Expert: Heather Vandeburg L.Ac M.S.O.M. dipl.Ac - 10/6/2008

Question
I had accupuncture 3 times now. This last time when she pulled the needle it
swelled up immediately along my jaw at the point of insertion (TMJ). I felt a
huge lump right away the size of a pea. She rubbed it very hard to try to get
out the cramp and then tapped it with her fingers. That caused it to cramp
again and she rubbed it out. I put ice on it, but I have a huge bruise encircling
the spot about the size of a plum. It has been 4 days now, and it is still
swollen and very darkly bruised in an even larger area.  I went back to the
chiropractor and he was frightfully concerned. He wants me to get a blood
test in case it is a clotting problem, anemia, thyroid, or other such problem
that would cause such, in his words "extreme", bruising.  I am feeling scared
and depressed about what he said, and I am  wondering if he is over-
reacting, if this is normal, or if maybe the accupuncturist just made a bad
insertion.

Answer
Hi Heather,
Yes Bruising can happen.  It sounds like she got your vein. Veins are like land mines under the skin they can be hard to avoid at times. The face is very vascularized and likes to bleed.  If she did hold with firm pressure the point for 5-10 min the bleeding would continue.  You may have a clotting problem.  Even a baby aspirin can thin the blood.  High levels of fish oil or vit E can thin the blood too.  Have you had bruising issues in the past?  Don't worry too much.  Do go and get it checked out.

Good Luck,
Heather Vandeburg LAc MSOM