Painful skin and needles.

[Katybird]

Has anyone experienced the following?

I was recently diagnosed with a small skin cancer, to be removed by local anaesthetic. However, the pain of the needles used to inject the stuff was horrendous, almost as bad as cutting without anything! It was quite barbaric, and I told them that I would have to have a general if another skin cancer was found.

I know that the skin becomes more sensitive with fibro (seams in socks, labels in clothes, people 'stinging' you when they touch your skin) but this was awful.

I couldn't even begin to think of acupuncture.

[Hidden]

when I have my blood taken[probably for the thousanth time] they now use a very fine needle, it does help a bit

[Spirit]

You can ask for them to put a novocaine patch on the area to numb the skin first so you don't feel the needle.

[Katybird]

Wow, helpful tips! Thank you, I wasn't expecting that.

[Spirit]

Most physicians use the green needles, but the blue ones are finer (got that tip from my VET actually!)

[LindseyMid]

Are you hypermobile? Prof Grahame estimates that about 60% (think I've got that right) of people who are hypermobile have the problem that local anaesthetic are ineffective or not as effective as they should be. I've always had this problem - it took me years to realise that dentist, etc was not supposed to hurt after the injection!

Otherwise, learning some relaxation techniques may help in future. The effect of stress is to ramp up any pain response. That's what happens in anyone, but when pain is already amplified with Fibro you need to try and avoid adding to it this way! So slow breathing, self-hypnosis techniques, etc can make things like injections actually hurt less.

[Clur]

HI,

I just plucked up the courage to cancel my accupuncture having already had 10 sessions most of which I spend crying!

I thought I was just a wuss! When she put some ot the needles in the pain was excruciating and I cried out! she said it was supposed to be relaxing so I know exactly what you're talking about. I was embarrased to explain why I was in tears as she said it doesnt hurt that muchh but she didnt understand the pain of fibro I dont think.

I was having accupuncture for pain ironicaly! mostly for my back pain and sciatica but also for tinnitus and ear pain which is driving me bonkers.

If I have to have a needle I'll be sure to take your advice Spirit.