How did I manage to do this?

[lovemy6monkeys]

I use the autoject for my Copaxone. Thursday when I did the shot on my thigh, when I removed the needle it was not centered in the autoject. It was leaning a bit. I also had the skin reaction in a bigger area, instead of the 1/2 dollar sized round welt I was getting, it was a bigger oval shaped one. I assumed it was a one-time thing.

Yesterday I did the shot in my love-handle area, which is the area that has the least skin reaction so far (thighs have the most). Again, the same thing yesterday, the needle was off-center. It caused a welt, and it hurt enough that for the first time I used an ice pack on it (and left it on for an hour!).

Do you guys have any idea why it is doing this? My autoject is kept up on to of the fridge, so the kids could not have messed with it. I have not dropped it or anything like that. I can't figure out why the needles would be off-center suddenly. Any ideas?
~Jess

[lovemy6monkeys]

Thanks for the help guys!!

Mary, I did not see the nurse because the reactions seemed to be getting better. You guys said it could be a few weeks for the reaction to calm down again, I figured since it was starting to get better I would give it another week. I'm going to give manual injecting a try on the areas I can do easily (left arm, stomach, and thighs).

~Jess
p.s. sorry for any typos! I tried to proofread, but my fingers are not cooperating with me today :-)

[twopack]

Usually mine is off-center, some nights more than others.  the auto-injector is a nifty tool but it isn't a precision instrument.  It shouldn't make any difference to the reaction you get afterwards.  Doing manual injections would give you at least that much diversity.

Did you have your appointment with the infusion nurse yet Jess?  Any words of wisdom to share (if you did see her)?

Mary

[jean_619]

My needle is almost always at an angle when I remove it.  I never thought anything of it.  I thought that maybe when I removed the needle from my skin maybe I wasn't removing it straight out -- so that was why it was off center.

I've had 2 auto injectors and it has done the same with both.

I suppose you could call SS and see what they say.  If they say it is a problem, let me know!  I've just been ignoring it   =)

[Lulu54]

I called SS about this same concern and was told that the autoinjector is designed that way so the needle has a slight angle.  I don't know if that is true or not, but if we do the shots manually they are meant to be done at a very slight angle.

They sent me a new (2nd) autoinject for my travel kit and that one does NOT leave the needle at an angle.

I have no idea what all of this is supposed to mean  LOL - this is just my experiences with it.

you might give SS a call and ask them. I understand they expect the autoinjector should last 3 years and don't like to replace them.  But as I said, they didn't hesitate to send me a second with the travel kit.  

-L