My top tips for painless biologics pen injections!

[Deminem]

Hi all!

Just putting this all in one place as I've seen the question of how to alleviate the pain of injecting, Enbrel, Benepali, ect so many times here.

Starting with the best tip 1st...

1) Inject straight after a shower or bath. I have had some pain if I miss this step, but all the steps done together have given me 100% no pain success every single time for 4 years!

2) I leave my pen out of the fridge for a minimum of 45 minutes prior to injecting. When you think about it, we know the pen can be left out of the fridge for 2 consecutive weeks if needs be, and still be good to use. That's the official line, so don't get hung up on 30 minutes vs an hour for example.

3) Tummy is the best spot! An inch diagonally down from the belly button. Alternating sides each week.

4) Stretching the skin not pinching. Stretch whilst injecting. Once it's dispensed I give it a few seconds and pull back pen and let go stretching.

The extra things I do is swab with the anti bac wipes provided prior to injecting. And cover with a plaster/band-aid.

I feel all the steps are important, but injecting when your skin is softer after a shower seems to make the difference of no pain vs some pain.

Please let me know under here if you try it, and how it goes for you.

D

[Deniseelk]

Hi Demeinem, I have only been injecting since October but likewise I take my pen out of fridge early evening when I start making supper , after supper I shower but don’t use the sterile wipes ( only that it seems most side effects are from the wipes), I wait a good 10 to 15 mins from shower to let my veins “ cool down” but I always inject in my thighs ( just what my clinical nurse said was less painful). I spend time checking I inject where there are no smaller veins ( in the early days I bled) but I hold my pen in for a good 10 to 15 seconds after the pen has double clicked. I also find the least you touch the injection site after the better. I don’t hesitate and over think it, just inject.... it’s only weekly! It truly doesn’t hurt that much... few seconds! The benefits of the Benepali far outweigh the slight discomfort. Best of luck.

[helenlw7 in reply to Deniseelk]

I was advised by the nurse who talked me through injecting Enbrel thirteen years ago, not to use the wipes as they toughen the skin, making it harder to get the needle in! I’ve never used them in over 650 injections and haven’t come to any harm!

[hawker955]

My suggestion for a pain-free injection is to allow Humira to stand out of the fridge for 5-10 minutes. At the injection site, pinch a fold of skin, maybe1cm's-worth nd nip so it just pinches a bit. Then slide the needle in to the base of that fold of skin. You feel the nip an not the needle by doing this. It definitely works!

[Mhairi54]

Not tried injecting after a shower, will try that next time! Definitely less sore injecting into stomach. Thanks for the tips! Mhairi

[lornaisobel]

Its so much easier to just apply emla cream to skin where one is going to inject - piece of cake !!

[Deminem]

LOL, so a lot of you do the complete opposite with success then.

Re the wipes, I feel they are not necessary tbh, especially after coming out of the shower. But I'm a germophobe so use it anyway.

I have heard that going around..about wipes toughening the skin, I imagine as they have alcohol in they can be drying, but really, we don't have elephant-like tough skin and wipe it over lightly once in alternate spots so not even once a week. I don't buy the tough skin opinion. I find it's always said by a rheumy nurse, who with respect has never needed to use the pen for years like us. My rheumy nurse though I love her didn't know what she was doing in my pen induction visit. I had to show her as I'd already looked it all up online, seriously she had all the wrong advice. So I don't take everyone's words as gospel unless they have had experience with the thing they are spouting about.

The thigh is very painful for me, I only did it once though not just after showering, it hurt like a bleep bleep!

D

[nakkita in reply to Deminem]

I’ve been plant based i think this worked wonders for me! But plant based is different from vegetarian and vegan!

Vegan involves a lot of processed foods. Also the night shades aggravates my symptoms like tomato, and eggplant, green peppers and peppers.

It took a month for my body to get adjusted and I stopped all drugs. I had to cut all animal foods.

Cucumbers aggravate IBS as well

No meat and dairy alleviated all my symptoms! But I also cut all processed foods! You can get B12 from coconut milk and other nuts. Also all protein can be gotten from greens. You actually don’t need animal flesh for protein. It’s actually a source of processed protein. Because a lot of animals consumed are herbivores so they get the protein form plants and process it and store it in their flesh.

I’ve been able to tolerate seafood occasionally as well.

I am completely symptom free and happy but I had to hang in there and not give up it took a whole month! Every one is different so trial and error diet is best. No processed foods is life changing.

I can’t imagine injecting myself with anything! No drugs no symptoms no side effects has been great!

[Scottishlad]

IMPORTANT

Not all Biologics can be safely left out the fridge for extended periods. Please check the storage instructions for your medication. My Cimzia has to be stored 2-8C until it is used.

However I do allow 30-45mins for the syringe to come to room temperature before injecting after my shower. I was also advised that after a shower would cause fewer problems than using the wipes. I find tummy works best for me as my cycling means there little subcutaneous tissue, and injections end up in muscle causing an injection site reaction.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Scottishlad]

Hi

Please may I ask if it was difficult to get on to Cimzia. My daughter is only 28 years and would like one day to have a baby. I am not sure if her Rheumy will be able to get her on Cimzia because of costs. It may have to be a bio similar?? Grateful for your advice please.

Thanks

[Scottishlad in reply to MJSlide1958]

I can't really comment on your query. It was offered to me so I gave it a try. It was a few years ago and there was less choice in biologics at that time.

Of course there is no guarantee that any individual biologic will work for your daughter.

All she can do is to discuss her future plans and see if the rheumatologist can accommodate them.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Scottishlad]

Oh I see, how are you getting on with Cimzia? It is usually the best choice these days when planning to have a baby! Apparently I have read you can continue to take during planning a baby and whilst pregnant?? Are you taking any other meds with Cimzia to control the RA well? Thanks

[Scottishlad in reply to MJSlide1958]

I get on fine with Cimzia. I am on 10 mg Methotrexate and 400 mg hydroxychloroquine. Apart from the occasional flares I am symptom free more than 90% of the time.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Scottishlad]

That is really good to hear you are getting on well. Thanks

[16vickbri]

my trick to less pain is I let it sit out for about an hour before injection and injecting in the stomach is 10000x less painful then the leg. I also listen to really loud music with headphones because hearing the clicking of the pen when it shoots the needle seems to make the experience worse then it already is.

[SarahJane926]

Hi!

After having so much pain with the Benepali injection I ended up googling ideas to help and I came across your post! Just to let you know, I followed what you said to the letter and it worked! Thank you so much for sharing this ❤️

[Deminem in reply to SarahJane926]

So happy I was able to help SJ.

Thanks for letting me know it worked for you

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