Humira | Arthritis Information

Hi, I'm new here and I was diagnosed with JRA when I was very little. At age 12 it went away (thank God!) for a few years and last year I had a flare up. I am 17 now and since last year I have been given Clinoril, Sulfasalazine and Methotrexate orally. Two weeks ago I had my first Humira Pen shot because the other pills alone weren't doing anything. Today was supposed to be when I gave myself my shot, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Every time I tried to, I'd put the pen down on my leg and then give up! It was too scary, I despise needles. So I had my mom try, but then I chickened out also. I am so afraid of needles that the only reason I let nurses give me shots/blood tests is because I feel bad saying no to them! I know it will be better for me to take the shots, but I just can not do it. And it doesn't help that when the nurse taught me how to do it myself, it stung like heck!! The injection was awful, it felt like my leg was on fire. And the pen doesn't even have preservatives in it (at least that is what the box says).

Tomorrow I have an appointment to have a nurse do it again, but I am dreading it like none other!

Does anyone have any tips to make it hurt less or is there anything else I can do instead of injections? I would really appreciate feedback.

Thanks,
CourtneyHi Courtney,

I have been using enbrel pre-filled syringes, and I hated the shots too! When I called their nurse hotline, it was suggested to me to put an ice pack on the spot for a few minutes BEFORE doing the shot. This was to help constrict the blood vessels, but it might help with pain too. I would suggest asking the nurse first b/c we are using different meds. I have found it helpful though.

Nori

Yeah, my nurse suggested an ice pack too. I didn't know what it was for, though (informative nurses, huh lol), so thanks!I think the ice pack can also numb the area to make it more tolerable.

Nori

With Humira it's not the needle that hurts so bad; it's the medication itself. I hate them too....but they work so well for me that I never miss a shot unless I have to.

My husband gives me mine in the butt. It still hurts....but I think it hurts a little less there.

You'll get use to it. Hang in there.

Are you letting the Humira warm up to room temperature before injection.
I take mine out of the fridge and leave on the bench for a good 30-40 min.

I also inject into the softer tissue either side of the belly button but not near the belly button.
Left or right hand of the stomach.

I have had no burning or side affects from the jab what so ever.
Have heard a few mention of the stinging when injected into muscle and or not letting the pen warm to room temperature.
Mine was warmed up so that wasn't the problem, but you're right, it is the medication that hurts, not the actual needle.

Last time I did it in my thigh. I am thinking of doing it in my stomach next time because i have a little more flab there. :P

Why not near the belly button?

Oh, also, do you pinch when you give the shot? I don't want to, but my nurse told me to (she was reading the instructions the whole time, though, she had never done one before..).CourtneyS2008-06-02 19:07:29Yes, gentle little pinch, just enough to form a little mound to inject into.

As for the belly button, it is just something that I "think" I heard mentioned.
http://www.humira.com/CrohnsDisease/AdministeringHumira/Default.aspx

Here's an Abbott website that talks about Humira, ice packs, and belly buttons.
I use the syringes instead of the pen so I can control the flow of the med in case of sting. I also, like Bodak, leave the med out of the fridge for 30 minutes prior to injecting. I leave the pen out for 30 minutes, then I take a blow dryer and hold it a couple of feet away and warm it up for about a minute. I have found that when you push the plunger and the injection starts, don't push on it any more. The plunger will automatically go down. If you continue to push it, it seems to sting more. Hope this helps.

Brett

ice it, try the stomach. Only the first two times did I feel a slight burning when the medicine went in. I ice after too. Good luckI used Humira and found my stomach the least painful place to inject. I also left the pen out for a good half hour. I looked at it like this, the injection might hurt but my RA hurt even more and if it the Humira was going to help then I had to do it...............supercub; that's a good tip about not continuing to push down on the plunger That might be our problem. I'll try tht next week.I take prefilled enbrel.

I ice the area.. then wipe w/ alcohol.. and wipe the alcohol off w/ another sterile cotton ball.

then I pinch an area of my stomach and inject.. I literally feel nothing til the ice wears off and there is the slightest sting.. not even nearly as much as a bumblebee...and there have been times when I've felt absolutely nothing.

IDK if it's the alcohol that initally burns or the meds but I do wipe the alcohol off.. but I honestly feel nothing when injecting.

oh.. I forgot.. I don't let the syringe come to room temp... I put it across the top of my hot tea.. til it sweats... then I inject.. so it's warmer than room temp.. closer to MY temp.

Lovie- My doctor said I could not have the Humira injected in my buttocks. Are you sure thats OK? He said thigh, belly or back of arm ONLY! (I never went on it)

Yes. We asked my doctor & nurse; they said it was fine. You can't do it if you self inject....but since my husband does it it's fine. They just don't recommend it because it's too difficult to do if you self inject like most Humira users do.

Did he give you a better answer as to why you couldn't do it in the butt?

You know I can't recall the reason he gave me but I did ask specifically if my husband could inject it for me there. I am a needle phob and I figured if I didn't see it coming...and I didn't have to do it myself...I'll mention it to him again when I go next time but I took it for two years straight....and for a year an half of that time I took it every week. I was off of it for year but I'm back on it again. I've done 4 injections now and I never have any problems. We switch it around from side to side and in different spots; but I've never had any problems doing it there and the medication is like a miracle drug for me.

I know we asked first because we were nervous about doing it there. My husband is a nervous wreck about the whole thing. He's called the nurse himself before to ask questions. I was slightly annoyed with him...but the nurse thought it was sweet.

Well I thought it must not absorb right if you do it there- but if it's working for you then that can't be. I'd appreciate if you could let me know what he says when you ask again. I may have to go on it when I am completely tapered off the prednisone and it would take a lot off my mind if I knew my husband could inject my butt! He's willing to inject me anywhere but I don't want to see it happening. Also my thighs are muscular so I think it will hurt there, my stomach has stretch marks from having the kids so that's out. My arms are not meaty either. I had a pain shot in the butt not long ago and I was able to tolerate that.if I knew my husband could inject my butt! He's willing to inject me anywhere but I don't want to see it happening. quoty wanabe...

With the quick click you never see it anyway. It's incased in this little tube and you press the tube to where you want to do it and SNAP! Pretty simple actually. No rubber necking! LOL

I know you don't see the needle but I don't want to anticipate someone pressing the button and getting the stab!