All Copaxone users!

[figuerpa]

I have a question for all of you Copaxone users. I did my third injection today. The first two days i did them I had a small bump/welt that went away rather quickly. After I did my injection today 1st it stung like no other 2nd I got a welt that is almost covering my arm. Is this normal? Should I call Shared Solutions or just let it go a while.

I can honestly say that the first two injections went so smooth I was happy with them. Everything went well, not much stinging or bumps/welts but today is a different story it stung so bad and now I have a welt on the whole back of my arm. I really don't want it to be this way every time.

So anywho, did this happen to all of you and did it lessen up in time or is it something that has continued. It doesn't hurt anymore so that is a good thing.

I know I can call Shared Solutions but I have everyone here so I thought I would ask you first :)

Thank you,
Paula

[Starryeyes2]

I've been on Copaxone since Aug 2009. I got huge welts on the backs of my arms, my legs seemed to cause the IPIR thing so my Dr has me injecting my hips, stomach, and flanks. Keep an eye on the depth of the injector. If you don't go deep enough skin will react.

I have lots of fat destruction so I don't know how long I will be able to keep using it.

Good luck with this!!
Kristi

[figuerpa]

Thanks ladies,

Shots are going much smoother. I wish I could do all my shots in my hips and thighs, they are the least stinging and hardly any welts. I love the thighs though that would be my choice of injection if I could only pick two places.

As for my arms, my left arm hurt so bad and I hated it. I changed the auto inject to a 5 and had my son do my other arm injection and it went great, a little sting and a little welt but nothing like my left arm :)

I am determined to give myself the shots, I waited so long to start a DMD that I am not stopping now. I will give it a year and see how it goes. I have been icing when it starts stinging or itching and that stops it. My hips are perfect though no stinging, itching or welts.

Thanks again,
Paula

[jen673]

I've been on Copax for 10 months now.  At my year appt I will prob discuss changing because I still the welts and itchy bruises.  My neuro said if you react like this it doesn't usually go away and so far she is right.  I wanted to give it a year at least.  I really don't want to try the other shots.  Adjusting the depth of the injector does help some so try experiencing around with it.  Hope it gets better for you :)

Jeny

[twopack]

You have been given some good advice here Paula.  If you didn't inject as deeply on your arm that could be why this huge welt appeared.  The drug needs to get into the subcutaneous fat rather than just under the skin.  If it wasn't injected deep enough it can 'split' the dermal layers and burn.  

It is also possible this happened because you got a poor angle on the arm injection.  It's simply harder to inject arms than the areas we can see and/or get to with two hands.

Be sure to use the "Search this community" feature to find other discussions about Copaxone and site reactions.  I pulled three older topics up a few days ago when answering a question about injections.  There is a lot of information available with just a modest search.

Most important - Please DON'T let yourself get nervous about future injections, especially tomorrow's!  Difficulty one day isn't necessarily a predictor of what will happen the next.

Yeah, I know this is appearing many days late.  (My answer got stuck in spell check and the calendar.)  I saw a recent activity box note that the following day's injection went much better.  Woohoo!  Good for you.

Keep up the good work!
Mary

[figuerpa]

Thank you everyone! I am going to do my right arm today and see how that goes.

I will also try the warm compress. I do ice it afterwards. My stomach is a breeze it didn't hurt at all and only little ripples of welt that amounted to nothing.

As for my thigh, I got my right thigh done the first day and it stung very little, got more of an itch on that one and the welt went away fast. I am just worried with summer coming, I don't want to walk around with welts all over my arms. And to be honest I don't want to feel that sting everytime I do my arm. It hurt like a dickens.

The nurse who came and told me what depth to use on my body parts told me to use a 6 on my arms, 5 on belly and hips, and a 4 on my thighs. Maybe the burn was so bad from the depth.

I will talk to my neuro when I see him. I go on March 28th and if I have the same pain on my left arm and the welt I will call shared solutions to see what they have to say too.

If all parts went as smooth as my thigh and belly I would have been a happy happy girl lol.

Paula

[jenphilly]

Paula -

I am not quite 2 months into copaxone and I can tell you that as you use each area, you will find the ones that are super easy and are no problems, and then others which will sting like a bugger and/or get the welts...  For me, my arms are by far the worst...  they get a  rather large welt type area, its not real high but it almost looks as if the meds 'run' down under the skin and make a long welt a couple inches wide.   It also goes away, usually takes about a day, but it does fade.   My next problem area are my thighs...  and don't worry if you get more bruising on the thighs, there are many more capillaries on the thighs, so the tendancy to bruise is much higher.  

Have you tried the heat before / cold press after?   It does help me with the problem areas.   But my stomach is such a non issue, I usually only put a warm press for a minute and don't even need the cold.  I don't even get much of a sting on the left and right side of my stomach, the area under my belly button is a bit more tender.  

When are you supposed to go back to your neuro for a followup?   Talk to him / her abotu the sites that bother you.  I can't tell you not to use an area, but will share that my neuro told me to just omit the arms in the rotation if they bother me too much.  Since my stomach is such a non issue (you usually cannot even find where I did my shot!), that I used my stomach as 2 areas (left and right). I also have experimented with the thighs for what area works best and find that for me, the outside of the upper thigh is usually a good spot, but I have a little extra padding on my thighs, if you are slim, then this might not be an area where you have the 'extra' to make a shot easier.  

And you will also find that the reactions get less as the weeks go by... Play with the depth settings too, if the nurse indicated to go 8, try between 6 and 8...  and while Shared Solution is a big help and hey are really nice, I have not come across anyone there that actually is on copaxone, so feel free to check with your doctor.  

I hope your next shot goes better and you find your good spots that won't give you much problem!!!

Good luck!!!

Jen

[melissabarnett]

hi  you might try to do the shot like a buster shot not on the back of arm less pain and swelling there for me plus not so tender that what i did when takeing copaxone and SS was ok with it also try to ice it first till realy numb then give shot by time feeling back welt in place and you can relax and cold on 15 mins and off  use the ice pack u get from ur shipment they work great and after a copple months u have enough to just sit there and ice most of the day till pain and welt goes down and play with the depth of the neddle for each shot site i always do 6 to 6 1/2 on arms and 8 on tummy and hipps and 4 on leggs and ice leggs realy well cause they hurt more then rest of body parts more muscules there lol i gess but u will find the right spots and depth for it all as u get the hang of it hope this helps  u out bye for now and good luck and God bless .

[HoustonDogLove]

My arms were always the worst!

[figuerpa]

Lulu,

It was my left arm today and that is where the welt is. It got huge real fast that is what made me concerned. I may just be paranoid. The burn was horrible too. The shots in my thigh and belly were a breeze, not a problem at all, well a little sting but nothing like my arm and the bump I got from there were very minimal.

Thank you,
Paula

[Lulu54]

Call SS for their take on it, but also can you tell us which body part was today's injection?  We have more fat layers on different body parts and you may need to adjust the needle depth according to where you are injecting.

I'm thinking more people have more problems with their arms and thighs than their stomach or hips.