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Is humira injection PAINFUL???

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Posted 4/8/2009 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
OMG watching youtube videos of people taking humira has me freaked! It looks painful and the people are saying its painful....
Posted 4/8/2009 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I don't take Humira. But my husband gives me B12 and I give myself imitrex (all too frequently). I have found the alcohol wipes with the benzocaine (sp?) stuff really helps. I use one wipe on a large area. wait about 2 minutes, then use a second wipe on the actual, smaller, area that will be injected. It doesn't take all the pain away, but it does numb it some. And I am a bit of a wimp which is why my husband gives me the B12 shots, I just can't do it myself. If they came in a pen like the imitrex I would be OK, but I can't LOOK at needle and then push it into myself.
Posted 4/8/2009 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it hurts like #%$#%@$^$^#^%#@!$!#@. It's not the needle prick that hurts, it's the medicine that burns, but it only lasts as long as it takes for all of the medicine to get in. For me it hurts a little after that too, but 10 minutes later, I'm fine. :) I have found that icing the spot makes it worse. Others say that it helps. I have my husband stick it in the fatty part of the back of my arm. That way I don't have to see it and I don't have to do it to myself. I did the first 4 shots in my thighs and I will never do it there again. I never tried my stomach because when I started I was pregnant and now I'm not preggo any more, I'm just too chicken to try my stomach -seems like it would hurt worse.

Sorry I'm not making this easier for you, but I wanted to tell the truth. I didn't think I was too much of a wuss, but I HATE taking my Humira shot. At least the medicine works for me. Somehow that kind of makes it worth it.
Posted 4/8/2009 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
It hurts a lot less than the symptoms they prescribe it to alleviate do.
Posted 4/8/2009 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks...I just cant believe I am going to be taking a biological injectable drug that I have to administer to myself...its so surreal to me...I have done so well over the past 15 years I have only had 5 bad flare ups including this one where I am on my back...Always treated with anti iflam drugs and steroids...

Even now I have an IV in my arm as I am taking iv steroids for 10 days because oral wasnt doing the trick and still no response the disease doest even recognize the drug...Im not even having side effects from it...very mild acne on my shoulders...and a little insomnia...but no appetite incrase, and no weight gain...

So tommorow I am on Humira...and I hope it works and does the trick...
Posted 4/8/2009 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
I started humira 3 weeks ago...I don't think the shots are that bad...I use the humira pens and I don't warm up the meds...the initial shot was painful, but after that I guess I just got used to it...everyone's tolerance is different...good luck...

Posted 4/8/2009 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
The medicine burns, but just leave it out for 20-30 minutes and make sure you've got enough skin squeezed between your fingers. You do get used to and it does get better. I don't ever ice mine...it really does hurt a lot at first but you'll gradually get used to it.
Posted 4/8/2009 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
People are probably putting up videos of the first time they use an injectable. Not knowing what's coming is more scary than the actual event. After a few times, you really do get used to it. Sure, it burns a little going in. But it's 10 seconds of pain. Icing the area before does help.

If people put up videos of their 10th injection it would give a very different impression.
Posted 4/9/2009 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
it never bothered me any more than a typical injection. only thing i didnt like was having to inject myself. creeped me out.
Posted 4/9/2009 3:02 PM (GMT 0)

Doc2007 said...
OMG watching youtube videos of people taking humira has me freaked! It looks painful and the people are saying its painful....

tongue Hi dont be scared i do my own needles now at first i had a VON come in and show me the ropes but now i am an old pro,at first i was nervous now its not bad it does burn a bite but only for a second it is kind of like a shot of morphine you know that burn i am sure it wont last yeah

there is also some itching it also doesnt last long and there might only be a small welt which will also go away.I give myself a shot every second monday now since i just got out of the hospital its now every week but i get the prefilled pens which are so much easier there is no measuring or worries if you took enough or to much it takes the guess work out of it for you.I hope that is something you were looking for dont be afaird its only another bump in the road and you will jump that i am sure us crohns patients are tough so this isnt so bad you will see,best of luck to you keep me posted on how you are doing i am also going to give you the number to the Humira Hotline which is 1-866-848-6472 they have been a great help to me so any concerns you have call them tell them your nervous and they to will set your mind at ease.Your bowel buddy Jenn. smilewinkgrin
Posted 4/9/2009 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
i does hurt, but only for a few seconds, my husband has to give it to me cause i just cant do i myself. my goes in my leg, i cant imagine doing it in my stomach...ugh good luck!
Posted 4/9/2009 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
I discovered that leaving it out of the fridge for closer to an hour helps, also I've been injecting on the inside of my thighs, where it's more jiggly. The top of my thighs have more muscle (from biking), and it seems to be better to go where there's no resistance.

Yes, it hurts, but it really is only 10 seconds. And then you can demand a snuggle from someone nearby, which helps. :)
Posted 4/9/2009 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
I actually stopped taking it because I could not take the pain.  I probably sound like a big baby, but I think that most of us crohnies can agree that we can tolerate pain better then the next person, with all that we have been through.  I tried numbing my leg with ice, I tried leaving the pen out for 30 mins, I tried it combined, nothing helped me.  I just couldnt take it anymore, so it was on to Remicade for me.

Posted 4/10/2009 12:04 AM (GMT 0)

I don't take it anymore,but when I did,icing the area of injection for like 15 minutes,REALLY helped me alot,I couldn't really tolerate them without the ice,also leave the syringe at room temp for 15-20minutes. I took Benedryl a few times prior to the injection,because sometimes the area gets itchey.

Good luck smilewinkgrin

Posted 4/10/2009 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
some hurt others dont... its wierd... luckily my abdomen is so cut up that a lot of the nerves are severed! so i have some numb spots.. :0).... i would never do it in my arms or legs as they are to thin for my comfort of hitting some fat. now my gut on the other hand has plenty. my wife does the shooting as i lay in my lazyboy with my hands under my butt so i wont smack her.
Posted 4/10/2009 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Okay guys, those are not the stories I wanted to read as my doc is trying to decide if I have to go on Humira.
Do most of you need to take Benedryl with these shots-I can't take benedryl.
Posted 4/10/2009 4:10 AM (GMT 0)

You don't need to take Benadryl with it; I assume some people have found that they itch some after the injection so they take the Benadryl to offset that. If you did itch, you could take something else to help with it if it's unbearable without treatment.

I won't lie - it hurts. But, I freaked myself out over the pain initially and it wasn't as bad as I made it out to be in my imagination. The other option is MUCH more painful so I can take this small pain to avoid the big pain. It's funny, some injections hurt a lot more than others. Been on it 2+ years and can't figure out why that is the case.

There are things you can do to avoid pain. For me, the pen hurts a lot worse so I use a syringe. I also let it sit out and warm up for upwards of an hour prior to injection. I also squeeze the heck out of my thigh in order to avert some of the pain =) You can also try icing the area to numb it.

I've tried thigh and tummy and I prefer the thigh area. My DH won't even consider doing it for me so I have to give myself a pep talk before each injection - have to do it tonight, as a matter of fact!

Don't let the injection sway you away. Really. It has been a miracle drug for me and much less painful than surgery =)

Posted 4/10/2009 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hey :)

I started taking Humira two months ago and so here I go with my experience.

I don't use the pen, I get injections and I don't give it to myself. It lasts about 30 seconds as you can control how fast you'll inject it. I don't feel almost anything when the injections goes in, it's pretty small. Humira does sing, but I find it to be a piece of cake, it's really no big deal for me, I got used to it now and I'm just glad it doesn't last any longer. I found that sometimes it hurts more, sometimes less. My left side of the belly hurts more. For example 2.5 weeks ago when I got it injected in my left side. My intestines hurt that day...my stigma. So I'm guessing the left side hurts more because that's the part of the belly my inflammation is located.

When I got the first 4 injections it hurt the most and I couldn't stand having any pants on, even panties so I just slept with very "loose" panties on that night hehe. Keep in mind that I got 2 injections on the first day, and two injections on the second day. The second time I got Humira 2 weeks later, it was 2 injections and it hurt for 20 mins, again the left side more than the right side, and my intestines hurt that day, but no big pain.

What I've notice now is that each time I get Humira, the bump on my stomach gets bigger and stays there for about 2 days, and the first couple of times I had no bumps, and now that I do, it's also reddish a little bit. But goes away soon. I hope it won't be getting worse or anything like that. I had no allergic reactions to Humira. Once my whole belly has this weird rash for an hour, the day after, but it all went away. So I don't take benadryl.

I had my last shot on Tuesday and it was the easiest dose so far. Besides the bump.

I guess we're all different, I'm just glad I don't use pens, and I'm glad I don't have to give it to myself for now. The nurse at the hospital gives it to me and I am always sitting down...so maybe that makes a difference too? Don't know.

Good luck with everything! It's really important you stay calm and it might not be as bad as you think. I was really afraid of having a reaction to it but I didn't and it really doesn't hurt that much. B12 shots for me hurt more because it's hard to keep your behind relaxed...you don't have to worry about that when it comes to your stomach. At least not when you're sitting down. Plus, my shot lasts 30s, I breathe and talk while getting it and my belly does move...and it still isn't as painful as B12 shot...for me.

;)
Posted 4/10/2009 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
When I had the first four, only two of them burned a little bit and bruised me.  Now I know the spots around my stomach.  I also use the pens but my partner gives them to me!
Posted 4/10/2009 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
So I had my loading dose yesterday...and IT was very very painful...Just one would have been okay but to have it hurt like it did and then anticipate that pain 3 more times was a bit much...i have the pen and it got the injection in my stomach and in my thigh...sigh...at the end of the fourth shot my eyes teared up and I just felt that I had reached my limit for pain. But I will say that I feel better already...how is that possible???I dont Know maybe because I went to acupuncture two hours after but I do feel better. I am wrapping my mind around the idea of no oral medication anymore...just a shot every two weeks. The one thing I am grateful for is that the pain is only 5 to 6 seconds and the meds load quicker than expected less than 10 seconds. THe nurse that was administering it to me noticed this. I am not looking forward to giving it to myself but i will get over it...MIND OVER MATTER.....
Posted 4/10/2009 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Humira now for 3 months.  I take it out of the fridge about a 1/2 hour before i use it.  I inject myself in the stomach.  The reason i use the stomach is, i am a thin guy.  I have no problems there at all.  ok maybe for a few seconds while it goes in but, that is it.  Beats going to the doc every 2 months and sitting in the chair for 4 hours with Remicade.  I stopped useing remicade because it no longer works.  so far with the Humira life is GREAT.  Good luck.  try it u might like it. yeah
Posted 4/11/2009 12:22 AM (GMT 0)

When I first started using Humira, I hardly had any injection pain at all!  But as the months wore on, my injections have become MUCH more painful---I find this so strange!  By the way, I use the pen.  I do take it out of the fridge about 1/2 prior, and let the alcohol dry before injecting.

I know everyone is different, but injecting in the abdominal area is WAY LESS painful than in my thighs. Also, try not to put any pressure whatsoever on the injection site for at least 30 minutes after injecting---otherwise, it hurts like crazy and lots more bruising occurs.

Good luck!!

Posted 4/11/2009 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
I just did an injection tonight. I'm at 6 weeks, so still relatively new I guess. Cheryl, I noticed it stung a bit more than usual tonight but it wasn't bad. I just realized I didn't let the alcohol dry this time, as you do. Thanks for the reminder!
Posted 4/12/2009 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
I just took my shot yesterday and was very proud to say that I gave it to myself (I was having my husband do it because I would pull it out too soon because of the pain). I am getting used to it now. It only stings for a few minutes, and so worth it. I have been on it for 6 weeks and feel great! I am now living a normal life!
Posted 4/12/2009 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
wow, I didn't think it hurt at all and I gave the shots to myself. I thought it was kind of empowering and interesting. a tiny sting, that's it. I didn't do it long as it didn't help, but it was easy. I did my belly. I just remembered, the nurse told me not to use the alcohol, as it would cause it to sting, so I just left it out on the counter for 30 min and then gave myself the shot. the hardest part was finding any fat to grab (I was really skinnny at the time)
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