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Iron injection complications

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Posted 7/20/2014 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I just finished a round of 8 Venofer iron injections for my low ferritin levels. The first 7 were ok but the last one went very wrong.....I now have intense pain surrounding the injection site (upper glute) and a soreness radiating my entire hip, lower back, upper leg area. It has been 2 and a half weeks since the injection. It hurts to sit, walk, etc.

My Dr says there is no sign of infection or allergic reaction since it's not red or swollen. I would say there is a tiny bit of swelling and definitely a faint bluish color.

Question- has anyone else had a similar reaction from iron injections? Will this resolve itself? Any help would be much appreciated!!!
Posted 7/20/2014 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Not Iron Injections but when I had to give myself Methotrexate injections after a while they started to leave a tiny bit of swelling and faint blue mark where I gave the injection (upper thigh). It was tender in quite a large area surrounding and even towards the rear of my leg even though the tissue looked perfectly normal.

It would go away after about a week or so. Took some time.

Maybe give it a few days and see... go back to the dock if the swelling/blueish area increases in size though.
Posted 7/20/2014 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
It's perhaps possible the injection went into muscle tissue and this is the source of the pain. Might be another reason for the large area of discomfort.
Posted 7/20/2014 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Mark....the injection is supposed to go into the muscle no?? I am worried about nerve injury or leakage of the iron itself. Ugh....just hoping it will resolve in time.
Posted 7/21/2014 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know. I've never had an Iron infusion/injection. I kinda thought is was subcutaneous but perhaps it is in the muscle or maybe both work and it's up to the person administering. In the muscle must hurt like a son of a gun though.

Maybe someone else on here that get's them will know. I did come to HATE giving myself Methotrexate injections because of the reaction I described. I'd put it off and off.... eventually I just stopped taking it cause I hated it so much.

See how it is in a day or two. Most likely it will be a lot better.
Posted 7/21/2014 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Yes... All the lovely things that come with this lovely disease. This will be the last time anything is injected in my butt!!
Posted 7/21/2014 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Can you do iron infusions instead of an injection? I have iron issues and I periodically go for infusions. They take about an hour via IV. I usually do a series of 5 or 6 (once a week) and then I'm good for quite a while. It helps me tremendously. I have never had an iron injection though.
Posted 7/22/2014 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm another person that does infusions, but not injections. My nurse starts an IV with a saline drip, then slowly pushes a syringe of iron into the IV so it enters me along with the saline. It takes her 5-10 minutes to push the iron, then she lets the saline run until the line is clear, and I'm done! Takes 10-15 minutes start to finish, and seems to improve my ferritin level 10-15 points for each infusion I do.

I've had other injections (flu vaccine) cause intense muscle pain, but it only lasted about 24 hours. Over two weeks is ridiculous. If there's nothing that can be done other than wait for that muscle to heal, I hope your doctor is at least willing to give you something for the pain. I hope it resolves soon for you!
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