Hi ya ive been injecting biologics for 11 years now and never done my belly?
Ive had a really bad nerve pain injection on my thigh that is still sore 8 weeks on, it made me scream with pain and I couldn't touch the area for ages!
So how easy is a belly jab, I hate needles too so always been reluctant!!
Help.......... 😱🫣
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Dave74
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I've always done mine in my stomach, I always found it to hurt in my thigh. I'm ridiculously sacred of needles but even I manage it. I cheat though and use an ice cube on my skin before I dare to push the pen 😂
I swapped to injecting my tummy as I have more squidge to aim at. I don't feel a thing from either MTX or Amgevita jabs. No bruising, no twanging pain and no fuss. Result
I injected mtx in my thigh initially, until - like you - I had a hideous experience. Not sure if it was a nerve, or if it was straight into a tendon, or what, but I howled like a banshee. Switching to stomach was the best thing I’d ever done, and really made me wonder why people ever do the thigh at all, particularly if they’ve got no fat cover on their legs like this doofus over here. Unless you have washboard abs, it’s so much better. Just make sure to avoid injecting within 5cm of your belly button in any direction. You also need to avoid injecting into stretch marks or scars if you have any, but otherwise it’s simple. Since failing mtx last year, I’ve previously injected imraldi and now inject Benepali into my stomach.
I've never tried my thighs. Always injected into the abdomen/towards the side. It is ok...just a slight sting. I leave the injection (imraldi) out at room temp for 10-15 mins and cut off the plastic seal to make it easier.
me too. That thigh is so painful every time. Go for it in your tummy. You won’t look back. We can’t all be wrong. I used to use an ice pack first for 10 minutes. Can’t be bothered now. I just go for it.
well I used to do mine in leg but caught a nerve one day.Pain was excruciating and I nearly passed out.it damaged my nerve.now I do it in stomach .they are epi pens so you don’t see the needle but I have done the needle variety too. I didn’t think I could do it. practing on a soft orange first.the stomach is soft and I inject well away from belly button and alternate sides each week so don’t get bruising etc.Epi pens are easy thou as you just take top off and press it against area and press top with thumb,keeping it in place til top either pops up or you can see spring inside completely down. A nurse will come out and show you first time too
just pinch skin hard and inject just done mine as I’ve just written this it’s simethin that has to be done I know it’s sore but I have to put up with it
much easier injecting into stomach. I do stomach all the time after a bad experience in my thigh. I also started getting swellings on the thigh where I’d injected, which I’ve never had with stomach. I wouldn’t go back to thigh now. I actually don’t feel it at all in my stomach. Good luck
Very interesting thread. I'm not on a biologic but I inject Methotrexate and have always used thighs. No problems (apart from catching a thread vein a couple of times and having a bit of bleeding.) My stomach is fairly fat-free whereas my thighs are the opposite (!) so it seems to be the best option for me.
I was on biologics from 2006 until the beginning of this year when they stopped working. In the beginning I followed the recommendation of rotating the injection every week into stomach and thigh. I felt like a bit of a wimp because injections into my thighs was so painful so after a few months I gave up on the thighs. For me the stomach was much less painful although I usually bruised.
I notice you said ypur biologic has dyoppef working im in that poition now but im not as bad as i was before i went on it im absolutely terrified of coming off and as ive had a PE there are not many biologics left to try how easy was your transition and how are you now xxxx
My first biologic stopped working about August last year. I was still on methotrexate, steroids and painkillers so I wasn’t as bad as when I was first diagnosed, but my joints were definitely painful. My rheumatologist suggested I try a different one, Adalimumab, but unfortunately it didn’t work. I was then put on Baricitinib, a JAK inhibitor. They are daily tablets, and they started working after a few days. I’m still on mtx but I’m better than I have been for a long time. I still get flares but not really bad ones, and I have osteoarthritis with its accompanying pain.
Don't worry, nothing like the bruise or pain of blood thinners jabs! I used to inject MTX (yuk), always into my tummy. When I switched to Humira I had two sessions with a nurse from Sciensus so tried the tummy the first time and thigh (although there really isn't anything to pinch there) the second time. I've taken to rotating - right thigh, right side of tummy, left side of tummy etc. Tummy is certainly easier for me.
Yeah, heparin jabs into the belly, which is what you’re talking about, are a different beast entirely. They do quite routinely sting like hell and bruise even with the autoinjectors. As long as it’s up to room temp, nothing I’ve injected into my stomach for RD has ever come close to how those feel. Occasionally I get a mild pinch from the needle, but nothing worse than that.
I have to inject Clexane and always use my stomach. Far less painful, especially if you are a bit podgy like me. However, if you have a well-honed 6 pack not so sure. Good luck, certainly better than in the thigh. The trick of using an ice cube sounds good, I have to inject 4 times a day, so it does get a little tender at times. Good luck.
I inject b12, I did every other day for almost a year, and still do every 4-5 days now. I have always injected into my stomach. Doing it so often, its recommended to rotate the areas, so I divide my stomach into 4 quarters and rotate around each one (leaving around 5cm from the belly button free.
B12 is always a bit of a stinger for injecting, but it definitely hurts less as sub-q into stomach than IM into the thigh. I've had some completely sting free into the stomach, but the needle never hurts when its going in.
I just pinch my stomach before injecting and you barely feel it at all. Let it sit out for 10-15 minutes first. This way you don't have to fumble around with ice cubes and freezing fingers. 🥶
Hi Dave i am on biologics orencia and i prefer to inject in my tummy, it hurts when i do the injection in my leg. I am on a click pen which is easier, if you are on normal injections ask if you can have the click pen, hope this helps.
Hello Dave, I have been injecting for some years and have just recently changed the medication from Kevzara (Sarilumab) to Adalimumab (Idacio). Iused to inject in my thighs and around my belly button as per the instructions but found I got more bruising using the thigh, touch wood I haven't had any bruising since moving to my belly which I alternate from side to side. A little tip, before injecting check visually the end of the needle and ensure that when you enter your flesh (after pinching) that the sharp point is closest to the skin, this way it should enter without any discomfort at all, you might get a slight stinging when you depress the syringe, and the medication enters your body, I notice this only very occasionally. Give it a go
Go for it in your belly - I also used to inject in my thigh for a good few years, about 8, and it got progressively more horrid. Swapped to my belly and never ever looked back. Bellies are more squidgy and infinitely more accommodating of a needle. You will be okay. Wishing you all the best.
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