Ellen101
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Member # 35432
posted
Did my first bicillin shot this evening. I iced the area first and the initial stick I barely felt. While the med was going in I had alot of pain. My husband went extremely slow with it but yet it still hurt alot. He was definitely in the right area but yet I felt so much nerve pain and now an hr later I am in awful pain. It is radiating out from the site of the injection. I've done heat and moving around alot.
One of the reasons I was hesitant to do the injections to begin with is that I have so much nerve pain in that area as that is my number one symptom.
I was really worried it would cause things to become worse and now I worry it might be the case. Did anyone else have this amount of pain after?
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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surprise
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Member # 34987
posted
I'm sorry it hurt so much--sometimes I take Advil before the shot.
I get them 2x a week, and I don't ice beforehand - I tried to once, but my husband wasn't comfortable injecting in the harder skin.
It does hurt going in- but it is pretty quick, and maybe I have a higher pain tolerance, I am also stubborn.
I immediately ice pack the injection area/cheek- literally sit right on it for 20-30 minutes- then I'm good. Although very tired-
I know some say heat afterwards- but my LLMD's office said ice, and that has worked for me.
I don't massage it, either- sometimes a little band aid.
I'm in my 15th week, and have not had any issues.
Hope it works out for you---
-------------------- Lyme positive PCR blood, and positive Bartonella henselae Igenex, 2011. low positive Fry biofilm test, 2012. Update 7/16- After extensive treatments, doing okay! Posts: 2518 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2011
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Ellen101
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Hmmm I'm wondering if I should have used ice afterwards. Perhaps the heat made it worse. Trust me I have a very high pain tolderance.
I think alot of the reason it is so painful for mew is because this is the place where my major lyme symptom is, nerve pain.
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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sammy
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Member # 13952
posted
Ice is good before because it numbs the area.
Heat is good after because it helps to relax the muscle. Heat and massage will also facilitate the absorption of the medication preventing the formation of painful lumps.
When you get the injection it is your body's natural response to tense up. If you feel this happening you can consciously try to relax, this is very difficult. Ask your husband to administer the shot more slowly. Sometimes I had to give mine over 10-15min. Be patient with yourself (easier said than done).
Also, make sure that your husband is bracing/resting his hand in the same position while holding the syringe so that the needle isn't wiggling around. That could cause more pain if it moves.
Since your husband is willing to help you by administering the shot, you can position yourself in a way that should help you be more relaxed. Lie down on your stomach with your feet turned in and toes facing each other. I know it sounds simple but this helps to distract and use the other leg muscles so that you will relax the shot area muscles (so I have been told by well respected MD's).
If heat aggravates your nerve pain then don't use it. Just try to massage the area. Point is you want to feel better, not worse.
Also, if you can, try the ventrogluteal (side/hip) injection site for your next Bicillin shot. I thought that it was less painful than the dorsogluteal (butt area). You will have to have a nurse or doctor show you where this site is. This may be a better spot for you because it should not aggravate your nerve or lower back pain.
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surprise
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posted
Sammy, if I may please ask (or anyone)
how long did you do the Bicillin shots/or have any indications it was time to stop?
My insurance is picking up a good chunk of the bill, so I can continue, just not sure what the average time frame is?
-------------------- Lyme positive PCR blood, and positive Bartonella henselae Igenex, 2011. low positive Fry biofilm test, 2012. Update 7/16- After extensive treatments, doing okay! Posts: 2518 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2011
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posted
I just got my first shot yesterday as well and woke up in extreme pain. I went to a clinic and the doc injected it right in the butt, not the upper part like I was anticipating. Nothing I'm doing is taking the edge off.
Now I'm wondering if the location was all wrong. The actual injection was nothing compared to the pain today.
Posts: 94 | From Tennessee/NY | Registered: Feb 2012
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posted
I did the first one and then told my LLMD we had to do something else, I wasn't doing them. When he started them, other stuff was working, so I didn't see any reason to deal with it.
I was left with a 4-5 inch bruise that lasted over a week and he wanted me to do two a week. The lump took forever to disperse, too.
It didn't hurt much going in, it was afterward and lasted many days. I couldn't even sleep on that side, so if I had done the other side a couple days later, I don't know how I would have even sat down.
I'm better today .... and only ever took that one bicillin shot.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Ellen101
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posted
sixgoofykids, you are better today, but you have done alot of other things, correct? For alot of us going to Germany is really not an option.
I will say today I had very little pain at all. I actually feel pretty good. No bruising. For those of you that had it done in the doctors office most of them will not warm the shot ahead of time or disperse it slowly which contributes to the amount of pain.
agmorgan, it definitely shouldn't have been injected right in the middle of the butt, you are correct on that. I would call them and let them know the amount of pain you are experiencing. Injecting it in the middle of the butt increases the risk of hitting the sciatic nerve.
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dbpei
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Ellen, maybe the shots are going to help in the long run! I hope you continue to feel better.
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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I just got my first shot yesterday as well and woke up in extreme pain. I went to a clinic and the doc injected it right in the butt, not the upper part like I was anticipating. Nothing I'm doing is taking the edge off.
Now I'm wondering if the location was all wrong. The actual injection was nothing compared to the pain today.
Posts: 94 | From Tennessee/NY | Registered: Feb 2012
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I was really worried it would cause things to become worse and now I worry it might be the case. Did anyone else have this amount of pain after?
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