How To Reduce Injection Pain
Dealing with Injection Site Pain Check how you are storing your medication Biologic Medication – must be kept in the refrigerator for storage is often much less painful upon injection when brought up to room temperature. Before injecting, remove one pre-filled syringe from the refrigerator and leave the syringe out for at least 30 minutes before using.
- Or alternatively, while still in the wrapper, hold the syringe in your armpit to bring it to body temperature more quickly.
- Methotrexate- Nordimet, Methofill and Metoject injections do not need to be stored in the Fridge Injections Sites- Choose a site that has a little extra fat.
- If your Abdomen (tummy) is very lean, try injecting into your thighs.
If your thighs are small, try giving the injection into your stomach Abdomen (tummy). Do not inject into skin that is irritated, visible small blood vessels reddened, bruised, infected, or scarred in any way Rotating the Injection site- If you notice bruising or pain, rotate your injection site.
One site may be easier than others, but rotating can help reduce any pain, tension, or frustration you may experience. Make sure to clean the area with an alcohol pad afterward. If you still experience significant pain, you may be able to use a numbing cream. Cold skin can be hard and stiff, Inject after a warm shower/bath, when the skin is soft and supple.
Or apply a warm compress to the injection site for five minutes before injecting. However, take caution in any area where sensation of temperature is impaired to avoid burning yourself. Numb the area- If you are prone to bruising and pain, you can use ice or an ice pack to numb the injection site for several minutes prior to injecting yourself.
Remember do not cause an “Ice Burn”- always place the ice/ ice pack in cloth Numbing Cream- Some numbing creams are available over the counter, but make sure to check with your doctor before incorporating a numbing cream into your routine. Prevent irritation by keeping injection site clean and dry- Wet alcohol on the skin can burn during injections.
If you use an alcohol swab to clean the skin, let the alcohol dry before injection to avoid the sting. Then after the injection, quickly apply a cotton ball to prevent medication from potentially leaking and irritating the surrounding skin. Relaxing- Try to relax a bit just before the injection by thinking of something pleasant that makes you happy, then massaging the injection site by before and after injecting by applying pressure with your fingers, which will help to “calm” the area.
- It’s a great trick for getting rid of pain! Be aware that while you’re massaging the injection site, there may be a few involuntary muscle spasms Vibration- Buzzy Device- Buzzy is a vibrating device with ice pack wings that decreases sharp pain when placed upstream.
- It uses natural pain relief by confusing your body’s own nerves, thereby dulling or eliminating sharp pain.
In the same way that rubbing a bumped elbow helps stop the hurt or cool running water soothes a burn bypasses sharp pain. Remove the cool gel pad from the refrigerator and apply the Buzzy device 1-2 minutes before you are due to have your injection. http://www.buzzy4shots.co.uk/Health_Care_Buzzy.html Keep the goal in mind- If your daily injections get difficult or tiresome, think about why you are taking the medication.
Keeping your disease in control and preventing disability is the main purpose of your injection, keeping your goal in mind may help ease any fear or anxiety you may be experiencing. Remembering the reason can also help you keep any discomfort you may feel in perspective. Know when to ask for help- If you can’t inject yourself or are having a difficult time with certain injection sites, have someone else, like your partner, administer the injection for you.
If that’s not possible, talk to the Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialists to show you the best way to inject yourself can make a big difference. Please do not hesitate to contact the Department of Rheumatology Patient advice and information line if you need further advice and support – Telephone 02392286935 or email : Dealing with Injection Site Pain
Contents
Why is my injection so painful?
What causes post-injection inflammation? – The most common cause is the skin or the immune system’s response to the needle or the medicine. Less common causes include an allergic reaction to the medicine. In rare cases, an infection at the injection site can occur.
When does injection pain go away?
Summary – Injection site reactions are usually mild when they do occur. However, sometimes they can indicate something more serious, like an infection. High fever, swelling, drainage from the injection site, or severe pain are all reasons to see a healthcare provider for an evaluation.
- McNeil MM, DeStefano F. Vaccine-associated hypersensitivity, J Allergy Clin Immunol,2018;141(2):463-472. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.12.971
- Long B, Gottlieb M. Emergency medicine updates: anaphylaxis, Am J Emerg Med,2021;49:35-39. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2021.05.006
By Nicole Galan, RN Nicole Galan, RN, is a registered nurse and the author of “The Everything Fertility Book.” Thanks for your feedback!
How do I numb my injection site?
Numb Your Skin – Apply an ice pack to the injection site about 15 minutes before you plan to administer your medication. Numbing the skin will temporarily reduce pain and serve as another distraction since your skin will be very cold! Your doctor can also prescribe numbing cream.
What’s the most painful injection?
Every recruit, in the first few weeks of boot camp, will get in a line during their medical evaluations and get stuck in the arm with all sorts of needles and have thermometers shoved into some uncomfortable places. Welcome to the military! Out of all the medications recruits get injected with throughout their processing week, none of them are as feared as the almighty “peanut butter” shot.
While these peanut butter shots are awesome, the ones we get in boot camp are far from exciting. Peanut butter shots! Looks delicious, right? The “peanut butter” shot, in the military, is a slang term for the famous bicillin vaccination every recruit receives unless they have an allergy — and can prove it.
But if you can’t, you’re in for an experience of a lifetime. You’ll be brought into an examination room, usually as a group, and be told to drop your trousers past one of your butt cheeks and bend over. Once the recruit has assumed their most vulnerable position, the medical staff will attach a long and thick needle to a pre-filled vial of bicillin.
Fear the peanut butter shot. Yes, fear it. Since bicillin kills off a variety of bacteria strands in one shot, it’s given to nearly every recruit. Now, once the medical staff injects the recruits in their butt cheek, the pain hits them like a bolt of electricity. The thick liquid begins to pour into the muscle, but it doesn’t spread as fast as you might think.
Oh, no! The human body absorbs the thick, peanut-butter looking medication at a slow rate because of the liquid’s density and creates a painful, red lump on the recruit’s ass. You literally can’t sit right for a few days. Since some boot camps require their recruits to be highly active, the idea of adding intense physical movement to the shot’s excruciating pain just adds to the “peanut butter” shot’s awfulness.
- MORE POSTS FROM WE ARE THE MIGHTY: These were the terrifying dangers of being a ‘Tunnel Rat’ in Vietnam 5 ways to skate in Marine Corps boot camp 5 warrior playlists to get you pumped before a live fire range We Are The Mighty (WATM) celebrates service with stories that inspire.
- WATM is made in Hollywood by veterans.
It’s military life presented like never before. Check it out at We Are the Mighty, Show Full Article © Copyright 2023 We Are The Mighty. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Will ice numb your skin?
Why do people numb their skin? – There are two primary reasons you may want to temporarily numb your skin:
to relieve current painin anticipation of future pain
The primary causes of pain from which you may want to temporarily numb your skin include:
Sunburn. With sunburn, your skin is burned from overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Dermatitis. Your skin’s inflamed after coming in contact with a substance that irritated it or caused an allergic reaction. Skin injury. Your skin’s injured but not penetrated to the point blood appears.
Reasons you might want your skin temporarily numbed to prepare for future pain are:
medical procedures such as getting stitches to close a wound and before you undergo a skin surface procedure such as dermabrasion cosmetic procedures such as ear piercing, tattooing, and hair removal procedures, such as waxing
For local numbing and pain control, doctors typically use local anesthetics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many of these are also available in over-the-counter strength for home use:
lidocaine (Dermoplast, LidoRx, Lidoderm)benzocaine (Solarcaine, Dermoplast, Lanacane)pramoxine (Sarna Sensitive, Proctofoam, Prax)dibucaine (Nupercainal, Rectacaine)tetracaine (Ametop Gel, Pontocaine, Viractin)
There are number of natural products that can effectively numb your skin to relieve pain or to prepare for anticipated pain, including:
Ice. An ice pack or cold compress can numb the pain of minor injuries, sunburn, and other conditions. Ice can also numb your skin prior to a procedure such as an ear piercing. Patting. Patting your skin sharply a few times can have a very short-lived numbing effect. Aloe vera. The gel from aloe vera leaves can ease the pain of sunburn and other skin injuries. Clove oil. This can be applied to your skin as a counterirritant for pain with early research suggesting that it can act on the skin similarly to benzocaine. Plantain. A fresh poultice made with plantain — the weed, not the fruit — may fight inflammation while soothing the skin. Chamomile. A 2010 study showed that chamomile essential oils effectively penetrate below your skin’s surface into the deeper layers as a topical anti-inflammatory agent.
Whether you’re numbing your skin to alleviate pain or to prepare for pain, you have both natural and medical options. Before using any numbing agent, check with your doctor and discuss the safety concerns and the best options for your particular needs.
What if you hit a nerve when injecting?
Other injection site events – Case reports that mention SIRVA also describe other shoulder injuries that can occur when landmarking is not performed correctly. Injections that occur below the deltoid muscle can hit the radial nerve and injections that are too far to the side of the deltoid muscle can hit the axillary nerve.3, 4 If a nerve is hit, the patient will feel an immediate burning pain, which can result in paralysis or neuropathy that does not always resolve.3, 4
Can I use numbing cream before injection?
Many children are afraid of needles. Using numbing cream before your child has a blood test or an immunization shot can help with the pain.
Do you pinch the skin when giving an IM injection?
Insert needle at an 45o angle to the skin. Pinch up on SQ tissue to prevent injecting into muscle. Aspiration before injection is not required.
Does moving your arm after an injection help?
6 Ways to Reduce Arm Soreness from a Vaccine –
Relax. Flexing the arm during the injection can cause more damage and pain. And, if you’re nervous, you might be doing it without even knowing. Consider distracting yourself by looking away, closing your eyes or having something to watch during the injection. Deep breaths can also help you relax. Move, move, move. Moving your arm will help disperse the liquid (injectate) put in your muscle and, in turn, will help with muscle soreness. An easy exercise you can try to increase movement is a lateral deltoid raise. Place your hands (palms down) at your sides. Then, lift your arms straight out to the side until you get to shoulder level. After your vaccine, try doing three sets of 10 raises a few times throughout the day. Stretching. Try stretching your shoulder more than normal to help reduce inflammation. One good option is an across the chest stretch. To do it, put your sore arm across your chest. Place it in the crease of your opposite elbow and hold. Ice. Icing in short intervals throughout the day can help reduce swelling, which will reduce soreness. Over-the-counter medication. after your shot can help reduce inflammation and soreness. Since the vaccine is trying to stimulate an inflammatory and immune response, and these over-the-counter medications limit that, it’s best not to pre-treat for pain before your vaccine. Avoid Strenuous Exercise. Stick with lighter aerobic exercise and strength training immediately after any vaccines. High intensity activities can worsen the arm soreness.
What can I use to numb my skin before injection?
2. Use numbing cream – Topical anesthetics can be applied in advance to numb the injection area. (Heather Hazzan, SELF Magazine/flickr), CC BY Also called topical anesthetics, these creams help to numb the skin where the needle will be injected. Topical anesthetics (Emla, Ametop and Maxilene) can be purchased over the counter from any pharmacy and come as a patch or in a tube.
- They typically need to be applied to the skin 30 to 60 minutes before the needle, so applying the numbing cream is often something that can be done at home, and later removed at the clinic.
- Insider tip: Some kids don’t like having the patch removed because it’s like taking off a bandage.
- Instead, you can apply the numbing cream and wrap the area with cling wrap.
To be sure the numbing cream is applied in the right place on the body, check ahead with a pharmacist or health-care provider to find out where the shot will be injected.
How can I make my injections easier?
Sit in a comfortable place where you feel more relaxed. Apply ice to the injection site about a minute before the injection. Make sure you apply the ice, then clean with alcohol, then inject. If your injection is really painful, ask your doctor if numbing cream might help.
