HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Humira Shots

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/10/2008 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I just started humira for UC today. But because its not approved for Ulcerative Colitis yet I thought I'd have more luck finding an answer in the CD forum. I had four shots today and they were all very painful. Does anyone know of a way to reduce the pain of the injections? Also, I was just wondering, is it the humira that causes the stinging or is that just how all injections given under the skin feel?
Posted 10/10/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I have never taken it but I'am sure others here that have will be along. I do read that they ice the area first. lol gail
Posted 10/10/2008 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Ive been on Humira for about 3 months now. Sorry to say but the shots feel the same for me every time. They are pretty painful.  The needle doesnt hurt me but the actual medication going into my skin does, its pretty thick.  Just make sure you take it out of the fridge like 20-30 mins before you take it it helps a little bit with the pain.  I also take some tylenol before the shot too, it doesnt help too too much but a little bit.

Posted 10/10/2008 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
I did know there was a syringe!!! I use the pen and I hate it!! I have given myself B12 and methetrexate over the years, this things hurts sometimes. I scream so loud the neighbors can hear me. I had to have by BF start doing them, because I just could not finish the shot(medicine would be dripping down my leg. And yeah we discovered that taking it out the frinde for about 10 minutes or so b4 hand helps and he had to stop pinching and pushing so hard. Thanks for the syringe info, I am definately looking into that!
Posted 10/10/2008 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
See Im the complete opposite, I got the syringe by accident once from the pharmacy, and it kinda freaked me out, but I was like ok whatever we will try it.  My mom does my injections for me or else they wouldnt be done at all haha.  But I nearly passed out from the pain with the syringe, I didnt know whether to tell my mom to do it faster or slower, but my leg started shaking uncontrollably, and I got really hot and dizzy and almost passed out.  While she was injecting it I started getting this huge bump on my leg where the medicine was going in and my mom was scared it would burst, but we finished it.  We called the pharmacy right afterwards and told them to NEVER give us the syringe again.  Im not sure why it was so bad, my mom has given me injections before like B12 and what not, so she kinda knows what shes doing.  Maybe she didnt do it right, I dunno but I prefer the pen, all you do is click it and wait for the yellow ball to drop then its done, as painful as it may be, its better then the syringe for me at least.
Posted 10/10/2008 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I started on Humira today also for UC. I went to the DR and watched a video on how to give the injections. The nurse then showed me how and I gave myself the first two injections into my stomach at the Dr office. I will try the other two in the thigh in a little while. I am on the pen and did not have any pain what so ever. On the video it said you could use an ice cube to numb the injection site. How long jeff did you wait in between the first two shots til you took the other two shots?

PMH
Posted 10/10/2008 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
They actually gave me all four shots at the same time.
Posted 10/10/2008 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???? ALL FOUR AT THE SAME TIME???????? I think I would have blacked out! I hate those #%$#$^#@ shots. :) It's not the needle that hurts - it's the medicine. And I have found that it hurts like a (*&^% no matter what I try to do. Icing the area actually hurts worse for me. I've never tried my belly because I'm pregnant. I did my first 4 shots in the thigh and never again since then. I have my husband shoot me in the back of the arm. He used to give me sub-q shots of Enbrel and it's always better in the back of the arm - I don't have to see it. As far as the pain goes - I just bite/scream into a towel so my kids don't freak out. I've been on it for a few months now and no matter how much I try to prepare, NOTHING helps that awful shot. Gotta get one tonight and I'm NOT looking forward to it.
Posted 10/11/2008 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
They hurt - but there are some things you can do.

I refuse the pen. I had to use it once and it hurts a LOT more because the medication goes in all at one time and you have no control over it. The syringe allows YOU to slow it down.

I leave it out for about 30 min prior to the injection. Some people ice the area but I didn't see a difference so I don't bother with that anymore. I go slow and steady - the slower it goes in, the less you feel. I have done it a few times and had NO pain for whatever reason.

The thigh works best for me but everyone is different.
Posted 10/11/2008 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
It hurt about the same for me whether I iced it or not. I tried none when I did the four injections at the hospital and then tried it when I did the second two at my apartment.

Leaving it out for a while should help though. Nothing like a dense AND cold substance being forced into your skin.

Other than that, I don't think there is much you can do except wait for the injection to be done with. I know it hurts terribly sometimes, but it is a lot better than the pain of dealing with a flare.
Posted 10/11/2008 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have some injections in my fat spots on my tummy that never hurt so sometimes for me it does not hurt. I ice the are till it is numb. the whole 30 mins while I am waiting for the pen to come to room temp. My skin is red where I ice it. then ice some after. The pain for me is so quick I just don't mind it that much. Sometimes it hurts while other times it does not hurt as bad. I agree it is the medicine and not the needle. When my pen clicks I don't feel pain till I see the med going in the needle is tiny. Karen
Posted 10/11/2008 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
I am humira and use the pen.  It does hurt like @#%*.  I have to agree with everyone else that it's the medicine not the needle.  Some injections hurt worse than others but it ALWAYS burns to some degree.  I ice the injection area first and for me it helps.  My hubby does the shots for me.  I would still rather have this than the bendryl injected into the IV before remicade.  When I had to do that they would have to put ice packs on my arm because I got so red and it burned so bad.  It burned for almost the whole IV time, with the humira the longest it has lasted was like 15 minutes. 

Posted 10/12/2008 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
I use the pens. Honestly, sometimes it goes in so easily I can't tell I did it and sometimes it hurts like heck I stretch my thigh the morning of the injection and try to stay hydrated the day before and of. I do take tylenol in the am of the injection and I ice the injection site before and after. Good luck!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply