I've been giving myself enbrel injections for almost a year and have had site reactions that involve raised itchy welts but for the last few times there has been bruising. Today's has a huge bruise almost 3 inches in diameter. It will look real pretty tomorrow when I do my water exercise program. I called the enbrel nurse number but they are more interested in getting information for research and protecting themselves against lawsuits than in giving much help.
So RA nurses out there-crunchy in particular, did I inject the wrong way or wrong spot? I did it in the upper thigh but a little bit right of center leg because I already have a lot of vericose veins where I used to inject.I tried once in the stomach but the reaction was miserable and I couldn't stand anything around my waist for days. Do you think this is from enbrel or is my skin breaking down due to 2 years on 4mg of daily prednisone? I definitely don't want to have to take more metetrexate and give this up.
I've been on a much higher dose of prednisone for about 4-5 years and don't get brusing like that.
Is it a bruise or does it look like the skin is damaged? You described it as breaking down. Skin infections could be a problem.
But hopefully, Crunchy will have some wisdom here.
I'm just about to go do my shot right now. Oooh!
Deanna, It's a huge bruise but I'm getting other bruises too. Just about anything bruises me these days. I do get skin infections easily but I don't think this is infected. I am getting more pre cancerous lesions on my face, hands and back and am extremely sensitive to the sun. I'm not diagnosed with lupus but they're always testing me for it.Linda,
I think you should get the doctor or his nurse practioner to look at this. One of the side effects of Enbrel is septis which is a very serious breakdown of the skin. My doctor took me off Enbrel just for a fungal skin infection and gave me a huge lecture about it. He worries about even normal breakouts on my face. He gave me a prescription creme to use. Then I have to clean any areas with Iodine and keep them dry. Enbrel will make them worse. This place didn't look infected either. It mostly itched. But that might not be your problem. That's why a visit to the office might be necessary.
If you are getting a lot of skin problems work with your RD to get you to a dermatologist. They can help diagnose if you have Lupus. Besides if it's not a bad problem, they can treat it and you won't have to worry about it. I think RA and the medications that have us on make us susceptible to a whole lot of simple problems that get bigger because our immune systems can't handle it.
Sometimes, when I'm not doing well, I do bruise more easily. It always scares me because it looks so ugly. But this sounds a bit more involved.
I work for an RA doctor i taught patients how to give mtx and enbrel shots it sounds like you bruised it, sometimes you will get bruising you might have hit a small blood vessel or hit to hard. I don't know if you know this but don't go straight in with your injection tilt it to the side at a slant always pull your lever back to check to see if you have hit a blood vessel (if you do see blood pullout and start over) then inject and don't go to slow cause it will cause more burning also have you ever thrown a dart if you flick your wrist like you are it will go in and never hurt.I gave many many shots and never had some one say oh that hurt lol but what i told my patients is practice flicking your wrist then use an orange to try it on, next thing you know you will be a pro good luck oh put ice on your bruise p.s daughter just called on the way to the hospital to have my grandsonHe's a real doctor, right? I've heard of prednisone causing bruising and obviously some of the people doing Enbrel have bruising problems. But MTX?
See if you can check this guys credentials. For one thing, he is not showing you any respect as a patient in taking your own opinion into consideration for your treatment.
I'd still make a call to your previous doctor and see what they say. The more than likely will at least answer your questions over the phone.
Man, what a mess for you to deal with especially after getting to the point of feeling better. Wish you lots of luck.