I started Copaxone 40mg in January and for the most part am doing well with the injections. My arms, however, really don't seem to handle it as well as the other sites, my left arm in particular. I get more pain, lumps, redness, and itching there for days afterward. I can't use my thighs at all, since I have no fat to speak of there; I can't pinch up anything at all. I have managed to add a "spare tire" with my now more sedentary lifestyle.
So I wonder if anyone has used any other sites or expanded the approved sites a bit. I've tried Benadryl spray following the injections on my arms without benefit.
Any ideas before I call the Shared Solutions nurse?
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greaterexp
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I do apply ice immediately after the injection, and I apply a warm pack for 5 minutes prior to injections. The worst pain followed my first injection into my left arm while the nurse looked on and approved. My upper arm ached deeply for 3 hours afterward. Since then, I have a lump, erythema, and pruritis of about 4-5 inches surrounding the injection site, and a lump, all lasting for several days after the injections. I am right hand dominant, and wondered if my technique differed slightly, but both arms are affected about the same now. Except for the spare tire I've accumulated, I'm thin, which may have an effect on depth, though I do follow the guidelines.
greaterexp it has been awhile since I've used copaxone. Perhaps since u r so thin u are injecting into the muscle then rather than SQ. I'd think if you were allergic u would have same reaction in the abdomen. I guess the concern re. Just rotating the abdomen is that u would develop lipodystrophy much quicker there. Ask Shared Solutions.
If u r using the auto injector, I wonder if u could try a regular diabetes needle/syringe and stay in the SQ tissue?
Looks like u got replies from those with more current experience too.
It took many years for the divots in my thighs to finally disappear.
I too have some of those divets (atrophy) in my thighs over the years but I do not want to change medication, neither does my neurologist, because this is the only medication, Copaxone, with no side effects like like flu symptoms and no monitoring is needed. I have very few problems with MS,so my neurologist assumes this is working for me, although I don't know that I would've been just as well off with no medication. Fact is nobody knows so I don't take the risk.I try to find other spots around the divots but it's becoming difficult. Are used all the other spots as well.
greaterexp Also Shared Solutions strongly insists heat for 5 minutes before the shot and ice for only 1 minute after the shot. Ice before the shot will make it more painful and med distributed very slowly. Heat only before shot and ice for only 1 min afterwards. Any longer will keep the med from being distributed which will prolong the site pain. That is a quote. Trying to help.
agapepilgrim that's to funny on the heat and ice thing, lm going to have to try that! They never made a big deal out of it for me, ugh. I ice before and after, l find freezing my skin makes it easier to take the shot.😅
I'm gonna try your way next wk tho. But lm still using the Neosporin 😁
I haven't been taking Copaxone for a few years either but I do recall that the arms were the hardest. I was advised to use the autoject for the arms, and that did help, but eventually I gave up on the arms and just chose more sites on the abdomen. I wound up with some lipoatrophy in my thighs but nowhere else, and I believe that damage is often permanent.
My lipoatrophy seems to have improved too. I've been off Copaxone now for over 6 years. But when I discussed the lipoatrophy dents with someone at Shared Solutions I was told it was "damaged tissue" and that the damage was permanent. They also told me not to inject into it. I believe some people run out of injection sites because they have too many lipoatrophy dents.
greaterexp l had that for a bit also, and still deal with the itching a bit. I ended up changing all my settings on the auto inject. I also ice before and after. That helps ALOT! I found that Neosporin has calmed the itching immensely! I also take it in the morning so l can sit with ice pack for about 10 mins.
It's all trial and error and what works best for you☺
Good luck! Shared Solutions will send a nurse back out to you again if needed☺🌠
greaterexp My husband gave me my Copaxone injections for 10 years. I had the same problems with my arms, quit using them, and switched to my butt. It worked out fine.
I have taken Copaxone for 8 years and recently had to switch to the generic. I do not use my arms. Only upper thighs, stomach,sides,and butt. I only do manuel now. I find I can control the depth better and I seem to be able to find a good spot . I used to ice then heat but eventually got used to it. Stay with it and do not go to deep. I had my autoinjecter on 4 when I was using it.
MS since 1986... Betaseron for 8+ till had surgery for shot-gone-really-wrong (necrosis under skin), 5 yr. break till increased problems, Copaxone for 9 yrs. so far... ONLY shot spots I do on 3 times a week? Very high right thigh, right hip, left hip, high left thigh--PERIOD (notice: I'm BANISHING the MonSter with this rotation)... Way way too many arm shot issues and way too many stomach shot issues--neurologist approved by last neuro I trusted... Still looking for neuro now since move to but see PA nurse...
This works for ME! Honestly, LOVE Copaxone... When I turned 50, all hell broke loose with the MonSter but I know that Copaxone is keeping me walking. I have GREAT mornings and as my nerves and body gets overworked, I have more issues, but I've been managing tis MS challenge well!!!
PS: I know about the arms--I've been left with dimples on mine from shots where the tissue under them has basically died... I HATED arm shots anyway... With 40mg Copaxone, my rotation of the 4 spots has not done that to me...
I sometimes have problems injecting my arms. I think that what happens is that it hits the muscle because my arms are all so thin, and the medication is very painful then and it does last me for a day maybe sometimes more. One thing I do is to arrange the schedule and I have a down to a T. And it works out so I only use my arms, Each one once a month. When I inject my arms I hold tight an object like a plastic bottle under my arm and squeeze on it which pinches a large area of underarm fat. Then I inject into that area and most of the time (with injector) it's not painful. I'm also contemplating dividing the abdomen area into two and dedicating one of the sides to an arm. I haven't done it yet because I would have to rearrange my whole calendar which I've already got marked up until the end of the year.
I've tried a "4" setting for less depth, but had the same problems. I just tried to do it manually as Itasara suggests. If it continues to be a problem, I will avoid my arms altogether and stick (no pun intended) with hips and abdomen.
You're all so wonderful to take the time to offer suggestions! What a team!
I used Copaxone 8 years ago, had too many problems with injection sites, so went to Tysabri for 6 years. PML risk grew too high, so back to Copaxone. I found I couldn't inject arms or thighs because too thin. So I stuck with butt and stomach, but it gave ne flu like symptoms all the time. But I would recommend icing after shot, and something for itching if needed, that drove me batty! I was only on it two months this time, just couldn't take the"flu". Hope you do much better.
greaterexp i just started Capoxone Wednesday, take my second shot today, so the training of nurse is still ringing in my ears! I am not thin, but I do have the apple shape figure I think they call it- thin at top, bean pole legs, but hips and stomach are fatty. The nurse told me IF I used my arms use 4 setting cause not much fat there, and she didn't use her arms at all, because too painful (and she had more fat tissue than me). I don't intend to ever use my arms! My stomach and buttocks and limited area on thighs have enough fat. My suggestion to you is stop using your arms altogether. The nurse that taught me is on Capoxone for 7 years and never uses her arms. I pray everything gets better for you! Just consider you only have 5 pincushions not 7!!!!
@greaterexp, I was on Copaxone for a couple of years, also Rebif, and I don't have much body fat either, injection sites were scarce. The only advice I can give is to be sure you are injecting deeply enough. I found too shallow an injection to be the most painful of all. It was explained to me that too shallow might hit an area between layers of skin and after doing it once I didn't do it again.
BillD999 , thank you for the suggestion. It appears to be quite an issue for those of us with less fat tissue--either too deep and hit muscle, or not deep enough. I guess it's time to start buying buckets of lard!
I probably answered this somewhere else before but my arms are a problem too. I've worked it out in my schedule of taking three Copaxone injections a week so I only use each arm once a month. I am contemplating using my abdomen as a rotation site for arms by dividing it in half. I haven't done it yet because I've got my schedule worked out for the whole year but I might. It helps to use heat before injections especially on my arms and making sure I have enough skin to inject into by putting an object under my arm to squeeze my arms. I am using an injector which makes it easier to do the injection ( but some say manuals injections I better for thin areas) and I make sure that the needle in my injector is as short as I can get it when it comes to my arms.
itasara , I hadn't expected to have to limit my injections sites so much. I knew my thighs were not usable, but even doing the injection manually this time, I still got a large area of redness afterward on my arm, though without the itching thus time. I was a nurse back in the dark ages, so ditching the autoject for areas I can reach easily isn't a problem. I really want to remain independent as long as possible and not ask my husband to help. I'll just stick mainly with abdomen and hips for now. I'm grateful for all the ideas and encouragement!
Both of my arms, L more than R, became deformed looking with loss of muscle mass where I’d repeatedly injected them. I work out some and semi-proudly wore tank tops in this hot southern weather. But not anymore.
Well i told my neuro and showed her my arms and she said
‘Oh you don’t have to do your arms.’ I wish id told her sooner!
Anyhow, i guess their main concern is getting the med in there, those areas are maybe just suggestions of the easiest places to reach.
I def do my thighs. They’re my favorite spot, i inject manually in my legs and it goes really fast. I don’t have any suggestions for new places, i just eliminated my arms
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