posted
I was prescribed bicillin shots today. Have Lyme as well bladder pain (interstitial cystitis). Excited because I have heard the shots are successful with treating the bladder (as well as Lyme). But not looking forward to the pain.
Anyone have suggestions how to alleviate the pain? Icing the area maybe?
Guidance would be so appreciated!
Posts: 81 | From Birmingham, AL | Registered: Mar 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Ice the area 20min prior to the injection. You can also apply emla(aka lidocaine/prilocaine) cream to the injection site to further numb the area.
After the injection apply heat to the area and gentle massage. That will help relax the muscle again. Then walk around for a few minutes. If I didn't apply heat, massage, and walk my muscle would be tight and sore for several days. This is really what helped for me.
Good luck:)
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Icing the area for 15-20 minutes before the shot really helps.
Most people tolerate the shots pretty well. I did not have time to ice before the first injection at my doctor's office, and it was not bad.
Sometimes I used lidocaine cream in the injection area before the shot. You need to apply this at least an hour before the injection and cover it with the appropriate dressing; I got a prescription from my doctor for these.
Do a search on this in medical -- there are lots of threads on this topic! I think there is a lengthy bicillin tips thread in the newbie links too.
Best wishes, it is a great treatment.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
Are they LA or CR? LA about killed me, but CR was great!
LA = Long Acting CR = Control Release
CR has litocane in it, so it does not hurt.
So far the thing I found the greatest improvement with was Bicillin. The pain is nothing. Your butt is just a little sore for the days following the shot. Not a big deal.
posted
Does anyone have any idea how kids react to these shots?
My son has Tourette's and he hasn't seen the doctor yet, but I know a lot of Tourette's kids have strep problems and get this shot. I also bet he has lyme.
-------------------- Never doubt in darkness what the daylight proves to you. Posts: 418 | From Utah | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
I warm mine up in my hands prior to injecting. This has helped SO much. Before this, they were much more painful.
Posts: 453 | From TX | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
Warming it up made a big difference. Also, sticking the needle quick, like a dart, was better than a slow stab.
Posts: 845 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Leave the shot you're going to use out at room temperature for an hour prior.
I found the larger bore needle less painful.
I understood that it has to be LA, and not CR. But your LLMD will know.
Mixing Lidocaine into the shot makes the whole process a breeze. Ask your nurse to show you how. I decided to do without the lidocaine as I had so much going on in my body with Lyme related meds, that I'd rather more pain.
Also, and you'll do this automatically, have the nurse inject a little, then wait, a little more. Sometimes it can take five minutes. Usually when the bicillin is still cold and more viscous.
You can learn to self-inject. Make sure to pull back on the plunger and check for blood b4 you inject as injecting into a vein is dangerous and can be fatal.
Again your nurse can teach you this, as well as the correct area for injection, when you're good and ready.
When you're ready, do a search on injecting your own bicillin, and there is helpful discussion.
Best wish,
CBL.
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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tickled1
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14257
posted
Definitely use numbing cream (lidocaine). Apply 45 min. to an hr. prior and cover with band-aid. After the shot, walk around for a little while. That's what I do and the discomfort is minimal. You get use to it. Once you do it a few times and know what to expect it's no big deal. Good luck!
Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
I have only had three shots so far and found I was far more worried about the pain than need be.
It hurts, but it's not excruciating. My nurse doesn't jab, but slowly pushes. I keep all the weight off that let during the shot and keep it very relaxed.
Once I put on a warm pack, but mostly I just go about my day and forget it unless I bump it.
My 13 year old daughter had only a few shots last year by a nurse who jabbed the needle in and it was very painful for her, even with the emla, but her nervous system is on high alert.
Good luck!
-------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Anonymous Posts: 450 | From California | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
I got bicillin shots for several months. LLMD prescribed Emla cream, applied 1 hr prior. I think alot depends on the person giving you the shots too.
I had an excellent shot-giver, and with the cream I hardly felt a thing. I think using the Emla makes a big difference.
Posts: 847 | From upstateNY | Registered: Dec 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
You need to use Bicillin LA for Lyme, not CR.
Use Lidocaine cream if you really need it. I never had any pain with Bicillin if you do the shot right. I used to go into the warm shower afterward to get the medicine absorbed better. Some soreness is normal and expected, just try not to dwell on it.
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posted
I take the suspension (mixed powder type) and it hurts going in but nothing horrible.
The worst parts are having the damn thing stop on me and refuse to go in or the bleeding like a stuck pig some days.
Posts: 410 | From Victoria BC, Canada | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
If your using Benz penicillin suspension you need to use a 19G needle. Anything less will get blocked very easily. You must do it in one push. I butchered myself changing heads with 21G's before I got it right.
Rianna gave me very good advice on this. She has also put up a video on youtube which has gotten 40 K hits thus far.
I used to put an ice pack on the area for 5 mins. Don't put it directly on the skin of course.
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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