I started Copaxone yesterday.....

[doublevision1]

......and my first shot hurt like a M.F.!!!    (pardon my Francais).  It kind of took me off guard.  After injecting Rebif for the past few months without any pain from the injection, I assumed Copaxone would be no different.  Was I wrong about that!  Immediately after injecting the Copaxone in my abdomen area, I had the worst burning/stinging feeling.  I found it quite intense, which surprised me as I think I normally have a fairly high pain theshold.  It did subside after 10 minutes or so.  There was dollar sized flat red mark at the injection site which disappeared after a couple of hours.  Today there is no mark at all.

I guess I will try using a cold pack tonight and see if that helps.  I didn't have to do that with Rebif.  Does anyone have any other tricks that work to lessen the sting?  

I was disheartened that the shot was more difficult than Rebif, but I will suck it up and get used to it.  Anything that might help stave off more symptoms is worth a few minutes of discomfort each day.  I really hope I tolerate it better than Rebif.  At least the liver thing won't be an issue with Copaxone.


db

[Deb61]

Hi!
I haven't been on in a while--a long story.  Anyway . . .I'm glad to be back online because I'm missin' my friends.  

I've been on Copaxone for a few months.  I've found that I don't notice the pain as much as I did when I first started the injections.  There are a couple of things that I've found that are helpful.  

Manually injecting is much less painful and causes less welting, if you can do that.  Plus, the Shared Solution people mailed me a thingy to help me hold on the the syringe better--not keeping the syringe steady is no good.  

But the thing that has helped the best was heating the area before the injection.  I was using the gel packs (heating for 20 sec. in the microwave), but the area completely cooled down by the time I disinfected the shot area with the alcohol.  So, I do the alchohol thing first and blow dry the area with a hair dryer until it's warm and dry without ever touching my skin and contanimating it--much better!

I've had one minor event immediately after a shot once--my face because flushed and hot.  My doctor told me to start sticking myself at more of a 45 degree angle and so far so good with that.  

Lastly, my husband gives me shots, too, and that probably helps the most.  He's really getting good at it and hates it when one hurts.  However, I'm more likely to give a shot that's painful than he is.

Deb

[doublevision1]

Thanks for the encouragement and the tips.  I will give the cold and/or warm packs a try.  Debra, I agree with what you said about just being quick about it and not thinking about it too much.  Mind over matter.

Ess, the Copaxone autoinjector is essentially the same as with Rebif.   I declined a visit from a Copaxone nurse as I didn't need instruction in using it.  I guess it might have been useful to get tips like the ones you all shared here, but this would have delayed starting treatment and I just wanted to get on with it.

I won't let myself sulk about the momentary pain. I don't want to waste any precious time fretting about my situation.  In fact I realize I need to be grateful for the very existence of the DMD's.  So a little bee-like sting here, a little (or large) welt there...if it means that just maybe, I won't have to use a wheelchair someday....it's well worth it.  

That doesn't mean I won't be thrilled if they come out with a pill for this someday!

thanks guys

db

[debral09]

When I first started using Copaxone it hurt like a you know what!!!!!!  One of the Shared Solutions nurses told me to apply a heat compress for about 10 minutes before the injection and than afterwards apply a cold compress.  It seemed to help some.  I have been off of Copaxone for over a year because of getting pregnant but will soon be back on it.  Definitely not looking forward to the shots again.  I too got site reactions which comsisted of a red swelling bump and bruises.  I ended up with bruises mainly on my arms and thighs.  The area that hurt the least, but still hurt, was the back hip area.

I now have a 6 month old baby and not looking forward to having to avoid letting hurt touch the back of my arms and no more bouncing on the thigh.  Very sad about the things I will not be able to do with her.  But very happy that at least I can do something to slow the progression of the MS.

Best of luck to you and just do the shots as fast as you can without thinking too much about it!

Debra

[essdipity]

Of course I don't have experience with Rebif for comparison, so I don't know how their autoinjector works. Does it seem similar?

My shots of Copaxone started hurting a few minutes afterwards, and hurt like the dickens for varying periods, a severe bee sting accompanied by an equally severe ache. At first it lasted up to an hour, but it all quickly went down to maybe 10 minutes. Too bad the itching got the best of me, because othewise I sure would have continued with it.

Hang in there, DB. It does go away pretty fast.

ess

[jensequitur]

I've been on Copaxone for about a year now, and the site reactions do get better.  I always use a cold pack, so I can't feel the burn.  However, I hardly ever let the alcohol dry - it doesn't seem to matter.

[Heather3418]

I am on Copaxone.  The severe burning does lessen over time and the ice packs after injection DO help with the burning.  Also lessens the red welt that you can get.

Can the stinging occur later on in the course of Copaxone?  Yes. But knowing that it might happen seems to make it a little easier.  Another note, when you alcohol wipe the skin, come back with another sterile piece of guaze and TOTALLY dry the area.  This may help ensure that you do not inject any of the alcohol underneath the skin.

Hang in there.  It does get easier and lots less stinging in MOST of us.

Heather