Hi, I’ve just started taking copaxone and just wanted to know if it gets less sore and less of a deal personally. I kinda dread each injection as the site hurts for ages and the cold pack thing doesn’t really help. Just wanted some reassurance that it gets better and easier and maybe it becomes less of a big deal. Thanks
hi
it makes a difference if you are relaxed (easier said than done i know).
i had to play around with the time of day. now i do it at bedtime.
also try altering the depth of the auto inject pen. i found that i need different depths for different parts of my body.
i think it has to do with how much body fat you have.
if you are really worried try the connections helpline, they are really good and because they work for copaxone they know all about it.
my neuro told me that they are hoping to offer a double dose taken 3 x per week. that will suit me fine.
also take care of your skin. i use double base gel because my skin gets very dry and then the injection sites look horrible.
good luck
carole xx
Yes love it does get easier,and you will get less stressed about doing it. When you find yourself doing it on auto pilot you will see how much it is just like brushing your teeth.
I do still have site reactions after having done 6 full cycles,and to be honest Ive got lots of lumps that wont shift…BUT I havent relapsed since I started and last yr I had 4,and the last one left all my residual problems.
My lumps and bumps remind me I am fighting back and wouldnt change my daily shot at my MonSter for all the money in China.
Hang in there and like Carole says once you have got the confidence to play around with depths in different places you will find what works best for you. I have found I’m less stressed about my weight as having a good fatty lump to aim at definately hurts less.
Take care
Pip
Hi, injections only since Feb this year and I do like Pip’s point of lumps and bumps showing you are fighting back! I have many!
As before, play with the depth. Occaisionally I get it wrong (and I’m a nurse) but the pain and swelling does go down, leaving the nice bumps. Try for the fat, not muscle (one of my wrong sites)
I had a nice conflab with a pharmacist a month ago, he suggested Bio Oil. This is the one he advises diabetics to use as well. This from the day after on the injection site though.
I find straight after the injection I use a slight covering of E45, then once absorbed, I use bepanthen (nappy rash cream, also good for tattoo healing ). This really does take the sting out of it!
Injection done about 2 hours before bedtime for me!
Hi, I started copaxone 3 weeks ago and I am also hoping things will get better re site injections. I am getting used to the bee like sting after injection and use the cold pack which seems to help,my thighs seem to hurt the most.
The first week seemed ok and I hardly got any site injections but by week 2 I had lovely red marks and welts!!! These are slowly fading now. The itching was getting unbearable so I spoke to my pharmacist and he recommended using E45 itch cream which has helped abit. I am also taking an anti histamine tablet each day too.
I also have been using bio oil to massage old injection sites to try and get rid of the horrible bumps but they are still there. My copaxone nurse is visiting tomorrow so I will see what else she advises.
At least I am not getting headaches every day which I was when on rebif.
Cathy
Hi there,
I’m like Cathy, I just started Copaxone 3 weeks ago. I am a nurse like VinceA and I have made injection mistakes, but it’s all about getting used to it, relaxing and getting into a routine that suits you and as has been said here it’s for the greater longterm good and so I feel well worth the ups and downs!
I find injecting in the evening when life at home is less manic and using the needle much easier to control rather than the auto injector, though that is good for harder to reach areas, it’s trial and error at first, I’m still very much at that stage.
Jools
X
Do any or all of you use the wingject when doing it manually?
It made life so much easier for me as my hands dont work well enough to hold such a small syringe and keep it at the depth you want.
Pip
Hi,
No I don’t Pip, my right hand is fine (at the moment anyway!) so I manage okay.
jools
X
Hi
I used to have terrible trouble injecting my thighs and arms so I stopped and just use my belly
and hips both of which have lots of fat … still get the red welts sometimes but they seem to fade quicker
you will soon get the hang of it and like others have said, its just become 2nd nature
Good luck
Thanks for all the advice, my thighs hurt more than my tum but I think its probably because ive still got quite a bit of pregnancy weight around there which leaves me in two minds about trying to shift it… I’m a bit unsure about altering needle depth, can it be too far in or not deep enough? I also understand what has been said about it being a reminder that I am fighting back but I’m kinda still dealing with the feeling of being put on medication at all. I was diagnosed in 09 and was bobbing along without meds dealing ok with i then changed neurologist in 11 and was promptly informed i should have been on copaxone all that time. Kinda changed my whole view on my ms. Pregnancy let me ignore it for another year so it all feels a bit huge just now. Anyways i will try creams post injection as cold pack doesn’t help too much. Thanks to all. Alix
Just had my visit from copaxone nurse. She examined my site marks and bumps and said they are all normal and the main thing is to keep massaging them 24 hrs after injecting to break down lump. One nasty reaction I had last week on my thigh has virtually gone now. I use a Boots Derma care daily moisturising lotion for this massaging and then Bio oil a couple of hours later just before I go to bed. For itchiness I use E45 itch relief cream and I am taking an anti histimine tablet each day. This has made a big difference.
She said that over time as my body gets used to the copaxone the pain and site reactions will lessen as it is just a month I have been on it now.
Cathy