[casey3115]

I am a recovering addict. I have been clean for six weeks . I have competed a inpatient treatment program and now do out patient and go to meetings everyday. My question is I was a IV drug user and every since I quit I have a pain in my arm every night it keeps me awake and if I do get any sleep I wake up with the pain in my arm.

[joypulv]

If you don't have a fever, I suspect that you have inflamed tissue in your arm from all the needles. A needle is a foreign object, and the tiniest bit of bacteria can get into your arm and all your immunity (white cells and so on) have to rush forward to fight it. This weakens your surrounding tissues, and you get cell breakdown and some internal scarring. There's not a lot to do, except try to be a whole lot healthier, eat right, get gentle exercise, keep your arm moving and warm, soak in the shower or bath, and try not to sleep on it.

(I have tons of inflammation all over from age, arthritis, an infection years ago, Lyme disease, and too many years of heavy work when young. One arm hurts so much that I can't do much of anything with it, and sleep on a half-filled air mattress on top of my regular mattress, for the super softness. I take Tylenol and ibuprofin all day and night, carefully.)