Diagnosis | Pain after a puncture

Diagnosis

Based on the accompanying symptoms and circumstances, different types of pain must be distinguished. A slight pain a few days after the puncture is usually harmless and is due to the puncture needle pricking.In the case of unusual pain with specific accompanying symptoms, examinations may need to be performed to diagnose organ damage or other complications. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound or computed tomography can be used for this purpose.

Treatment

A slight pain a few days after the puncture rarely requires treatment. Larger punctures can be performed under local anesthesia to relieve pain during the procedure and in the hours after. If the pain is too severe, it may also be advisable to take an analgesic.

In most cases, painkillers from the group of NSAIDs, for example “Ibuprofen” or “Diclofenac“, are sufficient. Potential inflammation a few days after the puncture requires more intensive diagnosis and treatment. Slight redness can be treated well with medicinal anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-inflammatory ointments. A larger infection may require antibiotics and extensive cleaning of the wound.

Duration of pain

The slight pain caused by the puncture usually subsides within a short time. Smaller biopsies can also hurt for only a few hours. However, pain for 3-4 days is considered normal.

Larger punctures such as the lumbar puncture or iliac crest puncture can occasionally cause longer pain. Here, the pain may persist for more than a week. In the case of a lumbar puncture, this concerns the pain as well as the potential neurological symptoms.

In the case of an iliac crest puncture, the pain may persist for a few weeks due to the injury to the bone, similar to a bone contusion. Complications, injury to foreign tissue or infection can prolong the pain indefinitely. It depends on the severity of the injury and the subsequent treatment.