Nurses poor injection technique

[Andypandy30]

I get my injection weekly in my surgery at the moment and the appointments I’m getting is always on a Tuesday afternoon. This particular nurse a few weeks ago hurt my arm by trying to give my injection in the shoulder ! I had to tell her to go lower and jumped and lost half the b12 . So I was understandably nervous last week when the lady in front of me came out clutching her shoulder . When it was my turn I tried to say to her nicely can u give it to me lower down my arm not in my shoulder and she insisted that that was the way they were trained but she agreed and did what I said . I was more than relieved but couldn’t believe it when as I felt her about to give it she punched the skin to inject instead of stretching . So this too wasn’t given correctly .so a bit of advise please . I may only be getting it weekly for a while as my old doctor is leaving and they are going through a change over and I wanted to ensure it was on my notes . What do I do re this nurse today . I want to get it but I’m terrified of how she will do it . I can self inject when I need to but the fact is that they have it on my notes for my need to get weekly injections .

[Margaret-S]

Hi Andy. This nurse techniques is awful. For a long time mine were given lower in my shoulder and very gently. Then along came a few stand in nurses who put it in my shoulder muscle. I dreaded it at first but needn't have worried. They have all done a good job. If I were you, I would speak to her before she gives you it and explain how she needs to be more gentle. After all....she isn't playing darts! And you are not a dart board. Hopefully it will be a better trained nurse today. Wishing you well and please let us know how you get on. 🌞

[Andypandy30 in reply to Margaret-S]

Thank you Margaret I’m going to try and explain it again today as last week when I took the little plaster off the cotton wool was pink so she’d lost have of it in the process . I am only going to get if at the surgery as I want it in my notes . I’m much happier doing it myself and maybe that’s why I’m so judgemental but as far as I’m aware she should not give it anywhere close to the shoulder bone

[clivealive Forum Support]

HI Andypandy30 I have had well over 600 B12 injections over the past twenty seven years always into the muscle in the fleshy part of my upper arm - slightly behind and two or three inches below the top of my shoulder.

I have lost count of the number of practice nurses that have injected me and can only count on the fingers of one hand how often I have said "ouch".

I had my latest one yesterday and funnily enough the nurse said "sorry" and I hadn't felt a thing

[Andypandy30 in reply to clivealive]

Thank you Clive this one may just be an exception to the rest as Iv never had a problem before . The lady in front of me came out crying last week as it was given so painfully in her upper arm . It is also my understanding that when giving Im injections the skin should be stretched and not pinched .

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Andypandy30]

As far as I am aware my nurses neither pinch or stretch as it all "goes on behind my back"

[Nackapan in reply to Andypandy30]

Strangely the doctor had to do it once and she pinched the skin but it didn't hurt are all. Today I had it in my upper arm no stretching or pinching as normal but was shocked it really hurt. It seems to go through phases with me. The nurse again said to me that this batch seems to be hurting. Her technique is good. I do wonder if there is something true in her statement. She gives enough of them and is a senior nurse. I'm on 2 weekly so arm not over used.

[Andypandy30 in reply to Nackapan]

Yes I haven’t had a problem before until this nurse .

[Nackapan in reply to Andypandy30]

There is a brutal one I avoid at all costs . Lovely woman but lousy technique

[mountainice in reply to clivealive]

Really, mine always hurt. Been having them 11 years.

[Cetus]

This video gives advice on where to inject in the shoulder. It advises a spot high up on the arm in order to inject into a big enough muscle. It seems to be what your nurse is doing.

youtube.com/watch?v=Dzdf2Yf...(Not working as expected?)

[Andypandy30 in reply to Cetus]

Thank you for the video

[Kazania]

I do sympathise with you, my experience has not been as bad as yours, but quite bad enough. I think the problem is they don’t realise that a B12 injection is different to normal one. Luckily for me there is a nurse at my surgery who does know how to do it and I always ask for her. It comes to something when a patient can do an injection better than a nurse! I also self inject, so although I have not mentioned it at the surgery it gave me more confidence to know that some nurses haven’t a clue. Can you request a different nurse next time and see if you can arrive at a properly trained one. I wish you success and pain-free injections. Take care of yourself.

[Andypandy30 in reply to Kazania]

Thank you I agree with that . I have less and less confidence in anyone but myself doing it now

[Dragonwalker]

It hurts if the serum is pushed in too quickly.

[Andypandy30 in reply to Dragonwalker]

Yes I agree I always ask for it to be given slowly