Copaxone injection question

[LoveMyBostons]

So I'm on my 4th week of Copaxone now. It's not too bad at all. I have some stinging that goes away in 10 minutes or so. But when I do my thighs it always hurts more, I always bleed a little bit and I seem to lose some of the medicine along with the blood. I'm shooting the thighs at a depth of 8 right now. Would decreasing it to 6 help this at all? I called SS and she suggested using the ice & warm packs but I'm not concerned over the bruising, I'm concerned about the medicine oozing out. Thanks in advance for your advice. 16 days until Christmas!!

[Lulu54]

Our legs have so many capillaries and veins close to the surface it is hard to miss hitting something!  When you do, it is going to bleed.  Putting slight pressure on the spot immediately after injecting will  help to cut down on this problem.  I typically only bleed a drop or two when I hit something with  my needle.

I discussed needle depth with my neuro, and he says that the higher the number (deeper penetration) the better for cutting down on reactions and also  delivering the drug into my system.  I have my autoinjector set on a 9 and don't vary it.


Honestly, I don't feel this shot at all - and rarely feel any reaction to the copaxone either.  

be well,
Lulu

[HVAC]

I find that bleeding occurs when I do not pull out straight. When I pull out at an angle. I have mine set on 4 all the time. I do bruise more on the thighs.

[LoveMyBostons]

Is it hard to inject manually though? We practiced it when the nurse came over but I haven't actually done it for real. I like the auto injector for the most part. My arms barely hurt at all and that's where I use a 6 so maybe I'll try 6's elsewhere.

[Geekboy]

I have been on Copaxone for 2 months and I don't have any trouble with the auto-injector. I keep it at 6 all of the time. I do bleed a little usually but I use the little round band aids and just slap one on right after I pull the needle out. They also help me keep track of where I injected myself. Hope this helps.

[Heather3418]

The little bit of medication that seeps out, is not enough to where you are not getting your proper dose.  Not to worry.  I have this seepage all the time.  Especially if I do my thighs.  My thighs hurt worse with injections, so I try not to use them at all.

Michael is right, do not use the auto-injector to do the thighs.  It does make it hurt worse.  The thighs do seem to bleed a little bit more than other areas.

I have such a big mud flap on my belly and the back of my upper arms, that those are my prime choices for injection.  The ones in the lower abdomen do not hurt at all.  The ones in my arms, which are self-injected by my partner, sting a little bit more.  Even after a year and half of using Copaxone.

Hang in there.  It does get easier and less painful.  Try not to scratch the welts.  I know it's hard, but ice them, rather than scratch.  Scratching only makes it worse.

I have my auto-injector on 6 and don't have as many injection site reactions, if I am going to use the auto-injector.  Things really do go better if I don't use the injector at all.  Less trauma to the skin.  The injector "slams" the skin in my opinion and causes more problems.  Shared Solutions will NOT admit this, though.  

Good luck and hope things go better for you.

Heather

[MCBCON]

I found that it is best not to use the auto-injector when injecting into the thighs.  It seemed to work best to make fold of skin and inject manually into the folded skin.  There was much less stinging.