Pain when injecting

[Winniepoo15]

Hi everyone. So I’ve been self injecting for 18 months & all been well. Three weeks ago I went to inject & was very painful but did get the b12 in. This morning I’ve gone to inject (always in my thighs) & so painful, just can’t get the needle in. Tried twice more & too painful. Ended up injecting myself in the stomach which was ok. What is going on? Could it be anything to do with high blood pressure-although had for two years. I’m always grateful for any help & support. Many thanks all.

[Nackapan]

If okay in your stomach with a subcutaneous 💉 b12 injection .Stay with that for a while.

No rhyme or reason at times .

Tense muscle?

If same needle size

Same supplier

Same b12 ?

I've no idea about high BP affecting your thighs fof injection.

I've had the odd needle not as sharp so started again.

I only do sc at home .

The IM ones in my arm vary alot.

Better now im not skinny though !

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you for your reply Nackapan. Do you think could be this batch of needles? Never known pain like this when injecting. Also feels like bruising under skin after. I have no needles for sc so these will have to do for now. Things us PA patients have to deal with to feel well.

[Nackapan in reply to Winniepoo15]

Yes could be batch of needles .Skin tougher on thighs .

If you use your stomach.

2" away from belly button.

A fine needles 27- 30G

1/2 long or 3/4 if heavier or s deep sc.

[deniseinmilden]

Usually it's fine but very, very occasionally it hurts like goodness knows what!

I take it you aren't injecting every day?

I am and sometimes I have to try 20 different places and often give up on one leg and try the other and it's still not entirely comfortable! But then there are other days when I literally don't feel it at all. It's just how it is, I think - it's been the same for nearly 8 years now.

I just think it's a good sign that my nerves are working now and just some days they are more sensitive than others. Sometimes I even change needles and it seems to help - at least psychologically! 😃

Definitely don't worry about it - it will be fine another day, I promise.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to deniseinmilden]

Aww thanks so much for you reply. It’s very helpful to know it’s not just me. I was diagnosed 18mths ago & did inject eod for 5 mths & never had a problem. My nerve pains have recently started to come back so maybe need to do more frequently & could be that? The pain has really put me off & dreading the next. I’m doing three weekly atm. What else do you take alongside b12 & how frequently? I always feel like I’m missing something.

[deniseinmilden in reply to Winniepoo15]

I'm sure it will be fine so try not to worry too much (easier said than done, I know!). I think I've only ever had two bad jabs in a row out of getting on for 3.000 jabs.

I think it could well be a case of needing more frequent jabs to calm your nerves again. It's certainly worth trying.

I eat a nutrient dense diet and take an A-Z multivitamin and mineral supplement, plus extra B-vitamins, plus methylfolate, extra vitamin D3 + K2, and then potassium chloride and magnesium chloride as necessary.. I used to need additional iron too but I now get enough from my diet and A-Z.

Don't feel this is in any way a recommendation as I have several issues that affect my digestion, absorption and metabolism but at least it will give you some idea.

Try more B12 tool. Good luck with it.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to deniseinmilden]

thank you. I am also on lots of vits etc. I also have an under active thyroid. I’ve not done anything different for eighteen months so not sure what’s going on but do know I’m concerned about doing my next jab. Oh the joys!

[Wwwdot]

Hi Winniepoo

I have been injecting EOD for three months now. Always sc into tum. Recently I have had a few “tough” spots too and was wondering why, so your post is timely.

The good news is that although some injection sites appear to be tougher to penetrate once in all is ok. I warm the B12 in my hand before I inject the B12 as slowly as possible as in my experience this reduces risk of pain and bruising.

I leave the needle in (supported) for about 20-30 seconds afterwards then massage the site with the alcohol swab once needle out.

I have stretch marks from my pregnancies and I avoid injecting through the skin at those places - no idea why I avoid it - just psychological- I don’t know whether the skin would be thinner there or tougher - but I don’t want to find out unless I have to! Some others may be able to shed light!

I hope you find some pain relief in your new site and continue to feel better.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Wwwdot]

aww thanks for your reply. Am now thinking about doing next few in my stomach as that was ok. I’ve not done anything different so wondering if bad batch needles.

[Wwwdot in reply to Winniepoo15]

Perhaps try injecting water into an orange 🍊 to refine your technique and test the needles. Then try injecting the orange at a similar angle as you would yourself.

A slight angle helps the needle go in but I find too upright it can struggle and too angled it can struggle.

And you get to eat a very juicy orange! 😂

I will send a link to the needles I use.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Wwwdot]

thank you, that would be very helpful.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Wwwdot]

thank you so much. The ones I use are the blue needles from same company. Are they for im use or sc?

[Wwwdot in reply to Winniepoo15]

I only inject sc so don’t know.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Wwwdot]

that’s what I usually do. Those needles are finer than what I use so think I’ll invest in some. Thank youWwwdot

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Winniepoo15]

I will let you know if they make a difference

[Wwwdot in reply to Winniepoo15]

I do hope they help - it’s the most important part to get right I think. Good luck.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Wwwdot]

you are absolutely right & needs to be pain free. We have enough going on without these little extras to concern us. All the best to you.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Winniepoo15]

hi Just to let you know I’ve received the needles that you suggested. I didn’t think they would make much difference , but they really have. I injected yesterday & no prob at all. I’m sure I have a dodgy pack of plume needles. Thanks for your support.

[Hidden]

I've found this too, its usually when putting it in the fattier bits of the thigh ,when gone a bit too far to the outer bit of the thigh maybe? When I first started injecting never had a problem with pain but I was much thinner. As I 've got better and started to eat properly again, my thigh is fleshier and has thrown my perception of where the muscle is I think so if I get the more fattier bit of the thigh I find it more painful and have bruised recently whereas I never did initially. Sometimes its absolutely painless, I find that more when I do it more towards the outer centre of my thigh (not by the bone obvisouly still the outer thigh but not as near the edge of the thigh if you know what I mean). Sometimes I end up doing it further out on the outer thigh because I start worrying about hitting the bone but if I go too far its the most painful. Just a suggestion, I do find my pain threshold is different at different times of the month

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Hidden]

hi. I just can’t get the needle in at all it’s too painful. Don’t know if it’s the needles or me. Will try in stomach or even upper arm. If not I’ll have to see the nurse who I really don’t want to see.

[Hidden in reply to Winniepoo15]

I know me too I move to a different site when that happens or leg, you could try this if your brave enough as I know it hurts more the slower I do it m.youtube.com/watch?v=0_XPg...(Not working as expected?)

[Winniepoo15 in reply to Hidden]

haha-I’m not brave enough incase it hurts badly. The pain has really put me off.

[Hidden in reply to Winniepoo15]

ha yes me neither !

[lambuth_eagle]

Not just you! I've been injecting for a little over a year and every now and then I'll have a tough day. When that happens it seems to take me a few injections to get back in the groove. Sometimes the needle will go in easy as can be and then get to the muscle and hurt. Other times it hurts to pierce the skin but then I can't feel the rest. Try to inject after a shower or bath so the muscles are warm and loose. I've also found that applying a thick lotion like a body butter on my thighs nightly helps keep the skin from being so tough. Keep going...it will get easier again!

[Winniepoo15 in reply to lambuth_eagle]

Thank you. I just can’t even pierce the skin & so painful it has put me right off now. Same happened three weeks ago. Maybe I’ll try in arm next. Good to know it’s not just me or my needles.

[topazrat]

Most jabs are fine, but I get the odd one where even touching the needle to the skin is a no. If I persevere and push through, it hurts like stink until its most of the way in. My daughter thinks it funny seeing me touch the needle to my skin, say nope, and move it elsewhere. 🙂

[Winniepoo15 in reply to topazrat]

that’s just how I am & made me scared to do the next one. Isn’t it painful?

[JohnM57]

It may be that you are blunting the needle as you fill up the syringe from the vial. I use 1 longish needle to load the syringe then I swap it for a small finer one for the actual injection. It was a tip I learned from the practice nurse many years ago. Try it.

[Winniepoo15 in reply to JohnM57]

hi & thank you. I use different needles to draw up so know not that. I have actually filled up with injecting needles before & still never had this problem. Oh the joy!