Copaxone Injections Getting Worse

I have been on Copaxone, 4 weeks and 5 days. Instead of getting better, the injections are causing me a great deal of pain. When I inject in the back of the hip, it causes pain in the nerves in my spine. Inject in my thigh, and my thigh and leg hurt so bad, I can barely walk.

I cannot manually inject. I've ttied it, my hands are too shaky.

I am 5'2, weigh 73#s. I really don't have much in the way of body fat.

The 1st two weeks I woke with migraine headaches.

They went away, and this week I am getting them immediately following an injection.

Has anyone else found they don't have enough body fat to tolerate the injections?

I have hard areas under my skin already. I've been so careful not to inject in the same place for 28 days.

It seems too soon to be developing these hard areas.

I'm going to bed-but if anyone has any thoughts, I'd sure appreciate them.

I'm going to call my MS Specialist on Monday.

Maybe taking Gilenya would be easier for me.

Sheila

[Lulu54]

Sheila,
I hate to hear this is not working for you after all it took to get you on a DMD.  With your body size you may have to bail on the injections and try the oral in its place.

Have you tried different settings on the autoinjector?  that might be of help.

Make that phone call and talk to them about making a switch.  

Lulu

[nikki861]

Have you told the rep at Shared Soultions? I know I have areas that are worse to inject than others. Of course, I dont have an issue with body fat.....lol
As you said, you may need to switch to oral. Definately talk to your dr about it.
I have been on Copaxone for 3 months now. I have the hard spots and only once did I have a reaction. Seems I hit a vein.

Good luck Shiela!! Keep us updated

Hugs,
Beth

[yorkieville]

Lulu,

I know....and I've been so determined to do these injections. I'm at 4 on the Auto-ject.

I'll let you know what my MS Specialist says.

Sheila

[yorkieville]

Beth,

Shared Solutions hasn't been much help. They won't admit the migraines are caused by the Copaxone. I've done everything they've suggested, but when you talk to a nusre on the phone that hasn't seen you in person, I don't think they get a true image of a person my weight. I am very fine boned, but 73#s is way too thin, for a 5'2 person.

All the areas are problematic to inject now-it just seems like my body is having a bad reaction to the Copaxone, itself.

I will keep you updated, I'm pretty sure I'll be making the switch.

Hugs,
        Sheila

[kelly97]

I can definitely see why you are having issues with the injections. I'm about your height and weigh about 25 lbs more than you.  Many times I have problems with lack of body fat on my legs, especially as I get closer to my knee - I can only imagine how yours must hurt afterwards since you weigh a lot less than me and mine hurt.  

I have mine set to 4 when I use the autoinjector for my legs. Have you tried an even lower setting than that?

I personally am too afraid to try Gilenya because of the negative side effects - including possible death.  

I hope that you can find what works best for you.

Take care,
Kelly  

[maxthecat9196]

This is what happened to me too, but I definitely :( have enough body fat.  I was getting severe site reactions and depressions under my skin, and severe, near constant headache with nausea.  It was so bad, that if I happened to move onto one of the sites while I was sleeping, it would wake me up.  I had to stop taking it too.  If you can switch to an oral, it may be a good idea.  You need to have some fat for the sub Q injections. (And in my case, even that wasn't enough.)

Tammy

[lovemy6monkeys]

I'm so sorry the injections are not working :-(

I had to stop using the sites on my arms after I lost weight because there wasn't as much subcutaneous fat and each injection would cause a big lump that lasted over a week.

I hope the MS specialist has some alternate sites you can use!
~Jess

[yorkieville]

Kelly,

I'm sorry I didn't come back & reply.

We tried the lowest setting, but after my MS Specialist examined me, she said I was severley allergic to Copaxone. After weeks of tests, I began Rebif on 2/20. Slowly titatrating up, every two weeks.

I wasn't able to tolerate 44 mcg. but I am doing well on 22 mcg. and last week, my MS Specialist saw improvement in my balance and strength in my legs.

Thanks for replying.

Sheila

[yorkieville]

Tammy,

After tests for my liver, my MS Specialist prescribed Rebif, and we titrated up very slowly, every 2 weeks. I couldn't tolerate 44 mcg. but I am handling 22 mcg. very well.

Did you try Rebif?

Sheila

[yorkieville]

Jess,

My MS Specialist switched me to Rebif. I couldn't tolerate the full dose of 44 mcg. but I am doing well on 22 mcg.

I did hit a nerve in my left arm one night, and oh, that hurt to high Heaven, so I am leary when it is a night to inject my arms.

But I am tolerating the Rebif.

Sheila