Hi everyone š„° been taking methotrexate orally for a while, but now they have put the dose up and I am having to inject it. I have a needle phobia and wondered if you could give me some tips please?
Is there any way I can numb my leg?
Thanks and Merry Christmas xxxxx
Yes you can ask your gp for numbing patches and a lot of mtx you just put the container beside your skin and it will put the medicine into you automatically. Ice is also helpful.
your gp will give you some cream to anesthetize the skin but its not an injection as such methtrex comes in a pen you put one end against your skin and press the other end and in it goers you will hardly feel anything i know I've been doing it for years its easy peasy xx
It is easy and not like the old way with the syringe which I didnāt mind tbh but itās so much easier with a clickpen.
I find that the pens aren't anything like "real" injections; you can't see the needle and I haven't noticed feeling it either although you can see the little pinprick on the skin afterwards.Are you having a training session with a nurse? Hopefully that will help to put your mind at rest š
Hi Hope. I understand your phobia about needles, but eventually you may find that you lose that phobia as Metoject (or whichever one you use) is so easy and virtually painless. You will be shown (or should be) how to use it and maybe given some literature such as a small booklet to refer to in the future. You hardly see the needle as it is encased in a pen. I don't use any numbing solutions so I can't say anything about that. Good luck with it - let us know how you get on. xx
I was so totally needle phobic before getting RA. I would have fillings without anaesthetic rather than getting an injection...I was terrified!
But really itās fine. I struggled to do it myself at the training, and the nurse had to push me. However, once I managed it the second time by myself it broke the phobia. Iāve been injecting for 8 years now, and donāt give it a second thought.
You can use an ice pack to numb the area, which I did at first but no longer bother. And āpinch an inchā so injecting into fat not muscle. The nurse will show you.
Honestly itās no problem. You donāt see a needle it looks like a marker pen and itās super fast. As others say a numbing cream but a good pinch of fat is as good . X
Ice will numb your skin but honestly you will feel very little or nothing.The pens are not like an injection as you may know it.
Once the first one is over, you will be a pro.
Some good advice already above. Only things I would add are that as I am a bit squeamish, once Iām sure Iāve got the injector pen in the right spot and set up correctly, I look away whilst I actually push it into my skin if that makes sense? First couple of times I had to give myself a good talking to mentally about why I was doing it and put some nice music or even the TV on just to provide a bit of distraction, but now I find it much easier, done in seconds. Good luck xx
I reckon blood tests are more painful to be honest. Been using metoject for three years now and it's quick, easy and practically painless. It's only twanged two or three times in all that time and when it improves your life so much, well, it's a small price to pay
I am the worlds biggest chicken when it comes to needle, they terrify me, but the metoject pens do not hurt. I remember going to the hospital to do my 1st one and had to let my partner do it because I was shaking so much. I couldn't believe he'd done it I didn't feel a thing. Now 3 years down the line I don't even think about it, it's press click done. I do find the alcohol swabs make it sting so I just wash the area now and jobs a good one, and I found injecting in my stomach a lot easier. Try not to worry too much, honestly it becomes 2nd nature after a few
š
No do not worry the pens are so easy not a bit like a needle you think it is.. and if it helps with the ra itās all good
Hi I was the same, had hospital app last wed , initially I asked the rhumatologist to do it but then changed my mind and honestly I didn't feel a thing , giving blood is a lot worse , once you get that first one under your belt you will be proud of yourself , š
Itās understandable to be worried about it, but as everyone else has said the Metoject pens are an absolute breeze. Itās really not like an injection and I donāt even feel it going in.
When I started injecting it was with pre loaded syringes, after the first couple it was also a breeze - I felt nothing at all. I had a batch of syringes recently and the hardest thing was taking the needle guard off.
Keep positive, think of something nice whilst doing it, and a bit of chocolate makes an excellent reward afterwards! xx
I have only been injecting for a few months. I had to watch a video to learn method. I was nervous, but it is not really a needle, it is all enclosed and not painful. You will be fine. After the first couple of goes it becomes routine honestly. X
I had concerns too but its really easy you dont see the needle or even really feel it it's not at all painful I wouldn't think you would need to numb the area as you honestly barely feel it good luck xx
please dont worry..its fine..no pain and the needle is hidden..spring loaded gentle injection. my flu jab was worse! stay well.
I can only verify all the comments above. I was nervous too but after the first time it became easy. Itās like clicking a ballpoint pen onto your skin. No worse than that. Good luck. X
Injecting Benepail 
Injecting into stomach ?
Self injecting?
Colonoscopy fear
