Hi all! I’m 20 self injections EOD into my treatment, so I’ve been on hydroxocobalamin for a month and a bit.
My first 8 or 9 injections, the pain of inserting the needle was minimal, and they never bled after. Since then though, every single one has bled and they are so much more painful when inserting the needle. I’ve noticed I’m starting to dread them because of it, whereas before they were a completely neutral thing or I even looked forward to the positive adrenaline boost they’d give me!
Obviously I will continue my injections no matter how much they hurt, but since I haven’t changed my technique or equipment at all, I’m wondering why it’s suddenly and consistently hurting significantly more and making the injections difficult physically and mentally. Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone else?
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AJackson21
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One explanation could be that because you have PA/B12D, your nerves and muscles could have been a bit ‘numb’. Now, the Hydroxycobalamin is healing your body and repairing your nerves, you can feel sensations more. (Like pain).
Vitamin B12 is needed in every cell and in every system which includes the cardiovascular system (heart, veins and arteries). A healthy person has good ‘blood flow’. If you have seen any films of TV shows, for operations, nail varnish is removed. This is because medics can see how good the blood is flowing to the nail beds.
Now, I would suggest using an orange needle and sub-cutaneous. It is easier and more comfortable. The efficiency of this method is not that different.
Having an illness/condition is one thing, managing it is another. You being confident in having treatment, being able to monitor your own health and the progress, you AJackson21, have made so far on your health journey.
Thank you for your reply! I was hoping it wasn’t that I was actually numb before, but it’s a very good explanation! It definitely feels like I’ve been healing in that way, I’m definitely a healthier colour on my skin and am bruising less after my iron infusion too so it would make sense that the additional bleeding could happen along with the pain. I already do subcut with an orange needle so that’s good and I will keep trying to rotate a bit more and getting used to it. After so many years of not being treated, it’s just nice to be able to make progress 😊
Technique is do NOT pinch skin, you stretch the skin.
This is because of anatomy and physiology. After injection and letting go of your stretched skin, it naturally closes the puncture hole and reduces the chance of bleeding.
Proper health professionals are ‘all fingers and thumbs’. As an example, taking blood, it is only a bit of visualisation but we are feeling for direction and rebound.
In the skin, there are special receptors to feel that stretch which are named after an embryologist.
Dear Narwhal I too had increasing pain these last few months and I attributed it to less fat from weight loss. I had not considered 'technique' was now important.
So the last few days I have been consciously stretching my skin when injecting and eureka no pain. Phew, what a relief. Thank you so much, exceedingly grateful. X.
hello AJackson21, yes I experience same now, as you say its off putting but there's no other option. At times I find it v. difficult and frustrating to get the needle in or find a vein free area. I do sympathise .
I am now trying out a slightly longer needle in case I was injecting into nerves. . Also moving back to to stomach, had been using thighs not much fat there.
Just started but seems better, but really too soon to say. Might be that thigh area had become very sensitive the more I injected. Time will tell.
Not sure what to suggest. Relaxing muscles is good., others ice the area and find it helps. I keep a cotton wool pad close for 'bleeders'.
I used the Panpharma brand for ages , then found the latest batch stung more and was also sore in that spot afterwards. I switched to Pascoe and no probs again. Not everyone has had this stinging though.
As Narwhal10 says, try a smaller needle and SC route. This will give you more choice to rotate the site.
Try rotating the site where you inject. I still inject im into my thighs (have done eod injections for 4 months now after a failed attempt to reduce the frequency). I divide the middle of each thigh into 3 and rotate, so i never inject in the same place more often than every 12 days (i write down where i last injected otherwise i don't remember). It helps avoid an area becoming sensitised. If it does become sensitised, then i avoid injecting in that area for a little longer (couple of weeks).
I get an occasional blip but very seldom really . . . . . . I use the thighs and I could not tell ye where I last injected. . . . . . I been doing this now over 3 years at least. . . . . . I use 30g 1" 25mm needle .. . . . I used to use a 1ml syringe but discovered I could buy 2ml cheaper not that that makes any odds to most and it also saves injecting twice should one require. . . . . .. I am male, 66 so not much fat on my legs . . . . . Wish I could say the same for my belly . . . . . . Anyhow . . . . . So all the instructions tell you to use your hands on upper and lower thigh and the bit between toward the outside is the area . . . . . I find it easier in the nearer upper part of that given area. . . . . If I go toward the knee or around the side I can hit blood vessels on occasion. . . . . . . I do not push the plunger quickly but instead take my time probably over 5 10 seconds. . . . . . I found the 1ml syringe much easier to plunge the plunger in quickly. . . . . . . Slow I feel nothing at all and if I do feel anything I just stop for a second. . . . . . Many will say to wait until the alcohol from the wipe is dry. . . . . I dont know anything about that . . . . . I use alcohol on my hands and leg prior to drawing up etc as a precaution and the alcohol numbs the skin I feel. . . . . . . Relaxing is another thing. . . . Maybe the main thing. . . . . . Dont be relaxed and it will surely hurt. . . . . . I put two pillows at the head of the bed supported right to my shoulders . . . . . . . . I park myself body upright almost and legs straight out n front. . . . . You should be able to move your arms etc without even twitching a leg muscle . . . . . Your legs will then be relaxed. . . . . . Try that and you might find an improvement. . . . . I hate doing it sitting in any form of a chair. . . .. . . .
Sorry to hear this. B12 jabs are much more painful than most injections thats for sure. I haven’t much to add other than whats been said but as a retired nurse I’d reiterate changing the injection site regularly and often a blue needle can be less painful than orange. I read research that with smaller needles fluid is pushed out with more pressure so can be more painful. So a larger (within reason) probably would be better. Its important to do what works for you. We all find our best way and routine, I draw up with a red filter needle and give with a blue. Hope this helps x
I self inject 1ml per week, using a 30g 1ml 8mm insulin syringe with needle. I find that the first 0.5ml goes in without much discomfort, but the last 0.5 is painful, so I use 2 syringes filled to 0.5 ml each. For me the tummy or hip/buttock area are less painful than the thigh so I use those locations. When I do the weekly injections I do one in the tummy and one in the hip. In my mind those 2 areas might have different absorption rates so perhaps the availability might be more evenly distributed throughout the week.
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So much for my confidence !
Newbie, suffering B12 deficiency-sharing my story so far
Ready for my fourth SI 
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First Injection Done...thank you all
