IV site problems?

I had surgery about 6 days ago and while I was recovering I was given an antinauseant drug. About 5 minutes after the drip was running, the site was burning like a bee sting. The nurse elevated my hand but the pain was still there. I had to endure this through 2 bags of this drip. The IV line was running well prior to administering this drug. Now my hand is exertemely painful and my hand is bruised and swollen.It hurts more than the thoracotomy that I had it that says anything! My other IV sites are fine. Can anyone help, will this go away or should I see a doctor?

The drug was gravol and it always stings, burns as it enters the blood stream, that's normal...The nurse may have pushed the gravol in to fast and the force caused the iv to blow a vein. then the fluid goes into the muscle tissue causing bruising and swelling. The swelling will go down and the bruising will go away.
I've had over 10 major surgery's and tons of IV's and gravol. You'll be okay. If it isn't any better in a week or so, get it checked out.

Use warm compresses and elevate the site.

keep putting ice on it and it will heal in a few weeks

If you know the specific name of the antinauseant in the IV, then call a pharmacist and ask if this is a normal side effect of the drug. If its, they'll be able to tell you whether or not you should go to the doctor.

If pain continues, or this is not a side of effect of the drug that is known to be harmless, go to the doctor as soon as possible.

warm compresses

this all depends on what was being administered through the iv. if it was just normal saline i would not worry...

there are a lot of things that can go wrong with an iv, they could have used iodine to clean to site before inserting the needle and you may have had a slight reaction. However, even alcohol will cause a slight burning sensation...

if the sight of the iv is warm and irritated after 6 days you may want to consider calling your MD.

it is certainly a possibility that the vein was blown... however, the nurse should have known this... regardless, if the site is STILL warm and painful it could be infected... your best bet is to call your doctor...