Could Elbow Bursitis Result from a Blood Test?
I am a 32-year-old male in good health. Recently, I underwent a standard blood test. The phlebotomist, who was undergoing training, inserted the needle into my arm but missed the vein, forcing it almost completely in before withdrawing and readjusting with assistance from a supervisor. The experience was quite uncomfortable. Since then, I have experienced significant swelling, redness, softness, warmth, and extreme sensitivity and pain in my elbow on the same arm. It feels as if there’s a lump the size of a golf ball in my elbow. Notably, there’s no visible issue on the inner arm where the needle was inserted; the problem is solely on the outer, bony region of my elbow. I suspect it might be bursitis, even though I haven’t experienced any impact or injury. Could this be just a coincidence, or is it feasible that the needle’s incorrect placement contributed to this problem? I have a medical appointment today, but I am skeptical about whether they would acknowledge a potential link between the procedure and my current condition.
Answers (1)
7/2/2025, 3:40:39 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you are experiencing symptoms of elbow bursitis, which can indeed be triggered by trauma or irritation in the area, and it's possible that the bleeding or inflammation from the blood draw may have contributed to your current symptoms.
Explanation: Elbow bursitis, specifically olecranon bursitis, occurs when the bursa (a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction) at the elbow becomes inflamed. This can happen after injury, repetitive movement, or even infection. In your case, the discomfort and swelling experienced following the blood draw procedure may have caused irritation to the bursa.
Next Steps:
-
Rest and Protect the Elbow: Avoid putting weight or pressure on your elbow. Protect it from further irritation.
-
Apply Ice: Use an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth) on your elbow for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day. This can help reduce swelling and pain.
-
Elevate Your Arm: Keep your arm elevated as much as possible, which can help reduce swelling.
-
Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain relief, such as ibuprofen (if not contraindicated for you) can help manage discomfort and reduce inflammation.
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep an eye on your symptoms. If you notice worsening pain, swelling, or if you develop fever, seek medical attention sooner than your appointment.
-
Discuss with Your Doctor: During your medical appointment, explain the timeline of events and symptoms thoroughly. This will help them evaluate whether there’s any connection between the blood draw and your current condition.
It's understandable to have concerns about the link between the blood test and your symptoms. Bringing this up with your healthcare provider is important, as they can provide tailored advice and appropriate management. I'm wishing you a smooth appointment and a good recovery!
Related Questions
What Could This Hard Lump Beneath My Skin Be?
I'm a 33-year-old female dealing with acne, and I have a history of a non-cancerous brain tumor from my childhood. However, this new lump feels different. It’s located at the upper right area of my forehead, right along the hairline, where the direction of my hair changes from horizontal to vertical. While I'm aware that I have a prominent bone structure in that region on both sides, there's also a noticeable small bump on just one side. The size of this lump is less than my fingertip, and when I press on it, I notice some tenderness—though not painful, it resembles the sensation of cystic acne that hasn’t surfaced. However, I typically don't experience breakouts in that area, and the bump seems to be deeper and perhaps harder than anything I've encountered before. I’m puzzled by this; can cysts form on the skull? Which type of doctor should I consult about this? I'm feeling quite lost, so any insight would be appreciated!
22-Year-Old Male with Septic Pulmonary Embolism and IVC Thrombus: Seeking Insights on Possible Fungal Infection
Greetings, I am a 22-year-old male standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing around 80 kilograms. Due to a diminished appetite that accompanies my frequent illnesses, I've dropped a couple of kilograms. I apologize if my thoughts are a bit disorganized; I've been struggling with significant brain fog, making it difficult to maintain coherent conversations lately. My first hospitalization occurred on May 28th, where I spent 11 days battling a fever that exceeded 39 degrees Celsius, often reaching 40 degrees and above. I experienced extreme shaking and a rapid heart rate that climbed into the 200s. During this time, I was diagnosed with a septic pulmonary embolism and IVC thrombus, though these conditions were only identified after I underwent a CT and CTPA scan about a week into my stay. Initially, I was treated for sepsis, and it was truly harrowing to feel so close to death during that undiagnosed week. The antibiotics I received failed to help, and I believe they may have worsened my condition. Despite extensive testing for various rare conditions, including Lemierre’s syndrome, the fundamental cause of my blood clots remains unknown. I’m fortunate to have a retired family doctor who continues to offer support. Given the progression of my symptoms, which included oral thrush, mild fevers, chills, escalating fevers with rigors, skin lesions, pleurisy, along with lingering confusion and skin peeling, he suspects there might be an undiagnosed fungal infection in my bloodstream. However, the medical team caring for me strongly disagrees with this assessment. While I do not wish to overstep and dictate the doctors' actions, I can’t help but feel that a fungal infection is the underlying issue. They argue that any fungi would have been detected in my blood cultures, but my continuous antibiotic treatment could interfere with the identification of fungal infections. From my research, it appears that Fusarium is the only fungus that commonly appears in routine blood cultures. I would like to hear your expert opinion on whether my concerns are misplaced. Although I am currently under the care of respiratory specialists, I feel a fungal infection specialist would be more appropriate. Unfortunately, I struggle to articulate my case effectively, but my concerns weigh heavily on my mind, particularly as I lay in bed each night contemplating my illness. Unfortunately, I was readmitted to the hospital on June 13th for an additional 7-day stay due to persistent high fevers and rigors, but this time, I experienced improvement within two days of antibiotic treatment. I had developed pneumonia and pleurisy again, alongside COVID-19. Thankfully, the antibiotics appeared to work against the bacterial and viral infections. I was discharged on June 20th, yet I began coughing up an alarming mix of fresh and clotted blood, plus mucus, particularly worsening after receiving enoxaparin injections. I believe this detailed account is crucial for understanding my situation. Just ten days post-discharge, I found myself back in the hospital due to low-grade fevers and alarming symptoms resembling heart failure: pink sputum, confusion, breathlessness, and swollen ankles, accompanied by a relentless cough. Though my oxygen levels seem stable, I was disheartened to learn that, despite a month of enoxaparin treatment, my pulmonary embolisms have actually increased in size. The fever returned, peaking at 39.7 degrees with accompanying rigors. Now, I’m back on antibiotics, and the familiarity of this experience feels disheartening. I want to suggest discontinuing the antibiotics in favor of testing for fungal infections multiple times until we can ascertain the true cause of my issues. Based on my history, do you believe this course of action is prudent? The doctors remain perplexed about the root cause of my situation, and I am currently waiting for results from brain scans. However, it strikes me as a significant oversight that, aside from routine blood cultures, I have not been tested for fungal infections—only viral and bacterial pathogens. I would greatly appreciate your insights on this matter. If you agree that the failure to test for fungi is a serious error, how does the absence of fungal treatment affect my health risks? Thank you for your time and expertise.
Coping with the Sudden Loss of My Mother Due to a Devastating Brain Bleed
Hello, I find myself grappling with a whirlwind of emotions in the wake of my mother’s death, which was the result of a catastrophic brain bleed while she was hospitalized. This tragedy unfolded following an MRI that showed no apparent issues. As we navigate the organ donation process, I feel an overwhelming need to express my thoughts and feelings – apologies for the length. To provide some context about my mother: she was a petite 70-year-old woman, frail and weighing around 90 pounds. Throughout her life, she battled chronic migraines and had undergone an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) about 15 years ago due to injuries from a car accident. Since that time, her strength had gradually declined. Before her passing, she mostly relied on a wheelchair, although she could sometimes use a walker for short distances. The past year had been particularly harrowing for her health, involving numerous prescribed medications from various specialists. The past year included an unending series of medical challenges: painful stomach ulcers causing nausea, ongoing issues with her potassium, calcium, and blood pressure levels, and the return of her relentless migraines. Typically, she would experience a good weekend only to succumb to days of pain and discomfort soon after. During that tumultuous year, she found herself hospitalized four times. Once, for gallbladder removal, and other times to stabilize her fluctuating hormone levels. Just this past Saturday, I shared dinner with my parents. My dad pointed out that she appeared slightly weaker than usual, but considering her ongoing symptoms, it didn't raise immediate alarm. In fact, she was actively participating in our conversations and seemed to enjoy the evening. However, on Sunday, although our day began positively, my dad noted she had slept in longer than expected. He assumed she was merely catching up on lost rest due to a difficult week of sleep. As the day progressed, her speech began to falter, and she wasn't as lively as the previous evening. I visited again and urged my dad to prioritize taking her to the hospital instead of rescheduling an appointment with a neurologist – a medical setting she profoundly disliked. The following day, he took her to the ER, where they quickly admitted her for further evaluation and performed an MRI. I waited anxiously for updates, fearing she suffered a stroke. Ultimately, the doctor delivered the news that the MRI indicated no traces of a stroke. Instead, they were more focused on regulating her elevated calcium and slightly high blood pressure. For the next day or so, the medical team concentrated on stabilizing those levels. By Tuesday morning, my dad observed a marked change; she appeared almost childlike, a response to the hospital environment which often agitated her. Uncharacteristically, when offered medication, she would simply spit it out. Around noon, she tried to communicate with my dad but was unable to express herself and drifted into a deep sleep. From there, things escalated quickly. A code blue was called shortly afterward. When my dad contacted me with the grim news that she was unresponsive with dilated pupils, my heart sunk. I rushed to the hospital, devastated at the thought of missing what I had presumed was just a routine visit. Upon reaching the ICU, we were informed that she had experienced a fatal brain bleed. I was incredulous, trying to reconcile the earlier MRI results with this shocking development. I bombarded the doctor with questions, wondering if we could have intervened sooner or if misinterpretation of the MRI could have led to this outcome. The doctor assured me that while misreading was always a possibility, the bleed must have occurred after the MRI, and she was indeed in the best possible environment for such an incident. A neurologist later confirmed her brain death. I inquired about the discrepancies between the prior MRI results and her current condition, drawing out similar responses. He reiterated that a bleed of such magnitude could not have been overlooked, suggesting instead that she may have had a weakened blood vessel that ruptured amid unstable blood pressure changes. I am overwhelmed with sorrow. The notion of death, to me, always carried the expectation of gradual farewells and closure. It’s hard to compare the trauma of one loss to another, but the abruptness of my mother’s passing — seemingly only moments after our last communication — has left me shattered. Navigating the organ donation process is both exhausting and surreal. I can’t help but wonder: were the medical professionals correct? Was there anything we could have done to prevent this? How is it possible for an MRI to come back normal just hours before such a significant event? I felt there were signs that warranted hospital intervention, but the tests conducted did not reflect the seriousness of her condition, which ultimately led to this tragic outcome. My mind is struggling to come to terms with it all. Thank you for any insights you may share. I appreciate your support during this difficult time.
Concerning Red Bump in Groin Region
I’m a 45-year-old male, standing at 5’11" and weighing 215 pounds. Generally, I maintain good health and do not take any medications. Recently, I discovered a red nodule in my groin area, which started developing around three weeks ago. It resembles a cyst but has a noticeable reddish hue and is located on the groin, close to the thigh. There’s no pain or sensitivity associated with it. I wish I could share an image for better clarity, but that option isn’t available here. If someone is interested in viewing it, please feel free to reach out. I would greatly appreciate any insights. Initially, I thought it could be an ingrown hair, but I now believe otherwise. Additionally, I suspect there might be another small bump situated lower near my buttocks; although I haven’t checked with a mirror, I can feel something about three inches beneath the anus. I do have a history of hemorrhoids, but it's been a couple of years since I've experienced any, and they were always internal, so I doubt this is related. In the past, I dealt with a series of recurring cysts on my limbs, which was quite perplexing. These cysts would manifest one at a time on different extremities. After getting one surgically removed from my arm, I'd notice another popping up on the opposite arm or leg within weeks. These cysts would swell and be very painful. Despite extensive testing over a couple of years, a diagnosis eluded me. Fortunately, they eventually subsided, and I haven’t experienced any issues in about six or seven years.
Lab Findings Summary
Patient Profile: Male, 70 years old, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing around 140 pounds; previously smoked about 20 to 25 years prior, with no illicit drug use reported. Medical Diagnoses: - Lewy-body dementia - Parkinson’s disease - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - Essential hypertension Current Medications Include: - Albuterol - Atorvastatin 40 mg - Sinemet (carbidopa/levodopa) 25-100 mg - Spiriva Last week, he underwent routine laboratory tests. However, due to indications of anemia and diminished kidney function, his physician recommended repeating these tests, suspecting that dehydration may have influenced the initial results. Today, we ensured he was adequately hydrated for the follow-up tests, during which the physician also ordered additional evaluations to pinpoint the underlying cause of the anemia. Below are the noteworthy abnormalities from the lab reports, along with my queries concerning their implications for kidney health and anemia, or any other possible concerns. **Urinalysis Results:** - Trace ketones: 5 **Complete Blood Count (CBC) Findings:** - Low Red Blood Cells (RBC): 4.01 (normal range: 4.5-5.9) - Low Hemoglobin (HGB): 12.8 (normal range: 13.5-17.5) - Low Hematocrit (HCT): 39.5 (normal range: 41-51) - High Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): 98.5 (normal range: 83-98) **WBC Differential:** - Low Lymphocyte Count: 0.92 (normal range: 1-3.6) - Decreased Immature Granulocytes: 0.01 (normal range: 0.01-0.09) - included because of its decline in numbers from last week to this week. **Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content:** - Elevated: 36.7 (normal range: 28.2-36.7) **Vitamin B12 Levels:** - Elevated: 1292 (normal range: 200-910) **Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH):** - Elevated LDH: 184 (threshold: >=180) **Ferritin Levels:** - Elevated: 371 (normal range: 22-275)