When I get an injection quite a bit of it leaks out my arm...

[Ctb567]

Does anyone else get this? Its kind of annoying that you only get these injections every 3 months then when you do get them it starts leaking out when injected. Its a proper nurse doing it and she seemed to make out it just sometimes happens and it doesn't matter...

[alioll]

I have has the same issue, my cousin is a nurse & she has said they are trying to force the injection in to quickly as it has to go into the muscle slowly as it takes time to dispurse what worries me is the the fact you may not get the full dose!

[Hidden in reply to alioll]

Yes, its injected to quickly, ask the nurse to inject the B12 slowly, it will sting less as well then, Marre.

[Lindylanka]

At my practice the nurses are trying out what they say is evidence based method of injecting very quickly, which so called evidence is said to show has no different effect and that patients feel no more pain etc. I beg to differ on this as had slow and virtually pain free injections while on a recent visit abroad. As B12 injections are said to be very painful anyway I was surprised to find them so gentle, and was also able to see the this evidence based rubbish has little grounding in real life! I have not experienced leakage with the fast injections but have had painful lumpiness on the site of the injection and achy pain for a couple of days. The slow injections on the other hand were almost completely painless. It seemed to me the method was different too. There was always a request to relax the arm and for it to be supported, and the muscle itself was raised before injecting. My conclusion is that there is more to effective injecting than meets the eye, and that a tense muscle could give rise to the leakage you describe, as well as the too speedy delivery. Yet nurses are being encouraged to use this fast delivery. I'm not sure why as their appointment slots are still 15 minutes!

[Chancery]

Hi Carly. You need to take control of the injection! I do this every time, no matter who gives me it. First, I sit in the waiting room and get my partner to warm the vial between his hands (he's a warmer person than me!). Then when I go in I hand over the vial and rub my arm briskly while waiting for the injection. Rub the injection site like it's going out of fashion. This warms the muscle up and makes the injection less painful. Then, and his is the important part, tell whoever is giving it to give it to you really slowly, slowly as they can, because it helps to stop it hurting. If you say that: 'It really helps to stop it hurting', they can't refuse you. Otherwise they will look like sadists! That way you get minimum pain, minimum leakage, no dead arm afterwards, minimal cramping and aching, PLUS the injection site heals up faster and happier.

You do get variable amounts of leakage, but if you are getting quite a bit then they are definitely doing the injections too fast, too sloppily. You need to take control and guilt trip them into being slower! If you have the injections done by different people you can try playing them off against each other. That's what I did; I got their professional jealousy going by telling them who gave the most painless injections and rating them. It really does improve your treatment because they all want to be top dog!

[engels in reply to Chancery]

If the injection is done properly then there shouldn't be any leakage at all. I've been doing my own injections for 5 years and have never had any leaks.

[Hidden in reply to engels]

I've never had any B12 leakage , been on injections since 2001. Wonder if it makes a difference what type of skin you have, I never produce blood either, not even a drop, only if I hit a vein, which does happen sometimes, but then I stop anyway and start again. My daughter will always produce blood, very delicate skin.

[Chancery in reply to engels]

Well, not sure what the definition of "properly" would be, Engels, since I have my lot well-trained! They never, or very seldom hurt (usually in very cold weather when we can't get the vials warm enough), but I do get variable amounts of leakage. Mostly just a seed bead-sized drop or two, but sometimes enough to make a 5p sized spot on a piece of cotton. No-one's ever stabbed me or made me bleed. Perhaps it's easier to inject yourself, since you can actually feel what you are doing.

[engels in reply to Chancery]

The nurses at my surgery did my injections for 4 years before I started doing them myself and I never experienced any leakage from those either.

[Chancery in reply to engels]

You are indeed sainted, Engels. I have obviously sinned in a previous life.

[Hidden in reply to engels]

I have never experienced any leakage either, and that is since being on B12 treatment since 2001.

[Ctb567 in reply to Hidden]

I guess you lot are lucky then! Sometimes I don't and I tend to find that when there is leakage it hurts a lot more. The other day I didn't feel a thing when I had the injection and there was no leakage what so ever. Think it was because I had a different nurse and it wasn't straight from the fridge too

[Hidden in reply to Ctb567]

Needs to be warmed up to body temp and injected slowly, just tell them..they really should know! Also removing the needle slowly so the hole closes may well help. I do everything very slowly.

[Jeanamarie46 in reply to engels]

I self inject also, may I ask where you find the best site to inject? Also mine are IM so gotta go in the muscle. Thanks

[MaryWarnecke]

I self inject slowly and then leave the syringe in for a moment at the end. Once the needle is out I massage it in.

[Jeanamarie46 in reply to MaryWarnecke]

May i ask do you do your injections In the muscle? And what do you think the best site is?? Thanks