Dear Dr. Roach: Nine days ago, I had a medical procedure under general anesthesia. One of the lines was put in the artery in my left wrist. Aside from deep bruising that went halfway up my forearm, it seems that there is some nerve damage. I have constant pain from my thumb, through my wrist, and up to about 3 inches on my arm. Overnight, the pain becomes intense and radiates all the way up to my shoulder.

Tylenol and an arthritis sleeve only provide minimum relief. Should I request to see a neurologist, or is there another type of doctor to seek out for a diagnosis? This has become life-altering, and I’m hoping it will eventually be healed. — B.F.

Answer: I suspect that the bruising on your forearm was caused by bleeding from the puncture site of the artery in your wrist. (This type of line is used to measure blood pressure accurately and instantaneously.) The hematoma (blood collection) inside the wrist might be compressing the median nerve in your carpal tunnel, which causes a neuropathy very much like carpal tunnel syndrome.

If I am right, then the condition should improve as your body absorbs the blood, which takes pressure off the nerve. However, there are case reports of permanent damage to the nerve from complications of an arterial puncture. In general, if the nerve compression is serious enough to cause weakness, it needs to be acted upon urgently.

The doctors who performed your procedure need to know about this complication, and a neurologist is exactly the right person to see. A simple nerve test could confirm my suspicion or disprove it by finding a different cause if your symptoms persist.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to