IM injection technique question - Pernicious Anaemi...

Pernicious Anaemia Society

32,678 members24,075 posts

IM injection technique question

cdragin profile image
12 Replies

When you inject, do you pull back on the needle to see if blood is drawn up? I've seen some advice to do this, but some instructions I've seen skips this step.

Written by
cdragin profile image
cdragin
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
12 Replies
pvanderaa profile image
pvanderaa

No. I just make sure there is no air in the needle/syringe and insert the needle and press the syringe. I think pulling back to see blood is more appropriate for interveinous (IV) injections to ensure the needle is in the vein.

It is not important for intermuscular (IM) or subcultaneous(subc) injections. If I hit a blood vessel, I can get a rush from the B12 and the injection doesn’t last as long. In eight years of self injections, I’ve only done this once or twice. More likely I will bleed under the skin and get a bruise from hitting a blood vessel.

wedgewood profile image
wedgewood

In four years of self-injecting weekly , I’ve never done that . I have come to no harm ! I do make sure that there is no air in the syringe , by flicking it to bring any bubbles of air to the top and then lightly press the plunger until a tiny bead of liquid appears on the tip of the needle .Then I’m ready to go .

JanD236 profile image
JanD236

When my GP practice nurse was showing me how to si she advised me that drawing back is not necessary.

deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden

I usually do coz I was taught to do it as a standard practice for injecting all types of injectables (some must not go IV, some you are trying to get in the vein) 30 years ago and I've just got into the habit of it but you don't need to for B12 as it is safe to inject IV, as well as IM and SC. If you want to it's not a problem either way.

Sazntef profile image
Sazntef

The only reason you need to do that is to verify you found a vein, but as this is a subcutaneous injection it doesn't apply. Don't pull back on the syringe to check for blood.

Chaka profile image
Chaka

Hi. It is not necessary to pull back the needle, as there are no large blood vessels in the deltoid muscle, if using the appropriate sized needle. Hope this helps.

cdragin profile image
cdragin

Thank you all! Getting used to self-injecting is difficult enough without adding another step.

Annnon58 profile image
Annnon58

Drawing back is a very old fashioned method and is no longer used or thought to nurses now . Good luck

Galixie profile image
Galixie

I don't. My mom is a retired nurse and taught me to self-inject. She told me it was common to pull back to check for blood but, as the color of the B12 is also red, it could be pretty difficult to tell. So I just skip it.

pvanderaa profile image
pvanderaa

I press and hold a penny on the desired injection site for the count of 10. This leaves a nice ring on the skin that is a great bullseye to aim for. Clean the ring with alcohol swab and inject inside the ring.

Harvena profile image
Harvena in reply topvanderaa

Thank you for your advice so kindly given many weeks ago, I actually plucked up courage last week and have now done 2 IM, you gave me confidence (although it took me a while LOL). A little annoyed with myself as I had just bought 100 30g needles, but will buy more for IM and probably alternate for a while to check the effect. Thanks again.

Yellowkangaroo profile image
Yellowkangaroo

I was sent this link in response to a similar post of mine a couple of weeks ago, it's helped my technique immensely! I thought it would be less painful to insert the needle very very slowly then inject very very slowly... realised it's actually the opposite so now much quicker and painless! Its quite in depth but I found it useful.

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Injection location and technique

Hi, I've been self-injecting for about 3 weeks and it's going ok but I seem to be floundering a...
Curlygal profile image

Nurses poor injection technique

I get my injection weekly in my surgery at the moment and the appointments I’m getting is always on...
Andypandy30 profile image

Injection mrthod question.

Hello everyone. Currently have. A nurse practitioner who has ordered 5000mcg methyl cobalamin each...

Hydroxocobalamin IM Injection

Hello, I received my hydroxocobalamin to inject IM. Just wanted to make sure of a couple things. I...
Sunny560 profile image

Question after first im self injection

My first s.i today but what i worried about afterwoods was it did not have that 10 second muscle...
Marlboro123 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator
Foggyme profile image
FoggymeAdministrator
taka profile image
takaAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.