Increasing reactions to Copaxone common?

[twopack]

Tomorrow is the four week mark since I started Copaxone.  In general it has gone pretty well.  The novelty has worn off though and I sometimes catch myself in an internal dialog about how long this routine will last.

HERE'S MY QUESTION.  It seems that lately I have noticed more of a lasting reaction.  The welt and sting are pretty much the same most days.  What's worse is the lump left behind.  They used to disappear in 24-48 hours.  Now they are tender for days and I can still feel a lump from the injection 7-8 days prior when I come round to that site again in the rotation.

I think I might remember others mentioning increased reactions within a few weeks of starting Copaxone.  I don't remember if things then settled down again after a time.  I'm just not up to a search tonight.  Any input appreciated.

Mary

[Vinfem]

My experience is that it gets better.  I just posted my routine - created from suggestions of users and my neuro - that seems to helped with the bad site reactions and bee sting I was getting.

I get my autoject ready, along with a cotton pad with a dab of benadryl cream.  I take a shower (not too hot, or I get tingly).  After drying off, I take the shot.  I then immediately put the cotton bad on, with a cold compress on top of it and hold it, with pressure, for one minute. Sometimes I walk around a bit, to get my blood flowing. After the ice, I add a bit more benadryl cream and then tape the pad down, or use a bandaid so it doesn't soil my clothes.

I do this all in the morning, so I get moving and keep the blood -and hopefully copaxone - flowing.  I also start massaging the site the next day.  If it is a bad lump, I will massage it with arnica cream.  so far, they have all gone away.

I do find that the shower helped a lot, because like a warm compress, it opened the blood vessels, so the copaxone could go to work.  What I didn't like about the warm compress was it took time.  By taking the shot after a shower, I am ready for the shot (and don't have to use the alcohol).  

Good luck.
LE

[schnauzerlady257]

I have just started on Copaxone, but I will say that a warm compress before hand for 5 min. really helps to reduce my redness and swelling.  My understanding is that by warming the area beforehand you cause the blood vessels to open up more and make the medicine be absorbed quicker, so it doesn't have time to sit in the skin area and react.

I was also told no coldpack for at least 20 min after my shots so that I don't cause the blood vessels to constrict and keep the meds in a localized area.

Man, does the sting ever get better though?  Feels like a huge freaking bee!

Just my .02 and like I said I'm new, so things may change as I go along.

[cainer]

yeh  over time  mine  go  away--  i have  just  been  on    the  lump     before   it   went   away-       and  ruined   the  shot---
  use  that  auto-injector    so   there  was  no  stopping  it.    thats  what  i  meant   i  dont   express   myself      right-
     take  care     tick

[twopack]

I haven't tried the warm compresses prior.  Since a cold pack helped distract me from the sting afterwards it never made much sense to warm the area pre-injection.  That was just my line of thought.  The nurse mentioned it.  I dismissed it.  I like to keep it all as simple as possible so I haven't used anything for weeks.  I'll rethink that strategy G'sM.  Thanks.

Am I supposed to massage the next day Alex?  I don't remember anyone saying that.  If I use both hands to massage my arms, belly, thighs, then hips maybe I can make a dance out of it.  Or someone will call the cops about my lewd conduct. :]  I do use the full needle depth on all but my arms.  Too much fat I guess.

Tick, if the lumps don't go away how do you find a place to inject after 18 months?  Doesn't that mean the med isn't being absorbed?  I hope it doesn't get that bad.  Right now they are going away.  It just takes a while.  I'm careful to feel for them before I choose my next target.

Lu, I don't think of it as slipping backwards.  It's just a developing process of how Copaxone and my body are going to learn to work together.  I'm willing to gather info and tips to help them along.  I have no intention of letting them carry on as much as ess!  (So glad there are more options available out there.)

Thanks everyone for your experience and encouragement.
Mary

[Ufrustrated2]

count me in on lumps,  welts & rashes at injection sites. more noticable in the upper hip area and abdomen.

so the warm washcloth, is that before or after?

and the depth should be deep, straight in, yes?

[HVAC]

It get harder knots if my needle depth is more shallow. Are you massaging the next day?

Alex

[Ginosmommy]

I am not on Copax but on Extavia (same as betaseron), I was getting horrible welts and still have some of the very first welt left that I did almost a month ago. I have been doing a warm washcloth on the area I am going to inject for about 10-15 seconds and it has stopped the welting (as far as I have noticed). Have you tried the warm compresses?

[essdipity]

The big majority here on Copax report diminishing reactions over time. I hope that will happen to you, and that this is just a bump in the road.  :-)

I started on it without anything too bad in the way of reactions---severe bee-stinging feeling lasting up to an hour, some redness. As time went on, though, things got a lot worse. Lumps, bumps, welts, rashes, hives, and incredible non-stop itching. At the end of two months, it was curtains for me. Neuro took me off it, and I later started on Avonex.

To the best of my memory, though, only a handful of other folks here have had my severe reactions. Give it time.

Sending soothing wishes.

ess

[cainer]

i have the bumps and lumps   been  a year and a half--   so   4  me  guess its part of it-
    guess its diff- with everyone-   one time gave myself  a shot-  well it wouldnt do anything-

i was in a lump  from a previous  shot-  like  cement  it had no place to go-
the bruises and lumps are still commen  4  me  anyway-  tick

[Lulu54]

Hi Mary, I know what you mean about swearing off the research when its getting late.  I'm on copaxone and am one of the fortunate folks who rarely has a reaction.  I do bleed often at my injection sites but rarely have the sting.  I tend to get a lump about the size of a pea in my leg sites, but not with any of the others.   My legs is also where I will often pick up a bruise.  

I would hope you would be getting better and not slipping backward.  I honestly can't remember 18 months ago or so as to what it was like after I had been on the copax for a while.  Sorry I am of no help.

my best, L