Where to find veins

Wrap a warm towel over the forearm or hand before starting. Gently massage the area over the chosen site. Do not slap the skin. Hang the arm down and slowly open and close the fist. Put the tourniquet on while the arm is hanging down.

Slowly pump the fist and then bring the arm back up. If you regularly have trouble finding a vein, begin an exercise program to build up your veins. One exercise is to squeeze a sponge ball in each hand. Start with 10 squeezes daily and build up to 50 squeezes per hand daily. Massaging the area lightly for a few minutes will help the drug absorb and reduce the pain. Hormones are to be injected only into the thigh or buttock muscle.

When injecting, be careful of nerves, veins, and bones. The buttock is the most common place people inject. You can switch buttock cheeks to avoid bruises and sores. After you inject into these muscles, you might be sore for a day or two. Do not inject more than the prescribed amount; it will not speed up your treatment process. You can cause serious liver damage and increase the risk of blood clots. Blood clots can appear in the veins of the legs and can travel to the lungs; this is called Pulmonary Embolism, which can be fatal.

People who smoke cigarettes and inject hormones are more likely to develop Pulmonary Embolism. Skin-poppers should follow all of the infection control and other safety precautions that intravenous and intramuscular injectors should follow. Although like with muscle-popping, skin-popping results in little or no bleeding at the site of the injection, the risk for bacterial or viral infection is real if injection equipment is shared or drugs are not prepared and injected hygienically.

Also, skin-poppers are at greatly increased risk for abscesses, especially if injecting crushed pills or another solution with particles in it. When skin-popping, it is critical to use only a solution that is as particle-free as possible.

As always, thoroughly clean the injection site with alcohol, soap and water, or other disinfectant prior to injection. The bump from the solution you injected will slowly decrease as the liquid is absorbed into the body, and should disappear completely within a few hours. Skin-popping can be uncomfortable, and the bump you create may hurt a bit. Pull your needle out in the same direction as it went in. There should not be much bleeding at the injection site when skin-popping, but you might want to apply a Band-Aid to prevent infection.

Find Naloxone. Find Syringes. Arteries Veins vs. You may experience some pain and swelling after such intense activity. You should avoid using veins that are tender, hardened, or inflamed until and if they heal. Warm compresses and the use of appropriate creams can help speed the healing process.

The larger and more visible the vein, the easier and safer it usually is to hit. Deep veins are harder to hit, and trying to access them increases your chance of hitting a nerve or artery in the process. On the other hand, it may be difficult to keep a needle properly positioned in a very shallow vein, causing you to accidentally skin-pop your hit. Areas that are farthest from the heart, like the hands and feet, heal the slowest and have the poorest circulation.

Areas nearest to the heart like the groin and the neck have veins that are located near major arteries and nerves which, if accidentally hit, can cause serious, life-threatening damage. Injecting near a bone increases the chances that swelling and pain will occur. Injecting only into surface veins and not trying to hit those that lie deeper. What to do if you hit an artery: Untie your tourniquet and pull your needle out immediately.

Raise the limb above your head to stop the bleeding, if possible. Apply firm pressure to the wound for at least 10 minutes. If bleeding continues, apply a bandage or cloth wrapped very tightly around the wound and seek medical attention immediately.

Veins vs. Lower your arms below your heart or swing them in a circle. Lightly slap the injection site. Wrap your limb in Saran Wrap for a few minutes. This traps the heat and causes veins to rise to the surface. Caffeine and nicotine can both constrict veins. If you have had a cup of coffee or a cigarette, wait about 30 minutes to try injecting again.

Remain calm. Chances are getting upset will only increase your difficulty, so take a few deep breaths and start over again in a calmer state of mind. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.

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We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Try the following methods to see what works best for you:. When the body is properly hydrated, veins become more dilated. Try to take in extra fluids the day before an infusion. Tips and Tricks for Accessing Problem Veins. Taking Charge. No matter what type of veins you or your child has, it helps to know these tricks when you find it difficult to access a vein: Get warm When the body is warm, blood flow increases, dilating the veins and making them easier to find and stick.