I am just starting into my 12th month of therapy on Copaxone. Keep in mind please, that I am in the 13th year since diagnosis.
I just had a brain MRI to check on the progress or lack thereof of Copaxone benefits. When I first started the Copaxone I had 12 lesions in the brain. Non-enhancing lesions. On this MRI it was noticed that I had minimal "volume loss" since last MRI. I also still have on the average of 12 lesions, with a couple shrinking in size. So if you asked me whether Copaxone seems to be effective, I think it probably is.
I have had two relapses since starting the drug. We will see what the next 12 months brings.
When I was on Avonex for three years, I did not have one new lesion appear in that whole time and no brain volume loss. But that was over 5 years ago. I do believe, however, that Avonex was really good for the MS and kept my lesion load at bay with some shrinking of the spinal lesion. I had on average 2-3 relapses per year. Even after going off of Avonex, it was 2 more years with no DMD;s before they started to see an increase in lesions again. Avonex side effects never went away for me and I was "flu-struck" for almost a full 4 days after injection. That's why I gave it up. But I still think it's an excellent DMD.
With Copaxone, I notice I have less and less skin=injection site reactions, but the shots in the touchie still cause the biggest lumps. And dern, that's the fattiest area on my body. I have had medication squeeze out of the injection sites many times and on average, have a small amount of blood 4 out of 7 shots. The back of the arms are the second worse place for lumps. I use to have big lumps with Copaxone now they are dime size and no prepping for the shots. I just make sure that it is room temperature before injecting.
Heather
Magnet - It's a chart that is titled
ROTATING YOUR INJECTION SITES
it came in my blue bag of information
it is about the size of a sheet of paper and is a magnet and also had a white board marker with it.
It is a larger diagram of the small book picture and conveniently hangs on my refrigerator.
I am positive if you contact Shared Solutions they would be happy to send you one or two! They are happy to do anything to keep you on their drug.
I looked and don't find any identifying number on the sheet so you will just have to describe it. Good luck!
Lu
P. S. I forgot to say that I'm happy for you, that your own shots are going so well! K.
Hi, just peeking in to say that this information could be helpful for those of us who self-administer allergy shots.
I often have back-flow of meds and l sometimes bleed quite a lot. It seems to me that the darn needles are long enough and go deep enough already, but I'll ask my allergy tech about it when I go in next month to test my progress.
The only thing I've discovered to help myself is to fill my syringes and let them come to room temp. before injecting; doesnt' sting as much.
Thanks for the ideas that I can use to improve my own injectables experience!
Kathy
When I realized I hadn't been rotating within each site, I started using the pictures in the Shared Solutions book, like doublevision mentioned. But it's really only an estimate of the location. I did read where some people are more precise, using tracing paper or foam to mark where they did the shot. Too much effort for me...
To keep track, I use the injection diary I got from Shared Solutions. One new page and blank picture each week. So I pencil on the diagram where I injected. I agree, it's hard to note exactly where the shot went in, but marking it on the picture helps to keep track.
Lulu, what is this refrigerator magnet body drawing? I didn't get one of these in my bag of tricks from Shared Solutions.
Yes, I have been rotating sites regularly:
Mon - R thigh
Tue - L thigh
Wed - Abd (alternate weekly on R and L side)
Thu - R buttock/hip
Fri - L buttock/hip
Sat - R arm
Sun L arm
And yes, I change the specific injection site within each area above, so I avoid injecting in the exact same spot again for several weeks, allowing it time to fully heal.
DV- the Shared Solutions nurse on the phone had me back my needle off to a 9 almost immediately after I started the copax and like you I find it made a big differencei n the discomfort. I won't lie and say I don't feel the after effects, but they are minimal and I don't have the urgent need to ice the injection site like I did initially.
Patientx, I have been on copaxone just under 3 months. I am trying to rotate within each injection area but find it is impossible to keep track of exactly where I shot that area last week and last month. I'm doing my best to move around and figure that is all I can do. I used the refrigerator magnet body drawing I was given and filled in the areas - but then I ran out of areas on that drawing and have been to lazy to erase it and start over.
My best, Lulu
I'm curious; have you been rotating the shots within each injection area? I was reading some of the Copaxone information again, and saw the "checkerboard" diagram they give for each area of the body. I realized I hadn't been following this for the past 2 months.