would suggest you to wait and watch for 4-5 days. I'm quite sure it will gradually resolve on its own. During this time you can take medications that I have suggested you to take in previous answer.

If there is Serious issue, then it could be nerve damage. And you have to look for signs of weakness as I have mentioned above.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Regards.

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Brief Answer:
Apply warm pack "on and off" on injection site.

Detailed Answer:
Hi...
Welcome back again.

I will try to explain in much more simple way.

Suppose if you want to flex your elbow, your brain will send signal through the nerve supplying muscles which help to flex elbow. This is known as motor activity. In case of nerve damage your muscles wont get any signal and you cannot flex your elbow even if you want to. And this what I meant by weakness. I hope you can follow me now.

Continue applying hot compress as you are doing now. No need for extra home remedies as there are no other problems.

I hope you recover soon.

Again do not hesitate to ask followup queries. I am more than happy to help and educate you.

Regards.

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