Hitting bone/nerve with IM injection

[2011nursetobe]

Got the last of my 4 rabies vaccines last Saturday. The first 3 shots made my arm hurt the night I got them really bad but were fine the next day. This 4th shot has made my arm hurt TERRIBLY for the past week and has not gotten any better. (to the point it hurts to sleep on it and get dressed.)

My question is not asking for medical advice in anyway..I'm not worried about this from a medical standpoint. My question is have you ever hit a bone/nerve while giving an IM injection and if so, how did the patient react? My arm is super skinny and I'm always afraid someone will hit bone. As a nurse, I'm also always so scared to give IMs to skinny older patients.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I have hit bone. It was terrible for me but the patients didn't seem to feel it at all.

Please do see your doctor, for peace of mind and proper care. You should have an evaluation to rule out infection, nerve damage, etc. Do it, do it now.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I hit bone once but the pt had dislocated his shoulder years ago so I was careful, but we only have these really long needles. I'm a psych nurse so he still calls me an evil name along with "you're the one who gives me all of those shots". Seems to me that he recalls the event just as easily as I do.