eylur painful injections

[wirralgranny]

I've had 6 of these injections they have been all very painful despite extra anaesthetic so much so that I have decided not to have any more, is there any other treatment available that doesn't require injecting.

[Koalajane]

I am sorry they have been painful and I think this is a question you will have to ask your opthamologist.

[springcross]

Hi wirralgranny. I'm sorry to hear that you have found each one painful, that is such a shame. Have you spoken to the opthalmologist to try to find out why they are all so painful?

[Hidden]

There are many potential aspects to consider if inj are painful and it might be worth exploring each to see if they make a difference but of course only you can decide if you feel it's worth it for the benefit the continued inj may bring you.For myself, I decided a few minutes or days of pain was worth 3 plus weeks of continued vision (but then they gave me a noticeable improvement from the blurriness, it just didn't last, and of the 30+ inj I had there were more that didn't hurt).

If you decide to continue inj post back and I'll type out for you all the things I did to ease the problem. X

[Retired130]

In the beginning I also had a lot of pain with every injection of Eylea. My Retina specialist tried a variety of tactics to see what might work best for me. 1st we tried two doses of numbing gel about 10 minutes apart before the injection, but that did not help much. Then we tried an "numbing shot" , but the numbing shot itself was painful & so was the Eylea shot. Then we tried numbing liquid drops. We discovered that if I was given these numbing drops 3 times at 5 minute intervals, I felt no pain from the injection. So it was numbing drops, wait 5 minutes, numbing drops, wait 5 minutes, numbing drops, wait 3 to 5 minutes, & then the Betadine to sterilize & then the shot. Also, the Betadine he used to sterilize before the injection had to be rinsed out fully or my eye would burn for a day afterwards. So the nurse floods my eye over & over with rinse after the shot - so much it runs down my cheek & soaks the bib and the top of my shirt, but I am OK with that because there is no burn afterwards.Just wanted to let you know what worked & didn't work for me, but I realize each person is different. Good luck. Hope you find something that works for you.

[fed13]

After endless trouble the culprit in my case was iodine. I am OK with diluted iodine now fortunately. Also constant use of anaesthetic drops, altho' bringing temporary relief of iodine pain, then caused after pain themselves. I hope you get to the route of your pain. I sympathise. It is very daunting and debilitating. xx

[wirralgranny in reply to fed13]

I've had no issues with the iodine it's during the injection and afterwards

[Jihm]

I've had many injections of Eylea, and none have been painful for more than a second. The doctor who gives me the injections is highly skilled at it. Plus, he does not waste time. As soon as the anesthetic gel & drops are in my eye he comes in, adds a couple more drops himself, and gives me the shot. I had a shot from a different doctor one time who waited 20 or more minutes after my eye was prepared for the shot before he came in and gave the shot. By then my eye felt like it was on fire. The shot itself didn't hurt, but my eye hurt for several days. I think it is a combination of what the anesthetic gels/drops are, how long they are in the eye, and the skill of the doctor giving the shot that determines the degree of discomfort afterwards. Oh, and you must make sure your eye is thoroughly rinsed too. Ask for an extra rinse. That is also very important to avoid pain.

[wirralgranny in reply to Jihm]

i don't for one minute think it is anything to do with expertise of the Doctors or how many drops that are administered I think it is the reaction of my body.

[Beldie in reply to wirralgranny]

Hi. I think you're right and it is just your body's reaction. I've pursued this topic on my own behalf for nearly ten years of regular injections: avoiding iodine, getting lots of anaesthetic, taking a couple of codeine and paracetamol an hour beforehand, using dry-eye drops; nothing worked. For me, the pain is just when the needle goes in - very brief, I know, but oh so extremely sore, enough to make me yelp each time. Eventually one doctor added tetrazine along with the regular anaesthesia and that did make a very tiny reduction in the pain. I've decided that I'm just one of the unlucky ones with a very low pain threshold. But, because reading is my life, I will carry on having the injections for the rest of my life and just grit my teeth. Mind you, I'm fortunate in never having had any bad reactions post-injection, as so many others have (though I've undergone an unusual eye infection which landed me in hospital.) I'm 89 at Christmas so "the rest of my life " will probably not be that long! Do please talk to your opthalmologist - there may be an answer out there and research is still ongoing.Very best wishes for a happier time in the new year.

[wirralgranny in reply to Beldie]

Thanks for that it's most helpful to me to know someone has the pain during the injection not after, although I do still feel the aftereffects for days later, keep reading look after yourself. You've given me food for thought as a Crafter, Reader and Sewer x

[Lizleiper in reply to Jihm]

I agree . It does depend who does the injection . I too had terrible pain 4 hours after injection . Twice I landed at the emergency dept at the hospital . I tried everything , just like you . I persevered and. Now have my consultant to do the injections and have had no problem since . However I have discovered what happened in my case . The clamp which is put in is what has caused the pain . Each time my cornea was scratched so badly . So happy my consultant does it now . Do not give up . There is a reason why you are having pain . Sounds as if this may be your problem too .

Hope this helps . Go right to the top if you are still having pain . Do not be ‘fobbed’ off .

Good luck .

I now have had about 40 injections !

[kevinaki]

Were all 6 "very painful" injections by the same person ?

If that is so, please try someone else before you stop treatment.

[TwasBrillig]

You might find this thread helpful.

healthunlocked.com/maculars...

[3furryfiends]

i have developed an allergy to the iodine after several scratches were put on my eye by the clamp-i lost my sight for a few minutes. i was terrified. -ended up in a and e for 7 plus hours. I am having an ongoing discussion with my consultant that i am allergic to the eye drops they use before the injection / or the injection itself. The pain is terrible-burning sensation, watering, sensitive to light,eyelid swells up, terrible itching all over my body, cannot close my eyes -due to the intense pain,.My eye is bright red for hours after the injection and the throbbing pain is awful.I cannot sleep. I have taken photos and shown them to consultants but they have simply terrified me with their answers!!-nothing else available etc. Please ask for advice and dont be fobbed off!

[midancer]

Hi Wirralgranny, I too had horrible pain with several of my injections. The one thing that I learned worked the best for me is BEFORE the Dr. takes the clamp off my eyelids, I have him rinse out the eye good to get rid the Beta-dine. I was told by another patient that a large part of the problem is that if they don't rinse before taking out the clamp, when we blink we get the beta dine under our eyelids. I also tell the tech who prepares me for the injection that I have a lot of pain and they usually pay attention to their numbing and rinsing techniques. I also take 2 allergy tablets with me and take one just before the injection and one after and I look forward to a long nap when I get home, I sleep it off and wake up without any real discomfort. Please take care.

[Eyelet]

How daft are you. Think of the consequences . Try taking pain killers before you have your injection.

[RP1944]

So sorry you are having painful injections. I have painful injections as well. The last injection wasn’t quite so bad as my consultant kindly did the numbing drops for me herself. I think some of us must have a problem with the anesthetic not working so efficiently for us(have the same problem at the dentist) and I think that to keep our sight as long as possible we have to grin and bare it. It would be a shame to stop and lose vision. Unfortunately as yet there is no other treatment, there will be one day as there are trials being carried out.Best wishes.x