Injecting Copaxone into arm?

[katie4242]

I just have a quick ? for all of you expert Copaxone users.  When the nurse taught me how to inject into my arm, she said to stand with my arm held straight out, elbow extended, palm up.  Then inject into the "bat wing" area of fat that hangs down.  I have done it this way each time without any problem, but everybody seems to talk about how difficult it is to inject in the arms.  Am I doing something wrong?  

Katie

p.s.  Just a side note to let everyone know how wonderful I think you are.  I don't usually comment on other people's posts, mostly because I'm newly diagnosed, and don't have much to add.  On the other hand, I am here daily and I appreciate all of the great advice that is given to everyone!  I have learned so much and am very grateful!

[katie4242]

O-kay, now I'm confused.  My nurse told me to push the autoject into my skin to get the two pieces to come together.  Is that right, or is that too much pressure?  

[meg321]

Hi Katie,

I am off the copaxone until we decide it is causing my hives or not.  My skin reactions never changed, but i didnt mind....and i have had no relapses for a very long time, that was a miracle !!

My nurse showed me how to put a large rubber band on the autoject so you could use one hand, you just wrap it around the top section, and twist it to the other section, this holds it down so you dont have to push it.

Good luck with it....

meg

[twopack]

Julie, I did use heat before and a cold pack afterwards on my thighs for a while.  It seemed to help.  I have had arthritis for years that responds well to heat application (love those parafin baths for the hands!) so I think there is a comfort association for me in heat application.  It doesn't have to have a "real" reason to work.

If the sting wants to hang around I will still use cold applications.  I have a net bag of those plastic ice cubes in the freezer that are perfect for the job.  (They are meant to keep a beverage cold like an ice cube without watering it down as they thaw.)  They conform like a bag of peas but I don't have the worry that someone will try to eat something that's been refrozen 50 times.

Remember the rules for heat or cold application:
Never place directly against the skin.
Never apply to areas with altered sensation.
Never use while sleeping.
Remove after 20 minutes for safety.
If needed long term, 20 minutes on alternated with 20 minutes off is more effective than constant use.

Mary

[Sarahsmom46]

Mary, you make a good point at the end in mentioning good instruction. Good instruction makes a lot of difference. Either I was a bad student or the nurse who came to get me started was not that great.  I had to have another nurse come back again because I had too much distraction the first time. My son and his GF were there trying to be so helpful.  These posts are sure helping as a refresher.

Julie

[twopack]

For my arms, I can hold the compressed barrell pieces together and stretch the tip of my index finger to the trigger.  I lightly touch the end to the skin of my arm and fire.  Once triggered, it doesn't matter if the barrel remains compressed.  I count to ten slowly and then withdraw straight out.

On days that my hands are too weak to do this, I push the syringe against the skin to release the safety, hit the trigger and then pull back immediately to make sure the pressure isn't forcing the needle deeper than I want it to be.

I set the autoinjector at only a four or five for the arm.  That's deep enough since the skin and subcutaneous tissue dangle away from the muscle there without the thicker layer of fat on the other injection sites.

I try not to push against the skin much with the autoinjector at any site.  Instead, I steady the tip lightly against the skin with one hand and trigger with the other.  After many months, I know the depth that works for me at each site.  This technique has given me a lot of consistency in giving myself the most comfortable injections.

I was told that if I see the round impression of the barrel on my skin immediately after the injection, it is a sign I have used too much pressure.

One more thing ---
Even though the large majority of my injections are pretty painless these days (still get some sting afterwards though) there is that initial piercing of the skin that can trigger a TOO BIG reflex jump.  It's like watching intently for the toast to pop up from the toaster, knowing it's coming ...... any moment now ....... ready ...... ready ...... and you still jump out of your skin when it happens.

I've found I can sometimes avoid that (and some discomfort) if I start to hum a little or just go ahead and begin to chant ow, ow, ow before hitting the trigger.  Seems if I ow about it first I can make a liar out of myself.  This has been especially helpful on my thighs where I had begun to anticipate pain.

As the routine gets more familiar, you can let your hands inject while your mind visits other places.

Katie, I've never had trouble with my arms either.  We must both have had good instruction.  You're doing fine!
Mary

[jensequitur]

Oh, and I think the ice pack did damage my skin.  I would keep it on until it was completely numb, and sometimes the injection area looked a little frostbitten from the cold!