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Needle sizing .

Higgey profile image
12 Replies

I’m having a problem with the size of needle used for b12 injection in my arm. Can anyone advise me, I have it in the upper arm with a 22g at present but it’s really painful. Please help thank you .kate

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Higgey
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wedgewood profile image
wedgewood

I would find self-injecting into an arm extremely difficult . Have you a special reason for using your arm? . Self-injectors usually use their thighs. You inject into the Vastus Lateralis muscle which is nearest the surface in the middle outer third of the thigh . That gives you a much larger area to inject into . Also good to swap thighs . I use a 25 G x 1inch needle for I,M. 25 G is finer than 22 G .

Some people prefer to inject sub-cutaneously , which means that they can use an even finer and shorter needle. namely 30 G x 1/2 inch . They then inject into their stomach fat , or into their thigh . You could look this up on the internet .

Those needles can be obtained from medisave.co.U.K.

You can obtain a numbing cream from Amazon.co.U.K.

wedgewood profile image
wedgewood in reply towedgewood

Yes as Readdaily writes , do use a long coarser needle -say 21G x 1 1/2 to withdraw the B12 , because if the needle touches the glass ampoule whilst withdrawing , the needle will be blunted and you will get a painful injection .

Readdaily profile image
Readdaily

I would suggest you try a 1 inch 25g needle. Always remember the higher the needle gauge number, the thinner the needle, which means less painful. Another thing that will help is if you use a 18g needle to dispense the B12 and then switch to the 25g to inject.

My daughter’s clinic gives her injections in her arm, and she has soreness from that area as well. I inject into my buttocks. I tried injecting in my thighs, but it was problematic. I’ve just found it easier, even if I don’t switch sides. I can do it laying down or standing with no problem, so you might want to try that. When having to alternate sides, you can use an auto-injector for the side you use for your no dominant hand. I currently use a 25g 1.5” needle, and it’s quite comfortable.

Thanks for the replies. I’ll try the other options.

fbirder profile image
fbirder in reply toBrokenbutbeautiful

Injecting into the buttocks isn’t recommended as there are large blood vessels and nerves that can be hit. I use the rectus femoris.

nursingtimes.net/clinical-a...

IM injection sites
Brokenbutbeautiful profile image
Brokenbutbeautiful in reply tofbirder

I appreciate the info. I’ll definitely try the thigh area again. The way I’d do it has been the way I always have, and was taught, but I’m open to trying new things.

KristinCC profile image
KristinCC in reply toBrokenbutbeautiful

I was taught to inject into my upper hip. So far I've had no problems except that I practically throw my back out every time I do it. 🤣 I'd rather do it in my thigh, but because I'm not quite sure how to, I've been hesitant to try.

rosyG profile image
rosyG in reply toBrokenbutbeautiful

I inject mine into the outer thigh. As an ex nurse I would say no buttocks as you can hit a nerve. When we used to give injections into buttocks the rule was upper outer quadrant but think that’s hard to do on self!

Brokenbutbeautiful profile image
Brokenbutbeautiful in reply torosyG

That’s where I do it. It isn’t the easiest but it’s the way I was taught. I’ll try the other ways that have been mentioned.

fbirder profile image
fbirder in reply torosyG

That's why I use the rectus femoris. Easy to find (sit on the edge of the bed, knees bent, and lift your leg at the hip. The rectus femoris stands out like a thick rope on the top of the thigh.

Cricket717 profile image
Cricket717

I use a 25 G 5/8th inch needle with a 3 ml syringe injecting into thighs. The dose is 1 ml but I find the 3 ml syringe easier to manage.

Bellabab profile image
Bellabab

I use a 23 gauge by 30 mm long needle to draw up the B12 from the ampoule and a 25 gauge by 16 mm long to inject into the rectus femoral muscle. This is what I have used with great success for years - sometimes there is a bit of pain but nothing much now and again - relaxing fully from the shoulders down greatly reduces the chances of pain.

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