Stomach or Thigh - does it hurt less? | Arthritis Information

 

I know its the preservative in the Humira that makes it burn like the fires of hell going in (well burns really bad for me - I know some people don't say it hurts but I think their nerves must be dead) but I am curious... does it hurt less in the stomach than thigh? I have only done thigh and honestly am scared to do the stomach because I scream and writhe and its not a pretty sight when I get the shot. I can't even do them myself because the natural instinct is to stop the pain.

Just curious what those of you out there have experienced for those of you whom the shot is painful for.

Also can you take lidocaine or something to help deaden the blow? Would that help? I find an icecube not that much of a help honestly and I already try the "leave out 30 mins" idea. I was wondering the same thing! I just started taking the shots and man does it burn! It is definitely not the needle, so the ice won't help. I have to have someone give it to me too. I tried to give it to myself and ended up freaking myself out. I haven't been able to try the stomach either. It weirds me out. I'd really like the answer to. I have PA.I currently take humira for Chrons disease...I do needle in my tummy...no problem!! I find room tempature takes the sting out:) I do tummy for AS its fine, little stingy, any what's 10 seconds really! Just psyche yourself up and don't think about it xx moving upBack when I used Humira (on Remicade now) I didnt care for the burn either. So, one  time I tried it in my butt-cheek and it was much more...umm, less painful. I was using the pen, so it was easier to do than it would have been with the syringe. Back up to the topHi Abby,

The humira injections stings like hell! i went through that pain and i know what you are talking about. I have changed to using the Humira Pen and it is such a relief

Adalimumab is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. It is also used to treat Crohn's disease after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

There are however Precautions that should be taken before using the Humira pen:

Before you start treatment with adalimumab, your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have tuberculosis or other infections.

• Are scheduled for major surgery
• Have or have had cancer
• Have numbness or tingling or a nervous system disease such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Have or had heart failure
• Have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine. HUMIRA patients may receive vaccines, except for live vaccines
• Are allergic to rubber, latex, or any HUMIRA ingredients
• Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed  http://www.arthritisjointpaingone.com
  

Hi Abby,
Just some back up information for you especially if you dont like needles the Humira pen is idea. A new device for delivering Humira (adalimumab), has been approved by the FDA. Humira is one of the TNF inhibitors used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. According to Abbott, the maker of Humira, results from a study involving 52 patients indicate that 9 out of 10 rheumatoid arthritis patients preferred the Humira Pen for convenience and ease of use when compared to the Humira Pre-Filled Syringe. Eight of 10 patients considered the Humira Pen less painful.

The needle in the Humira Pen is not visible when the patient is injecting the medicine, a benefit for people who fear needles. The pen is a single dose, disposable delivery system. The patient presses the pen against their skin, presses the button, and allows the medicine to be delivered. Dosing in the Humira Pen (40 mg every other week) will remain equivalent to that in the Humira Pre-Filled Syringe.http://www.arthritisjointpaingone.com

Hi, when I was on Humira, I used the pen too.  I did the leave it out for 30min. then injected into the tummy.  This was okay, much better than the thigh for me.  I tried the thigh, but had a difficult time waiting out the little flag because of the burn.  Out of all the RA self injecting drugs I've taken, Enbrel  and Humira pre-mixed burned the worst.  I would actually cry when I took these. 
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com