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Humira hurts more each time

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/1/2010 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Ok so I am not going to be a big baby but...

I have done 12 Humira pens and at first I did not feel a thing, but on the 11th pen it hurts a lot more and I was sore in the injection spot fore 24 hours or so.
Now I was doing nr 12 and boy it was not comfy :S not like the first times.

I let them stay out for 20 min before injection so it should not hurt as much. And I do them in the tummy area.
Posted 4/2/2010 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Isergodur,

I only took one pen of Humira (full body hives!) but I used an ice pack to chill my stomach before the injection. That helped some.
Posted 4/2/2010 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
I stopped taking Humira because I couldn't stand doing the shots they hurt so bad.  To me, it was like pure hell.

My stomach hurt less then my thigh when the nurse did my loading dose, but I couldn't bring myself to do a shot in the stomach.

Posted 4/2/2010 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
yeppp i've experienced the same thing!

i've been on it for about a year and a half now and definitely noticed a change in pain level over time. i have a high pain tolerance so it doesn't bother me too much that i'd consider not taking the medicine, but i've wondered what causes the effect.
Posted 4/2/2010 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
I usually place them in my stomach. I tried my thigh once and it hurt like hell. I usually let the injection room up for about an hour before injecting it and it seems to hurt alot less. The site usually stings for about 30 minutes but I never have an residual pain afterwards.
Posted 4/2/2010 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
How about calling Humira and asking if you can keep it out longer. I've heard of people keeping it our for an hour but I don't know what the guideline is.
Posted 4/2/2010 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Try your thigh - it hurt a lot less for me than my tummy. Might be worth a shot (no pun intended!).

You could also give the syringes a try. I preferred them much more over the pen, which I thought hurt like hell.
Posted 4/2/2010 3:07 PM (GMT 0)

Aimee =) said...
Try your thigh - it hurt a lot less for me than my tummy. Might be worth a shot (no pun intended!).

You could also give the syringes a try. I preferred them much more over the pen, which I thought hurt like hell.

But don't you have to a lot more careful with the syringes then the pen?

I will try my thigh next time.

I will not stop the Humira this is pain I can tolerate, was just curious why it hurts more when time passes.
Posted 4/2/2010 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I hate it too. Burns like the devil. My husband gives me the shot in the fatty part of the back of my arm. I bite on a towel so my kids won't hear me scream. I hate it and can't wait to move on to something else.
Posted 4/3/2010 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
     Had my first injections ten days ago.   Just a little sting is all I felt.  A LOT better than being stuck seven times for my Remicade (I have very bad veins).  I would even deal with the Remicade if it worked, but it failed.  Hoping the Humira works, otherwise it is surgery.  How long before you notice results with Humira?  I'm also on 35  mgm of prednisone, Canasa, and 9 Colazal capsules a day.  Bleeding stopped but urgency and having to "go" seven times in the morning is a real pain.
Posted 4/3/2010 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain.....I had to stop taking Humira too.

One reason the pain of injection..Unbearable more each time.

Also I work with the public and stayed sick all the time....Also I worried alot about Bad side effects.

I have to say that it did , just too many side effects.
Posted 4/4/2010 3:43 AM (GMT 0)

Ok.  I am one of the lucky ones. I have been taking the shot for over a year now.  I am a thin guy.  I take mine out for 1/2 hour prior to the injection.  I use my alcohol swipes and try to pinch my skin.  the pinching part is what seems to work for me.  I feel for you all.  Hope it gets better.   Bill W.                                                                                                                       

Posted 4/15/2010 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Ok so I did another shot tonight did not have the guts to do it in my thigh since I have had mixed answers about the pain :P
Well this seems to keep getting worse and worse I let the pen stand out for almost 40 min now and boy did it sting.

I feel like I wont be making it much longer, but the pain is so short but very intense :(
Posted 4/16/2010 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
I opted NOT to use the Humira Pen. I wanted control over how fast/slow it goes into me. So, I asked specifically for the pre-filled syringe. It stings a bit, but nothing all that bad. I warm it up in my hands before I inject it. You couldn't pay me to use the pen.
Posted 4/16/2010 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have been using the Humira pens for a year and a half and I am counting down to the end of the prescription.  I think I have four refills left.  I absolutely hate the stuff.  I have noticed that the right leg is worse than the left.  I will never take them again and I don't see any difference in my Crohn's.  I leave them out for 30 mins and numb the area for about 3-4 with an ice pack.  My husband has to do the shot because there is no way I would make it through the pain.
Posted 4/16/2010 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I usually do my injections in my thigh. I have noticed the longer I have been on it the more it seems to hurt, but what has helped is that I get it out 30 mins before I do it and then for that 30 mins I sit down with an ice pack on the spot I am going to do the injection. Once I do the injection, I put the ice pack back on for a few minutes. It seems to help some with the pain.
Posted 4/16/2010 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone ever heard of taking Remicabe instead you get it injected through IV at infustion center at hospital painless....
Posted 4/17/2010 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
yes PainC, usually Remicade is a stepping stone to Humira. But I would not say it is painless. You just have not developed the lupus like syndrome/antibodies/etc that can sometimes occur with it, and cause extrordinarily painful issues.
Posted 4/17/2010 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
     I thought Remicade was a LOT worse than Humira.  I don't find Humira bad at all!  My veins are terrible and the nurse had to stick me seven times before finding a decent vein....not fun.
Posted 4/17/2010 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think you have to be more careful with the syringe. With both, you need to find a vein/stretch mark free area that hasn't been already injected into. You clean the area and pinch it off prior. The syringe you just inject as slowly as you want. I was able to often do it completely pain free. It's the medication itself that hurts so bad, not the needle. The pen, it just shoots in there and burns like hell because it's a rush of medication at one time.

I also found that pinching the heck out of that area of skin helped transfer some of the pain =)
Posted 4/17/2010 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
The pain of the shots definitely is worth it for me. I was having obstructions at least twice a year, and that pain lasts WAY longer. I just try to remind myself that when I inject. (I'm not trying to lessen how much it stinks to be in pain to prevent worse pain, but I just keep in mind it's worth it)

I also make sure to ice before and after and that works for me. To me it doesn't matter how cool or warm the pen is when injecting. For me, the ice right after lessens the sting. Also, as much as it hurts, I try to massage the area for a minute after injecting and it helps the sting to go away.
Posted 4/22/2010 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
I just talked to my nurse and she said I could try the syringe :)

Can't wait only one more pen to go and then we will do the syringe
Posted 4/22/2010 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
I've been using Humira (pen type) for over a year, and it absolutely hurts & stings more than when I first began it. Although the stinging is pretty intense, it's over for me as soon as the injection is over. My thighs definitely sting WAY WORSE than my tummy.

One VERY important thing to remember is to not touch or put ANY pressure on the injection area for awhile after injecting. I made this mistake when I first began Humira (dabbed the area with tissue as it was bleeding), and OUCH!!!!! The area actually bruised. So now, for me it's hands off the area after injecting!

Good luck!
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