Steroid injection for Keloid

[rpera]

Hello,
I have a keloid on my chest and the dermatologist has advised steroid injections starting from next week.
I am a little scared about the injections. My question is: Is the process of injection painful? I am apprehensive about the pain when the needle is being injected into the keloid. Are the needles thin enough to be pain-free or is it going to be painful? I very much appreciate a response.
Best regards.
Ravi.

[richyrich10]

Just got back from what is probably my 8th treatment. Keloids became unbearable last year (itch, sensitivity, throbbing pain when you accidently hit one). I've had them on my chest and shoulders ever since I was approx 16. I'm 45 now and soooo  glad I finally did something about them. Started treatment on them last year (once a month). I talked to my doctor about needle size and he is using the smallest needle on the market. The pain of the injection is Minimal compared to the results I've seen (I'd compare the injection to a pretty good pinch of the skin, . . you know like Mom used to do when u misbehaved). I'm happy to say the numerous keloids on my shoulders are all completely flat, pain free and itch free. The keloids on my chest have flattened some (not to the extent of my shoulders), but are pain and itch free. My $.02 is don't waste time delaying treatment cause these things grow from year to year and become more dense and harder to treat. Get the shots and focus on something pleasant while being injected. Trust me it's no worse than a pinch. I'm so happy I did the treatments and you can no longer see my "bumps" through my tee shirt anymore.

[merrymonday]

before the injection go into the doctor early and have them put numbing cream on your keloid and sit there for an hour or so. it helps a lot and the pain of the injection is for sure bearable. many doctors will not do this numbing cream unless you ask for it!! it is ok for them if you suffer, what do they care?

[mojo98]

I just got my first injection for keloids on my sternum area and left upper arm 2 days ago. I have been running away from from treatments for the last 6 years, when my sternum area kelid had just formed and was really small. A lot of people scared me about the pain and I kept procastrinating the treatment for that long. 6 years has made my keloid 6 times larger. And the pain from the scar is like 10 needles from inside! Sometimes unbearable!
I finally mustered up some courage and visited a plastic surgeon in Sydney 2 days ago. I only went for consultation and had no intention of getting any treatment. She explained everything and said I could do it today. Then I thought to myself that if I got out of that room to think abt doing the treatment another day, I may never come back for it! I said, Lets do it! Very impulsive decision.. Im very happy I did it!
First of all about the pain from the needle. I was very scared even if she tried convincing me that keloids are less sensitive than normal skin. I didnt obviously believe her. But it didnt hurt much at all!! I guess because I was expecting the worst sort of pain. Personally for me, the pain I experience periodically in a month from these keloids are much much much more intense than the pain from the injection.. I dont know if this is the case for others!
Now, 2 days later, I have no pain whatsoever from my keloids. I also feel they've already begun shrinking! I cant wait for my next injection!!
My only advice is if you have a keloid, yes the treatments are from the medieval torture era! But I think, injections are a treatment you must definitely try before considering any other option. Its definitely worth trying out than living another day with these unsightly and not to forget, painful scars! JUST DO IT! DONT EVEN THINK ABT IT LIKE I DID FOR 6 YEARS!

[Jason883]

I actually had my first injection today on my neck, due to a previous surgery to remove a cyst. I have read on this forum that the procedure can be very painful, especially since my keloid is on my neck, which is fairly sensitive. But I was actually shocked at how little it hurt. It felt like a tiny little ***** every few seconds for about 10 seconds. So I would say the pain level was a 1 or 2 out of 10. Doctor said there may be a bit of swelling, but the pain for swelling is hardly noticeable.  Hope the keloid reduces in size, will update in a few months after I get a few more injections. Hope this helps for those who are considering.

[lming]

i got keloids on arms, hips, face , back. I got injections for many years and ,  2 keloids on back and 1 in arm are flat but 1 keloid in upper arms near shoulders stopped growing for a few years but it rebound after i moved from Canada to Asia. I guess the humidity and i need to move the shoulder and arms often are the causes. The injections back to Asia was very painful and one time can't stop crying for a few hours even after the injection but it doesn't work at all !  it grows very quickly.  I started my lazer treatment for a clinical study 2 days ago and it is a much less painful treatment, and hope it works and with my result , more effective treatments in the near future......  i've lived with it for 32 years but still not able to accept them as part of my body....

[Jljones]

The pain is tolerble,...I would say a 3 on scale of 1-5. It's not the actual needle. Its the substance being injected which Causes a burning sensation. I had topical numbing beforehand and next time i will try taking a painkiller an hour or so before as well. My keloid is 1.7 cm long and in middle of the chest which began as a tiny pimple. So lame. Today was the first injection- hoping this will work!