I had a left arm ct contrast extravasation leak. its pretty big half my arm up is swollen, going towards my shoulders. my hands are fine. how long does this take to obsorb and get back to normal? i showed the doc and nurses after they didnt worry?

It should resolve within a day or two. By Radiopaedia website: most contrast media extravasation results in minimal swelling or erythema and has no long-term sequelae. A large study found that above 97% of patients with contrast extravasation had minimal or no injury and reported that 79% of patients had localized swelling after extravasation, 24% had pain, and 8% were asymptomatic.

You are very correct in paying attention to the state of your hand in this setting as so called compartment syndrome where compression of blood vessels and nerves can cause serious tissue damage to the arm&hand. Observe for skin changes and check the pulse at your wrist repeatedly & check for numbness. . Elevate your arm on a high pillow. Don't hesitate to have your arm examined by an MD as needed