Finally Started Copaxone!

Just sharing. This is going a heck of a lot smoother than I expected. I haven't tried all the sites yet, but so far I only get a small mosquito like bump that goes down in 10-15 min or so. =] No pain really, just a sting that is almost negligable. Such a relief!!!!!! =]

[Twinsmom06]

That is a comfort to hear! I am not yet diagnosed but always nice to hear a good comment about injections! I don't have a problem with shots but nonetheless it can be a scary thought!

[JaneK1975]

I love you for posting! I start mine next Thursday. If you have any tips for a n00b, I'm all ears!

[jenphilly]

Welcome to copax club :)   I've been taking copax about 3 weeks now...  no real complaints, about the same thing you've posted!

I think the worst shot was the worst, not knowing what to expect and when it was all done, almost felt a bit silly...  

Now I can make dinner and do a shot at the same time....  My daughter has walked into the kitchen and I'll be starting a shot in the hip / butt area, she laughs that our family is way too open :)    

I do the shots when making dinner so I am busy and don't have time to notice or focus on the sting which is also my only real issue.  

Glad to hear you're doing well with the shots too!  

Jen

[1moore]

It gets better the longer you are on it.  I have been on it since May.  The looks of the shot for me are worse than the feeling.  But it does get easier.

[jujuminx]

Yippee!!!

Thank for sharing your good experience so far.

Julie

[sllowe]

Excellent news, GG!

Hope this continues. You are on your way :)
(((hugs))

[twopack]

Thanks for sharing this.  It's always good to hear from those having a good experience.  Otherwise it is easy to think there is nothing but problems.

JEN, thanks for sharing a great idea for the timing of injections.  Distraction is a great technique and all of us would be smart to keep it in mind as a help in rough moments.  The normal response to pain or unpleasant sensations seems to be to put activity on hold until it passes.  We end up concentrating on the thing we want to disappear and sometimes actually give it more of our power than it would otherwise demand.

Who has time to worry about stinging while coordinating mealtime for the family as hungry bellies and curious eyes weave in and out of the kitchen?  

If you ever do need a little extra anti-sting help here's a tip that came from Lulu's MSologist.  Place a witch hazel pad over the injection site.  I've used a generic brand of pre-moistened hemorrhoid pad that I keep in the 'frig.  The coolness gives an extra shot of instant relief.  

I used to add a cold pack on top and sit at the computer to respond to a forum question until the injection site settled down.  It was always my thigh that gave me the most problem.  I haven't used a 'Copaxone Tucks' in a long time.  These days the sting (if it comes) never bothers me enough to go to that much trouble.

JANE, you will do fine!  Do you have to wait to start because your instructor hasn't shown up yet?  It's a bummer to have it in the 'frig and no way to get it in you (where it can help).  I was in that position for about a month but for a different reason.  That's been nearly two years ago.

We've had several good discussions about Copaxone - especially regarding site reactions.  If anyone needs to reference one and can't find them through the "Search this Community" feature, let me know.  I'll try to locate one and give you a direct link.

I hope you all do as well on Copaxone as I have.
Mary

[GorgeousGeek]

If you or anyone know of any threads that discuss ways to deal with site reactions it would be great.

I'm having trouble with bruising on my arms and legs -_-  Like I can see the location of the previous 2 weeks shots in those locations.

Im a bit self conscious about wearing short sleeves because it looks as if I got in a fight. No pain though. I do warm compresses (or hot shower)  prior and a ice pack after.

A bright red bump appears and over the course of the weeks it gets darker... A shot I did in my thigh 2 weeks ago is just now starting to fade.

I've tried the autoject on 6,7, and 8. Also did in manually, but still get a bruise thing. Maybe I'm not leaving the ice back on long enough?

I was using the ice pack to ease the stinging, but maybe I should leave it long to prevent the bruise.

Thought?

[twopack]

Can you describe this bruising?  Is it the typical black and blue color or more of a tan/brown area?  Does it appear regardless of how the injection feels?

I have a few thoughts but I'm off to work and will have to get back to you.  I'd call and ask the Shared Solutions nurse about it though.  They are there 24/7 I believe.

In the mean time, here are a few of our past discussions about injections and site reactions.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Injecting-Copaxone-into-arm/show/1418784?personal_page_id=781750#post_6481467

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Copaxone/show/1432531

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Injection-site-reactions--can-you-tell-me-if-this-is-normal/show/1354717

Hope something in there helps for now.  Off-hand I'd look at massaging and rotating sites.

Later,
Mary

[JaneK1975]

Twopack! Thank you for linking all those past conversations. I have reading material for tonight! I'm on week three right now and have been wanting to get more info on how to reduce site reactions. mine are small already, but they could always be smaller!

- Jane

[kerrtelli]

I started the copaxone about three months ago.

The one thing that helpsme the most that I actually read somewhere here is to buy Tucks and keep them int he fridge.  

After my shot I put one of the cold tucks on the injection site.  It helps a lot with the sting and I don't get any lasting bumps.

Also, I always take the shot at 10:30 right before I go to bed.  I keep the show next to bed, take the shot, out on the tucks, then go to bed.

Hope that helps.

Kerri

[GorgeousGeek]

I guess its not typical blue/black bruising. It starts off bright red and then turns brown. I also feel a lump under it. If I press the spot you see my regular skin tone and the in goes back brownish. So I guess thats not really a bruise.

[twopack]

I am so sorry it took me this long to get back here.  I'm way behind on everything again.  OK, I never caught up.  This is my new natural pathetic slo-mo condition.

I suspect Gorgeous that what looks like bruises are skin changes that appear as a reaction to cell breakdown in the subcutaneous fat being injected.  I’ve had these from time to time too.  They can take a while to go away and can even become permanent lumps of scar tissue (or flattened areas of lipatrophy) unless you help them along.  

Copaxone should be left undisturbed in the tissues for 24 hours so it can be slowly absorbed.  But after that massage of the site will encourage any remaining drug or lumps to break-up and move on.  If you don’t do this the body’s natural clean-up cells will infiltrate the area to wall it off forming long term hard spots or permanent scarring.

It is a good practice in general to start massaging your injection sites after 24 hours - even if they look and feel normal.  Prevention is much easier than correction.  The shower is a good place to massage soap slippery sites.  I’ve also used a small massager that has a flat surface and heat option.  The combo of heat and vibration works well to break-up the junk and encourage circulation to cart it away.

Of course, I’d also check this out with your neuro and Shared Solutions.  They may have a different take on what is going on.  It’s hard to be sure what something is from descriptions here.  Let us know what you find out please.

Mary

[GorgeousGeek]

THAT MAKE SO MUCH SENSE! lol I'll start massaging, I thought that was optional oops

[twopack]

Truthfully, nobody seems as keen on it as I am BUT most other Copaxone users complain about lumps or depressions at some point.  I just passed the two year mark on Copaxone.  I have NO permanently unusable sites.  I do get occasional discoloration and/or lumps - very few last longer than a week.  None have survived long term.

All that is usually needed is a few seconds of massage at each site used within the last week (except the one from <24 hours ago).  No big production necessary.

We would all like to forget we have MS.  Some have complained daily injection routines are daily reminders of MS.  I don't really get much opportunity to forget I have MS but I'd rather have a little daily reminder than an out and out takeover of my body.  I also loathe the prospect of searching for an alternative disease modifier.

Please let me know if you benefit from mini massages as much as I have.

Mary

[JaneK1975]

I'm all about massaging those lumps out, too (pretty sure I learned it from you, Mary). I am very hopeful it will help me avoid injection problems down the line. My SS nurse came for a second visit last weekend and mentioned massaging, too.

Thanks and best wishes,
Jane

[figuerpa]

This was a much needed read for me! I did my thighs the past two days and the red spots are still there on both legs and the left one doesn't hurt but the right one I did yesterday hurts like a dickens.

I massage mine the next day....I do because my SS nurse told me to. I am sure she told me why but it was a lot to take in when she was here. I am still massaging the ones from the beginning of the week because I had reactions to my shots this time which isn't normal but it happened to my arms and legs...luckily my hips and belly don't give me problems...well I will find out over the next three days lol cause that is when I do them.

I will be sure to read the links. It is always nice learning everything possible to help with injection site reactions!

Paula

[twopack]

You can say that again Paula.  (so I will)
"It is always nice learning everything possible to help with injection site reactions!"

I'm glad to hear Shared Solutions is including this in their instructions now.  It tells me they have been listening to the people who use their product and share information at the seminars and via phone.  It is refreshing to see evidence that pharmaceutical companies are responsive to patient needs - at least some of the time.

If you continue to have problems Paula you might consider asking SS to send you a replacement autoinject2.  You could just be having a bigger reaction because of your recent flare.  However, I asked for a new injector at my two year anniversary.  It ended up being a reject present!  

On first use it felt very stiff and didn't inject smoothly.  It also took a great deal longer to completely inject yet didn't deposit the Copaxone deep enough.  I ended up with a line of swelling under the skin (like it separated tissue) and a lot more pain.

I used it a total of three times before calling SS.  (Why do we always blame ourselves first and keep trying things that don't work?)  They sent me another one.  It is stiffer than my old one (as new things will be) but I have had no problems injecting with it.

Remember girls -- We are injecting a full ml of liquid medicine into the subcutaneous tissue.  That is the top amount recommended for arm sites.  It is no wonder if arms give us more trouble with absorbing that volume.

I've got quite a few site choosing tips I'll share if anyone needs them.  Also, info on how deep subcutaneous is and how to find it.  It would probably be better under a new topic?

Mary

[JaneK1975]

Yes, I would love for you to post that info, Mary. Maybe even two separate topics: One on choosing sites and one on depth of subq tissue?

Thank you so much!

[twopack]

I'll do it but I need to rest my eyes from the computer for a while.  Look for it soon unless you need a specific question answered now.

Mary

[JaneK1975]

Sounds good. Thanks!