New to Copaxone...with a question - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

feistybbo · 06-18-2005, 04:59 PM

I was dx'd in Feb and began Copaxone in March. I am having excruciating pain after injection but not always, prob. 50% of the time. Shared Solutions insists that I use the Autoject and my neur. is insisting that I am injecting wrong. A visiting nurse came out and verified that i am injecting correctly. I vary my sites daily, I use the shortest needle possible and inject at a 45 degree angle and ice before and after. I am confused because neither Shared Solutions or my dr. has verified that others have experienced excruciting pain like I feel after injection lasting approx. 15 min. -- feels like waves of excruciating pain over and over again. Has anyone else exp'd this? Thanks for sharing!

baddoey · 06-18-2005, 06:28 PM

i have injection site issues as well - bad bee sting. the worst are on my legs, esp with the swelling for a day+ after. but I am getting used to it. I've tried taking the air out of the needle before I inject and that seems to help a little with the swelling. I bought some hydrocortisone cream for the itching that i get for a few days after i inject. I try and do something right after i inject so that my mind is off the pain. I've heard some people say that they get less reaction pain if they don't use the auto-inject, but i'm just not there yet.

but if you find out anything new let me know, but I am just getting to accept that everyday is going to be filled with a little pain, swelling and itching.

KelliD · 06-18-2005, 07:06 PM

I use Avonex...have never had an injection site problem. However, a NEW side-effect is intense bi-lateral muscle pain about and hour and a half after injecting. Don't know why...

djpihavems · 06-29-2005, 10:13 AM

DON'T inject in the front of the leg!!! The thigh is the worst place. Try your belly. You can really get 8-10 good spots in your mid-section. The pouch below the belly button is good and soft. Try the butt too. Stand up normally and relax. Hold the needle in your dominant hand. Don't flex any of your muscles. Stick the needle in right where your butt curves around into your thigh on your back side. I use an almost upward motion with the needle. I find the 45-degree thing doesn't really help, unless you are REALLY skinny, and have no flesh under your skin.

If you are a woman, there is another good place on the hip. Where a guy would put his hands while dancing with you (if he's not being fresh,) toward the back, above the butt cheek. You have to twist around a bit to get to it, but that makes the soft flesh pop out, so it's easier to get to.

If you use an alcohol swab before you shoot, make sure the site is completely dry. Any leftover alcohol will sting and cause more bleeding. As you are pulling the needle out, take something dry (cotton ball, tissue) and hold it next to the needle while it is coming out. As soon as the point leaves the skin, hold the dry item over the site and apply a tiny bit of pressure. This will stop the liquid from oozing out. I find the medication itself is very irritating to the skin, so it's best not to let it touch you if possible.

Don't pay attention to the diagrams that come with the medication. You shoot where it hurts the least, where you have enough flesh to absorb the medication. A sub-Q shot just has to be absorbed below the skin. So, anywhere fleshy will work just fine.

LaDeeDa · 06-29-2005, 05:02 PM

45 degree angle definitely helps, especially in the arms. The thighs are the worst but if you extend your leg with no weight on it, like in bed or on the couch and inject into the outside, you may find that area less sensitive. Be sure to pinch up the skin before injecting, let it go as med goes in. I don't use an autoject because I found it to be easier and less troublesome to do without it. Sometimes I get that 'beesting' feeling and some itching, but not much else. But then again I've got a good, healthy (?) layer of fat to help!!