My take on pain after injections!!

[rosyG]

I had such pain after my injection yesterday ( about 3 hours later- i assume when the anaesthetic drops wore off- it was horrendous!! Today it is like a bad first day but can open my eye now- still fuzzy vision

The only other time I had pain was when a trainee put the speculum in which holds the eye open. She was understandably clumsy and I had a very painful eye but not of the scale of pain last night! I was literally shaking as if in shock!!

Yesterday the nurse put the speculum in in stages saying- I'm putting this at the top and then similar statement re the bottom

Additionally i was concerned as she talked to colleagues all the way through and conversation is supposed to be kept to a minimum to reduce infection risk.

I think the way the speculum is put in, based on my experience, must be important- quite different pain from the iodine etc.

Be interested to know what people think.

I have written to the hospital, asking if they have refresher courses for people and letting them know about this (I believe avoidable) pain!!

Will let you know what the response is.

[Macular_1]

Hi RosyG,

I suspect that you may have a scratched cornea?

Felling so sorry for you!

Best wishes

Macular Society

[rosyG in reply to Macular_1]

yes I this you are right!! It was unbelievably bad all night- easing today!!

[thom3patty]

I have found my severe pain was coming from needing extra numbing solution a good wash after and dry eyes adding systane every 10-15 min before injection helps immensely

[rosyG in reply to thom3patty]

Thanks for your reply- the actual injection didn't hurt but when the drops wore off...!!!

[RandyM in reply to rosyG]

RosyG, I always had some pain for at least 24 hours after the injections, but the very worst was when the doc admitted he broke a blood vessel. I was begging for pain meds at least 4 days afterwards. I remember seeing blackness and bright fireworks and spider legs pulsating across my vision field. I was very scared! Scratched corneas are very painful as well. I hope you feel better soon. : )

[rosyG in reply to RandyM]

Thank you Randy. Am going to go back tomorrow if not better. Want it checked out!

[Hidden]

Oh why do we have to suffer so when it is not necessary? My experience of the injections and their aftermath has been mixed. On only 2 occasions did I find the injection not painful, just a dull pressure. On all the other occasions they were painful to various degrees. But afterwards my eye is always very sore and the degree varies very little even when on one occasion I was given chlorhexidine instead of iodine after a very bad reaction. I always have to go to bed afterwards. I think in the end it comes down to how well the eye is washed and how adept the injector is. I hope you are feeling better by now. xx

[rosyG in reply to Hidden]

thank you- slowly improving!!

[RandyM in reply to Hidden]

Ayayay, you are so right about the washing well of the eye afterwards. I was having great pain each time after the injections, until I read on this forum about asking for more flushing out afterwards. It made a great difference. I am so glad you and others are posting things that worked for them so we can all learn what is best for our situation.

[Hidden]

Ooh feel for you rosyg. Yes I've had scratched cornea from poor insertion of the clamp. I sat rocking back and forth for hours alternately holding eye open for a while then closed while it watered, running down my face. I found Sterile soothing drops eased the pain a little but that was probably just because the eye had become so dry from all the tearing up. If anyone knows what arc eye feels like that's the closest. I think my clinic gave me a week of chloramphenicol drops to guard against infection.

It always makes me mad when we are told ' it doesn't hurt'! Although I know for some it never does. However clinics need to take our feedback seriously. I spoke to the Royal College of Opthalmologists who write the injection guidelines asking them to tell clinics to warn people and they said they don't like to say what might hurt as then people will expect it to which will make the inj experience worse. They just expect people to ring their clinic for advice if pain after.

You're right about too much talking. That nurse needs a refresher.

For ages I thought I was a wimp which made me feel worse . Thank goodness for this site, I've learnt you can ask for extra numbing and flushing which helps generally but of course a scratched cornea takes a bit longer to settle Hope you feel better soon x

[rosyG in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou. Plan to go in tomorrow to be checked if still like it is today!!

[RP1944]

Hi rosyG, so sorry you are in so much pain after your last injection. I had a very sore eye after my last injection of eyelea for 24 hours and the injection hurt. I don't think the doctors and nurses appreciate the unpleasant consequences of having the injections and afterwards. Yes we are thankful to have treatment to help/control AMD but it's not pleasent. Hope your eye improves soon.

[rosyG in reply to RP1944]

Thankyou. It helps a lot to be able to post and get replies like this !!

[arwmd in reply to rosyG]

I am very surprised that no seems to have been told to use cold packs on the eyes after eye injections when discomfort or pain persists and no infection is diagnosed.

[rosyG in reply to arwmd]

Tricky as we shouldn’t let unsterile water on just after injections and people might use meltable packs

[arwmd in reply to rosyG]

Hmmm. I’m thinking of the jell packs that you put in the refrig. I am beginning to think maybe this site/0age is for those in the U.K. ???

[rosyG in reply to arwmd]

yes you could use those but they often have icy bits attached from being bin the fridge??

[arwmd in reply to rosyG]

I haven’t had that problem with them. They are dry as a bone. Same with warm packs. Sure hope you feel better soon

[thom3patty in reply to arwmd]

I was told to put cold compresses on for discomfort but have not because anything against my eye adds to the pain I did try it once

[arwmd in reply to thom3patty]

So warm packs wouldn’t help either. Hmmmmm

[Hidden in reply to arwmd]

I use the packs on other side of face as a distraction.

[Hidden]

Occasionally, I have had my injections in the operating theatre, before the clamp or injection the instruction is given “Quiet please.” but never in the clean room which is my usual venue.

The clamp insertion is undoubtedly the most uncomfortable part for me.

It is made more difficult because when nurses give the injection they always have to cover my face with a sterile sheet and make a hole in it. The doctors only very rarely use this method.

My last poke in the eye was an Ozurdex implant which is intended to last 3months reducing my injections to 1/3rd of my usual.

[KennethC]

I have been having injections for AMD for nearly 10 years and firmly believe the Medics (both Doctors and Nurses) are still learning how to consistently give a satisfactory injection. Very few of them, if any, will have received an injection to their own eye, so have no personal experience of the problems experienced by patients. Many consequently go through the routine of giving the anaesthetic followed by the injection and assume all is well.

So many things can go wrong. The anaesthetic might be ineffective - I think about 70% of mine have been in that category. Scratches and Iodine have already been mentioned, but another very unpleasant area is the build-up of excessive pressure within the eye which can be extremely painful for quite a few hours. This might be more of a problem for those with Glaucoma. I am convinced that one hospital attributed the spike in pressure pain to an iodine allergy. The crude method of checking if you have a pressure rise by asking you to count fingers does not necessarily work.

Good luck Rosy.

KennethC (48 jabs)

[thom3patty in reply to KennethC]

Well said they really act in disbelief when we tell them how painful these injections can be

[tallyho in reply to thom3patty]

The medics I have had are really sympathetic and careful while doing the injections (76inj) one was so gentle and I commented on her gentleness and she said ‘ well this is how I would like to be treated if I had to have an injection myself’ if there is pain they are always eager to understand why that is for my comfort and their learning. I am very fortunate.

[Lexxxus in reply to KennethC]

I've been getting injections for a little over a year now in both my eyes. My right eye has been stable now for the last 4 months, so I don't have to get the miserable shots in that one for now. But I do get a double dose of Lucentis in the left eye which seems to be helping. Eylea didn't help in either eye. After my first double dose was injected, I couldn't see a thing! Which of course I panicked. The doctor said it caused my pressure to go sky high & that's why I couldn't see. After a few minutes, my vision came back. Now they give me Glaucoma drops in that eye before the injection, even though I do not have Glaucoma, and it fixed the problem. Also they tape my eye shut which helps to reduce the pain. The first month I cried myself to sleep from the pain.

I am new to this site, but knowing other people are going through the same thing & sharing their experiences is a huge help!!!

[Catseyes235]

Having read all the replies I can only say roll on the day when injections are replaced! Until then I buy a fresh bottle of hypomellise and use liberally after to flush out any iodine crystals and keep eyes lubricated (the gel is good for overnight). If I ever need to wash round area then boiled cooled water is only thing to used and maybe buy sterile dressing to act as compress.

[thom3patty in reply to Catseyes235]

I was always told nothing in my eye for 24 hours after injection so u put moisturizing drops in right after? I put them in a lot right up until injection and that helps immensely

[Catseyes235]

As long as they are the same sterile drops - such as Hypomellose (check ingredients - cheapest in Superdrug! ). Or Viscotears gel - yes I start as soon as I feel the slightest bit if grittiness usually as soon as I get home. Hospital also gives me little phials of drops to use as well but if not needed before get home then I keep them in the fridge to take out with me just in case.

It takes around 5 days for injection site to heal in which time you mustn't do any gardening or anything that risks dirt and therefore infection.

I have a lightweight gel eye mask in the fridge or freezer which is well washed and dried for use but avoid lying back with heavy ice putting pressure on your eye.

I also have a fringe which gets a good trim prior to injection, as can irritate eyes otherwise along with washing hair so doesn't need doing just after injection. Good luch with next one!

[thom3patty in reply to Catseyes235]

Thank you and u as well