Those on Copaxone using the Autoject...need your advice!

I have been using the auto injector for 10 days now. I wouldn't be able to do it myself without it and I really want to make it work. But I've been having some problems. When I use the auto injector to inject into my thighs, I get big fat lumps and sometimes huge red welts that hurt. This never happened when we did the injections by hand so I am assuming this has something to do with depth.

I spoke to a nurse at our local MS center who told me that they just tell everyone to use an 8 setting to avoid going in too shallow. She told me to watch for welts as that could be a sign I'm not in deep enough. I also talked to a nurse at Shared Solutions who actually asked me some questions about my injection areas and thought that an 8 should work just fine for me.

I have been using the 8 depth setting on all injection areas with no problems except in my thighs, which is starting to concern me that maybe I'm not getting the medicine in deep enough. Last night I got the hugest welt yet so this morning I called Shared Solutions again. The nurse today told me that it sounded like I'm going in too deep and to take my setting down to a 6.

Now this doesn't make a lick of sense to me. When we were doing the injections by hand, we put the needle all the way in. I can't imagine, even on the highest depth setting, that the auto injector can put the needle in any deeper than it is long. Can it? Also one nurse is telling me welts mean too shallow and another that welts mean too deep.

I am assuming that I am misunderstanding something about how the auto injector works, but I wish that someone would explain it to me. I have asked all three nurses I have talked to the same questions I am asking now, but nobody seems to be very informative and I'm getting conflicting information. I assume that the Shared Solutions nurses are probably the experts on Copaxone and the Autoject, and maybe I should just relax and trust that they know what they're talking about. I just wish it made sense in my head.

Those of you using the Autoject with Copaxone....have you experienced similar problems with welts or lumps? Have you played around with your depth and noticed any improvements or problems?

I sure appreciate any light that could be shed on this. Thanks guys!!

I have been using theautoject for almost 4 yrs. I found a 8 works good for me.
ice real good b4 and after. after you put the needle in the autoject take the needle cover off and tap it on a paper towel to get that drip off. The stuff burnes the skin
Hope that helps

Hey LittleChina,
I get lumps on my belly. The nurse told me as well that I need to go deeper to a 5. She said the fattier the tissue the deeper you need to go. You need to be patient while trying the different settings. I took me a while and now I know what settings I use for what. Maybe the rate at which it injects is too fast or too slow?? just guessing....
Also, they told me to heat up the area a little before injecting and ice afterward. The side effects will lessen as we continue to inject. Mine are getting better and I will take these side effects over the Avonex side effects any day of the week.
Do it by hand or auto inject ...just as long as its done. You can do it....come on sister your my Copaxone twin. LOL...Man Iam a dork.
Talk to you later.

Gina~
Psh, enough about me! Goodness, I am so sorry to hear about your divorce. Let me know if there is anything I can do, or if you need someone to talk to or just vent to about it. I come from a divorced family, my parents split when I was a teen. My in-laws recently split as well. It can be rough. But remember that we're all here for ya. Hang in there and don't ever forget how strong you are. Because you are.
~Niki

Well it seems that you have pretty positive attitude about everything, and I am a firm believer that attitude is key to everything. What is the saying....Life is 10% what happens and 90% how we react to it. So true. We just gotta keep reminding ourselves of that. And keep the faith, sistah! I've been thinking about starting to go back to church myself. I need God in my life more than ever now.

I'm sure proud of you for not missing an injection. I tell ya, there are days when I'd just like to skip it. Like tonight! Haha. But I will do it anyway. I am almost to the point where I can do it myself. Right now my husband is putting the needle in for me, and then I do the rest. That right there is a big step for me. Once I can get that needle in myself....oh man, we're having the biggest ice cream party!

Anyway, you are a Goddess and I am so in awe of how much you are doing what with working and raising a daughter and all. Amazing. Seriously. Truly awesome.

If you're home sometime and want to chat, my MSN is [email protected]. And guess what? My friends made me break down and get a myspace. I thought it was just for the teenagers, but it's kind of a good way to connect and stay in touch with family and friends too. I can use my blog to update everyone about what is going on with me, so I don't have to repeat myself ten times. So you could check me out there if you wanted http://www.myspace.com/littlechina5 The pic of me is from Halloween, by the way. I don't usually wear pointy hats. :)

Love and Light, Blessed Be!
~Niki

Hey horsegirl01.......(great name do you have a horse?)

I agree with you.  I have done the manual injections since day one.  I took one look at that plastic doo hickey and said,"No way!!"  I have not really had too many bad bumps or lumps or itching or anything.  I am not at all a needle phobe though.  It was not a big deal.  For those with a problem with needles it is a real problem.  I hope an effective oral med. comes out soon.  Check out my post on claderbine.  That might be our first decent oral med.

Welcome to the board!!!

Hi Littlechina,

I am sorry you are having such a problem with your injector pen!! I am too big of a wimp to do the shot manually. I ice before I shoot it in, and I also warm the shot in my hand for about 10 minutes which seems to make a difference. Also, I have my dial at the most shallow line.

Good luck!

Hi there - the numbers on the auto injector is a depth guage....the actual syringe is 10 mm....so when you dial in 8 or 5 for instance with the injector, you are setting it so that the needle goes in 8 mm or 5mm or what ever setting you have selected.

Its seems for the most part,many are instructed to use 7mm or 8mm. I use 8 on my arms, hips and stomach, and 7 on my legs.

I find that if you are a bit gun shy, where by u do not hold the injector tight against your arm, it tends to bang around abit, or jump, etc.....and this (for me anyways) tends to cause the bruising, the redness, the swelling, etc.  If I hold it tight to my area of injection, it tends to be more sucessful.  I became gun shy a couple of times as I ended up hitting muscle, and ouch!~!!!

I also do my shots at night, usually just before I go into the shower, and while there, I end up massaging my arm, and usually by the time I get out of the shower the discomfort of the shot has diminished.  Applying skin cream/lotion to the injection site seems to help as well. If after the shower ritual it still stings, etc - I go to the freezer and get an ice pack, and hold it to the injection site for awhile...

I do find, other than behind my arms, I have converted back to self injections, as it appears that I have more control of where I am going to inject the copaxone, the speed to which it will enter my arm, and the speed to which the copaxone enters my body.....I have had less problems doing it this way then relying on the injector.

Just last night I used the injector on my arm, and even this morning, I have a sore arm, and it is hard and swollen - guess I did a lousy job of it last night.

Go to the Copaxone web page and it provided guidance in the use of the injector as well as instructions as to the settings to be used.   Also note that Copaxone has now a thinner needle, which may assist with this!

Gary

 

What advertising - we are talking about copaxone injectors here?

Gary

Gary,
I think Rhonda was talking to Emanuel when she talked about advertising.