Did I inject air bubbles into a vein?

[Sirclaxr]

I've been doing b12 Injections for awhile now but today was new. There's redness underneath, with pain that moves around after the injection. I did the injection subcutaneously in my thigh. A vein on my knee has turned really red and visible. I think I partly injected into a vein, is that alright? And I think there might have been a few tiny tiny air bubbles in the syringe, that's what I'm worried about. Would that be bad if so?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

if you have a bruise then you hit a vein with the needle. This would be a purplish patch

If it is a slightly pinky red patch that is probably B12 from the injection pooled under the skin.

I very much doubt that you have injected B12 into the vein or any air bubbles. The issue with injecting B12 is hitting and damaging a blood vessel.

If the vein and your leg are swelling and painful then consult a doctor.

To remove air bubbles before injecting tap the syringe gently- the bubbles will rise to the top and you can then expel them before injecting.

[Sirclaxr in reply to Gambit62]

Thankyou

[pvanderaa in reply to Gambit62]

After you’ve expelled the air from the syringes with the needle pointing up, turn the syringe so that the needle is pointing down and flick the syringe a couple more times so that any stray bubbles float up to the plunger.

When you inject, do so with the needle diagonally pointing downward so that the air bubbles stay at the plunger end. They end up in the syringe/nipple where the needle attaches. And actually help push a little extra B12 into the body that usually remains in the base of the needle.

[topazrat]

A few tiny air bubbles in the syringe will do no harm at all. You need to inject a surprisingly large amount of air before there is a problem - probably a whole syringe full in one hit! The lungs are excellent at scrubbing out small bubbles before they get anywhere near causing a problem, so rest assured, you haven't done any harm. Having said that, it is always wise to remove bubbles from the syringe before injecting.

I inject sub cut and often get a 'Barbie pink' mark for a few days if the B12 has pooled under the skin. It's gone within a few days, as the body has absorbed it.

B12 is given intravenously for cyanide poisoning in very high doses quite safely, so a small amount being accidentally given this way will cause no problem either.