Tears from Copaxone?

[michelleric]

Ok, today is day 5 on Copaxone. It hurts...bad. I have "heard" it is just supposed to hurt for a couple of weeks, and am curious if this is true for most?

I also know someone who has been on it 6 months and still has pain from the injection.

After the shot it burns immediately and feels like a hornet sting for about 2 hours. I get a large red bumpy blotch that is there for a couple of hours and the "after" pain is for a few days.

I tried heat first/then cold, and the reverse. Doesn't do a thing.I have lowered the setting, no difference. I am dreading tonight.

The good (great) thing, is the price ended up being only $5.00 for a 3 month supply. So, about $1.60 a month. I feel extremely fortunate, and hugely appreciative of  my hubby's new job and benefits.

Thanks for any and all advice how to make this more comfortable,

Michelle

[poker247]

I have been on Copaxone since Friday. I was on Rebif for 6 months prior. I had problems with lumps, immense redness/pain and sometimes brusing,

I called the help line and she told me I was going to deep and pushing the medication in too quickly. Now I go not as deep,and I take 20-30 seconds to inject and Viola~ no pain, lumps or bruising.

With Copaxone I don't have any of the bruising or lumps, However I do get a stinging sensation for about 15 minutes that radiates around the site. I take my injection before bed and when the stinging starts, I close my eyes, relax, and think happy thoughts and before I know it, it's over.

The stinging from Copaxone is NOTHING compared to the horrific side effects I was experiencing from Rebif.... So I will definately stick with Copaxone as long as it works and keeps me in remission.

I wish you the best of luck and I hope it gets easier for you!

P.S. I take 2 Ibuprohen 30-60 minutes before the shot and that seems to help

~Scottie

[michelleric]

Thank you all for your comments.  I will go tomorrow and see if I can find that gel. Good advice from all, I will consider everything...
Michelle

[jensequitur]

Wow... $5.00?  That's great.  Mine costs $75 a pack.  I can't afford it.

[patc21]

My Suggestion is to Clear the air from the syringe. The air hurts for copaxone and for Insulin. I was doing 5 shots a day of insulin the ones that hurt had Air. I noticed the Copaxone Syringes have alot of Air. I Also massage the area for a few after to make sure the meds dont pool and disperse on my terms.

[Lulu54]

Michelle,
My injections didn't just hurt like a bee sting hurt, it was a searing pain like a hornet or wasp sting.  If you ever have been stung by those, you understand the difference and the intensity.

I played with the needle depth - now am set at a 9.  The deeper you can go, the better.  It took a few months to get my body used to this and now it is rare to have the stinging feeling at all.

The only times I even feel it for more than a few seconds is if I rush and don't wait for the alcohol to dry.  

Hang in there with the copaxone - I swear it does get better and as Alex suggested, focus on a good reason why you take those shots.

scarred for life,  LOL
Lulu

[Charley123]

I used the Arnifloura instead of an ice pack.  I hardly felt anything.  Just a slight stinging and very little redness.  Maybe that would help you.  I am wondering what else can be used as well.  You can find Arnica Gel in most health food stores.  I've been using it for 5 years and have never had any reaction from it at all and don't know anyone else who has had a reaction from it as well.  By the way, I told the nurse that I had been using a gel for pain and went to get it because in my brain fog I couldn't remember the name of it.  When I brought it back to her, she smiled and said she knew all about it because she had been using it for many years.  I hope you can find some relief, Charley.

[HVAC]

It was really bad for me the first two weeks.

Six months later it stings but I take it before bed and put an ice pack on and try to distract myself.

How deep do you have the needle set. I have mine on four because I am muscular. Deeper and it hurts more.

I think about not wanting to not be using a walker or scooter every night when I give my shot.

Alex

[Charley123]

I've been on Copaxone for about 6 weeks.  I do get a little redness and that stinging, but with an ice pack it only lasts for about 15 minutes.  When the nurse came to show me how to use it, she mentioned the side effects and I asked her if there was anything other than ice that I could use to minimize the side effects.  She told me that there was, but wasn't allowed to tell me.  I've used a tube of Arniflora Arnica Gel, a homeopathic topical gel for pain for years.  People use it for sprains, pain from collar bone injuries, etc. I haven't tried it with the shot, but will this morning and let you know if it works.  
When you give yourself the shot is the needle going in at a right angle.  When I've not done that I find it stings more because for some reason and think that when I pull it out the angle changes.  On days when I have the arm trembling..one never knows. Charley