What is a Collapsed Vein?

A collapsed vein is an injury that occurs when a vein is damaged due to repeated trauma, often from frequent injections or improper injection techniques. When a vein collapses, the walls of the vein weaken or scar, causing it to close off, which prevents blood from flowing through it.

What Causes a Collapsed Vein?

After repeated injections in the same vein, the exterior walls of the vein get swollen and irritated. This leads to clotting within the vein’s walls. Eventually, the clots harden, forming scar tissue, and the vein collapses or caves inward. Blood flow is then restricted, and the vein heals shut.

Certain injection techniques can increase the risk of a collapsed vein. These include:

• Using old or blunt needles
• Using needles that are too large
• Injecting at the wrong angle
• Injecting in the same spot repeatedly without letting it heal
• Having irritation from the drug or contaminants in it

What Does a Collapsed Vein Look Like?

Oftentimes, it is not possible to know if someone has a collapsed vein just by looking at their skin since the injury happens inside the vein itself. Collapse does not typically cause bruising or discoloration, but a blown vein can. A vein that collapses will no longer have blood going through it, so it will blend in with the skin, unlike other veins that may be visible.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of a collapsed vein can include:

• Swelling or bruising around the injection site
• Pain or tenderness
• Discoloration or darkening of the skin around the vein
• Difficulty injecting into the vein
• Little to no blood returned when drawing back the syringe
• Itching, tingling, cold feeling, or numbness

Collapsed veins can sometimes heal over time, but in severe cases, the damage may be permanent, making that vein unusable for future injections and reducing overall blood circulation in that area.

Is a Collapsed Vein the Same as a Blown Vein?

No. Collapsed veins and blown veins are two different things. Blown veins happen when a needle punctures both sides of the vein, going completely through it and allowing blood to escape. This leads to bruising, discoloration, irritation, redness, and swelling.

Blown veins can be caused by poor injection techniques, using the wrong size needle, or moving during injection. In most cases, the vein will heal within a couple of days.

Do Veins Ever Heal After Collapsing?

Vein collapses from IV drug abuse are permanent. Blood flow will be permanently restricted or stopped and the vein won’t be able to be used for IV purposes. After veins collapse, the circulatory system begins pumping more blood through other smaller veins. New veins can also appear under the skin to compensate for the loss of blood flow.

While new veins can help circulate blood, it’s possible to sustain long-term damage to your veins or the injection site. Ulcers, sores that don’t heal, necrosis, numbness, swelling, and discoloration are all possible.

Treatment and Healing

Unfortunately, collapsed veins are permanent, and once a vein collapses, blood flow through that vein cannot be restored. The focus of treatment is on healing the surrounding area and preventing complications like infection.

Here are a few steps you can take to support the healing process:

• Avoid further injections in the area – Move to a different vein to prevent additional damage.
• Keep the area clean – This is especially important while the skin is healing to prevent infection.
• Use anti-inflammatory medication – Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and swelling.
• Monitor for signs of infection – If the area stays red, swollen, or irritated, consult a doctor for antibiotics to prevent or treat infection.

While the vein itself won’t recover, these steps can help the surrounding tissue heal and reduce discomfort.

Additional Risks of IV Drug Abuse

Intravenous (IV) drug use carries several serious risks beyond collapsed veins. Repeated injections can cause significant harm to both your body and overall health. Here are some of the most common risks:

• Infections – Using non-sterile needles or injecting in unclean environments can lead to severe infections, including abscesses, cellulitis, and septicemia. Infections can spread quickly and may require immediate medical attention.
• Bloodborne diseases – Sharing needles increases the risk of contracting diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. These infections can be life-threatening and often have long-term consequences for your health.
• Scarring and skin damage – Frequent injections can cause permanent scarring and damage to the skin, leading to ulcers, sores, and tissue death (necrosis) in extreme cases.
• Blood clots – Injecting drugs can cause blood clots, increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism, both of which can be fatal if not treated.
• Damage to organs – Chronic IV drug use can also lead to damage in organs like the heart, liver, and lungs due to contaminants in the drugs or repeated infections.

Find Treatment Now

If you or someone you know is struggling with IV drug use, it’s crucial to seek help immediately. Addiction can lead to severe health complications, but treatment options are available to help you recover and regain control of your life.

At Moving Mountains Recovery, we offer a range of treatment programs including intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, and long-term care options. Whether you’d like to learn more about our programs or get started by speaking with an admissions counselor for a confidential, risk-free assessment, please contact us today.