So today was my first enbrel injection. It was a sure click pen. I thought it was going to be the pre filled syringes, but guess not. So what the heck, I'll give the sure click a try.....
I screamed like I was in labor. Screamed for the whole 15 seconds. It hurts... BAD! I took it out of the fridge for 30 mins and injected in the upper leg. Boy, that hurt. I'm going to call the doc on Monday to change to the pre filled syringe but I still have three more sure click pens. What can I do to lessen the pain? I have a pretty high tolerance to pain but those where whoppers! And WHY do they hurt so badly? Stelara only burned for a few seconds....
Thanks everyone!
p.s. I did search through some old posts, but most of them were older. Not sure if the pens have changed since then. Thanks.
When I used those, it helped a great deal to relax my leg as much as possible before injecting. The more tense I was, the more it hurt. I watched the video and injected on my leg ...not too far up on my upper leg, if I recall correctly. I hope it's not as painful for you next time!
I've been using them almost a year. There is always discomfort,but it only lasts as long as the shot, so it's bearable. That said, my shot this week was one of those extra painful ones, for no apparent reason.
Not sure if that's really helpful, other than to know that it's not always like that.
I would agree that injecting into your leg hurts. I started to inject in my stomach and I barely even notice it. Also on recommendations of the nurse I take that pen out for 24 hrs prior to injection,it does not need to be that long just make sure that the medicine is at room temp. Also when you pull the cap off make sure you are holding the pen so that the push button is pointed to the floor, otherwise you might get a drop of serum on the needle which will hurt when injected. Just make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight. Hope this helps.
Please inject in stomach.. I did in leg, that was unbearable.. Pull skin outward with one hand so it is taut..hold the pen.. Make sure it is straight up and down.. No angle..Try to make sure that u don't move the pen until the injection is finished.. I feel it once in awhile.. Bit that is usually if I'm in a hurry
I like the sure click injectors but that’s because I don’t need to push a needle in myself.They do hurt more in the thigh than the stomach, and for me they bleed less in the stomach. My nurse daughter told me to inject in my stomach because that’s the preferred place (even tho our instructions say the thigh is preferred). Also, are you making sure the alcohol dries before you inject?
OWEE OWEE, Amielynn! I usually inject in the stomach. A few weeks ago I thought, “What the heck, time for a change,” and I injected in the leg. Yikes, that STUNG!
I do take it out of the fridge first thing in the morning and then inject later in the day. While I’m getting the alcohol swab out and use it, I tuck the injector into my armpit to warm it a bit closer to body temperature. Do wait until you are sure the alcohol is dry. That helps too.
And after all that, most times I feel a bit of a sting. But the discomfort is brief compared to the relief it gives me all week.
I hope the next one is easier for you, and that you get a good result!
Thanks everyone! Yes, sybil, I am working on getting the pre filled for next month.
So next week, I am going to let it sit out longer and inject in the stomach. Hopefully that is better. I'm not sure the alcohol was dried all the way either. Honestly, I don't like that I can't see the needle. I would rather see what is going on. I guess stressed from the build up. Plus this was a new medication, always makes me nervous. So I am sure my leg muscles were tight. Better luck next week.
Thanks again for all your support and suggestions. I hope Enbrel works too. This Gap stinks :)
Yes, The Gap really does stink! I’ve read that some people like the pre-fills better because they can inject very, very slowly and that helps reduce sting.
Idk if your doctor stressed to you that Enbrel needs to go into fat--not muscle. My thighs are muscular and I don't think there's enough fat on top of the muscle--that's why it bled more, at least that's what I think. There's quite a nice bit of "baby fat" in my stomach near my belly button, so I do need to sort of stretch it when I inject. So, if you have more fat on your stomach, hopefully you won't have such a difficult time injecting it there. I wonder why Enbrel injections seem to be more painful than other biologics?
I can't get on with the auto-injector pens either, they feel so brutal, so I suspect it's the pen rather than the biologic which makes it painful. Sometimes, though, even with the pre-filled syringe it hurts a bit depending on where I inject. I can't do it in my stomach so I alternate between each legs .... nearer to the knee is, for me, the least uncomfortable. I injected on Saturday and it did hurt even though I left the syringe out for a good 45 minutes, I like Seenie's idea of warming it up in your armpit so I'm going to try that as well next time.
And just so you do understand quite how much I hate the pens ..... when my December dose was delivered they had sent the pen instead of the syringe ...... I looked at it, took lots of deep breaths, gave myself a stern talking to ....... and realised there was NO WAY I was inflicting that pain on myself. So even knowing the cost and that it would go to waste, I rang the pharmacy (then had to go through it all with the hospital as well) and told them it would have to be reissued. Which it was! I do feel bad throwing away a valuable drug but no-where does it say I have to inflict unnecessary pain on myself.
Jules, I agree 100%. Tomorrow I am calling my insurance to see if there is something to be done. I am sure my doc will resend the prescription, it's the insurance I am worried about. I also agree I shouldn't have to deal with so much pain after already having pain. If not, I have considering skipping the next three doses and starting over next month, with doctor approval.
Well, this was my first dose. Technically, I am still using Stelara as well. There is some overlap. I might seem like a whimp, but it was really very painful. I'll have to give it some thought and see what can be done with the insurance.
Amielynn, I’d say give it one more go, getting it to the right temperature and making sure the alcohol is dry. Do you have a pain med that you can take an hour or so before? And at the same time, investigate switching to the prefilled syringe. You will get this sorted out.
It's interesting what types of pains pain each of us differently. I can't handle the deep, constant pain when my back or feet or joints hurt really bad. Or a migraine headache or severe nausea. But, a cut or scrape or bruise (which I'm very clumsy so its not unusual for me to have some type of injury somewhere on my body at any given time) is easily tolerated. The pain of my shot compared to how ishy PsA makes me feel is a non-issue.
But, the way our bodies and minds react is unique to each of us. For example:
I had nerve conduction tests in my legs and feet a few years ago. I was nearly in tears the needles this Chinese doctor was sticking into me in various places was horrible. I told him it felt like he was poking the needles into my nerves. He basically told me Americans are wimps and people in his country could handle a lot more. He said if he was hitting nerves I'd be going through the ceiling when he put the needles in. Boy, when I told my husband this doctor's smart a-- remark to me, my husband had some choice words. Too bad my husband didn't accompany me to this visit-he would have had some very good witty "comebacks" for that mean doctor!
But, maybe you should at least try one more injection--in your stomach. I'm hoping you'll notice a big difference. Otherwise, hopefully they'll send you replacement syringes.
I'm getting ready for my weekly injection.. It took me two months just to get over the fear of the needle itself.. And I read up on everything. Seeing that the thigh was the preferred spot was the thight. I followed it religiously.. After several weeks with unbearable pain and ugly bruising.. I again had to face the fear of trying my stomach as my injection site. The first couple times it stung a little.. But after some practice. I hardly feel it..anymore..just remember to pull skin taut before injecting.. It helps me that I have a little extra fat..lol
I would even be so scared I would forget to let go of the plunger to know that when it would click , I would be done.. Geez..now I look back on it..I feel so silly
