Is it me or the needles? | Arthritis Information

Here I go again with another question about injecting Enbrel. I'm almost 8 weeks into treatment now and only having minor problems after tests showed other symptoms were not due to taking it. I'm taking the twice weekly 25mg shots and have been injecting mostly in my stomach. A site reaction appeared weeks ago and so I stopped injecting near it but it still flared with each jab and now I have developed reaction on the other side.

The past 4 or 5 times injections have actually hurt going in and when removing the needle it has kinda pulled the skin with it causing a small amount of liquid to leak back out. I thought maybe I wasn't rotating sites enough (even though I use a different site each time) so I tried my thigh last night and it was just the same, I really had to push the needle in and boy did it hurt! It's as if these needles don't have the same 'glideability' as the others, but is it the needles or is it me? Has anyone had any similar problems?

Thanks for any help,

Moonie

PS. I'm not squeamish at all about injecting, just in case you thought I was just a wuss :P

Hi,

Are you allowing the alcohol to completely dry before you inject?

Are you holding your skin up in a nice big roll so your have a good target?

Have you tried going in from UNDER the tummy? Look at the tip of the needle, its at an angle, keep the opening facing upwards.

Are you injecting verrrrrry slowly? I inject to a chant, "my toes won't hurt, my ankles won't hurt..." etc naming each and every joint or area thats affected all the way to my jaw. whn I've finished, the fluid is generally all injected.

Lately I have a tremor, which a couple times has made the needle come out before I'm done injecting... i just move over an inch and continue.

good luck..

EWWWWWWWWW YOu guys are making me nervous

Yep, I'm waiting for the Alcohol to dry, plus I leave the Enbrel to warm to room temperature as someone suggested earlier.

Yep, I have a wonderful fold of flab thanks to the pred which makes a great target, and have tried injecting from underneath because that's what everyone suggested was least painful!

Once the needle's in it's fine, doesn't hurt and I always inject slowly because I'm too weak to push the plunger fast anyway- have to use two hands! And it all goes in fine.

What's hurting is the needle going in, it doesn't just glide in anymore I really have to shove it in! And then I really have to pull it back out, it's as if it's getting stuck.

Sorry Roxy don't want to gross you out, it was fine before this honest! I think maybe I have a batch of dull needles, maybe next batch will be better?

Thanks for the suggestions,

Moonie x

Hey Moonie, What do you mean "injecting underneath" Underneath what?

Hey Roxy, what it means is jabbing the pinched bit of flab from below rather than from above. Easier to do when standing up!

Don't worry about injecting at all, even with the problems I'm having here it's as easy as pie really and I think I'm just being an awkward one. The initial experience I had injecting was fine, the needle just glided in and I didn't feel a thing, hopefully will be back to that soon!

Thanks Moonie. I am just getting used to the idea I am doing it myself. My hubby wants to learn too but we are not together all week so I have to do it myself mostly. You know I had abdominal surgery and there is a numb place right below my scar. I wonder if that will work?

I can just see myself pulling the needle back out

Yep, have to mix it up myself - it's quite theraputic really!!

Moonie - my Enbrel was not pre- mixed.

A good nurse taught me that when I put the liquid in the vial that contains the Enbrel not to remove the needle (every time dulls the needle a bit so 1 time only) and also to push the needle into the vial straight down - careful not to bend needle.

Then grab yourself a good tight pinch where ever you decide to stick yourself.

Practice your 'stick' with an old needle on an orange. That really helped!

Hi Marian,

I'm not sure what you mean about not removing the needle when putting the liquid in... the needle is only attached right at the end when the stuff is mixed and drawn up into the syringe, so the only place the needle goes is into me.

Perhaps the routine has changed or is just different here in the UK? :/

Thanks, Moonie