Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Anti TNF and other biological medications enbrel injections into legs

OK...I'm just finishing up a nice little flare. My second flare since being on enbrel (10 months on it now). The only thing that I can find in common with these two flares was that I was injecting into my legs (or rotating between stomach and legs) for a couple of weeks just before the flares. I usually only inject into my stomach.
Does anyone else feel like it doesn't work as well when injected into your thighs?
Thanks in advance,
Megan

I have been on the shot for about the same time , only given in the upper leg area. No problem except for several infections ,i have stopped taking for a while.

Hi Megan!
I have only done shots in my thighs...I can't even think about poking the needle into my stomach area...lol...but, mostly my shots are fine...one time I had some nerve tingling and a couple times there was some blood coming out afterwards...but my doc said just stick the needle straight in, NOT like they say in the book, where you pinch your skin and stick sideways...and it's worked...whew....the doc said less localized infections if you stick it straight in...

So you've had a flare while on Enbrel?? Interesting...I've found that my periphery joints...knees, ankles, hands...can get painful, while my back and hips feel great...and I think that's in the Enbrel literature...

I need to take a shot tonight!!! It's almost fun, in a strange heroin addict kind of way...making your shot, etc....but I have it down to five minutes...so I can do it when traveling...

Perhaps my AS is at a different stage than yours, which is why my thigh shots are fine...it works differently on everyone it seems...

Peace, you rock, hang in there
Linc

Haven't had anything serious happen yet, knock wood! A bladder infection once, but I had those before I was on enbrel anyhow.

My shots always leak back out - I have to "plug" the hole with my finger for a few seconds or I swear all the enbrel juice would run back out of me. lol
I wonder if I was just given a box of placebo injections instead
Happy shooting up!
Megan

Hi Megan:

I have been experiencing the same problem as yourself with the medicine leaking out after injecting it. I usually have a piece of cotton ready to apply pressure right away but some still leaks out. Then, I put a band-aid on so I don't have to worry about it. Since pregnancy, I have been injecting Enbrel into my legs, but prior to pregnancy, I was rotating between stomach and legs. I didn't notice a difference in pain relief based on where I injected.

However, and this pertains to my Lovenox injections. I read somewhere that the Lovenox gets absorbed better into my system if I inject the medicine into my stomach. Maybe, same goes with other injectable meds. I am not sure.

Have you tried injecting closer to your problem areas to see if that makes a difference? For instance, if your right SI is flaring up, inject into your right abdomen.

Well, keep us posted. Glad to hear your flare is subsiding a bit.

Shari

Hi Megan,

I've always done the injections on my stomach because I have no fat in anywhere else. My stomach has tons of fat due to lack of exercise from AS.

I found that juice came out after injection only if the needle wasn't all the way in. It happened if I watched TV while injecting the fluid in slowly.

I have blood coming out after injection though, one out of four times.

Olivia

Hi Shari,
It was just my feet/achillies that were really flaring up, so I can't really inject anywhere near those. I'm doing fine now though!
Right after I inject, I have to hold my finger on the little injection hole to plug it up. lol After about 10 seconds, it's fine and I'm good to go. Creeps me out more than anything. Shame to think that every drop that leaks is worth several $$$.

Hello,

I have been injecting the hampster juice now since 11-02 and every time I hit my stomach. I cant stand the thought of sticking it in my legs. Before I went to the once a week shot I never had any leaking but I have that problem too. Maybe going to twice a week would help, just a suggestion.

I am glad to know Im not the only one that has flares after starting enbrel I can tell you the flares I experience now are nothing like the ones before enbrel.

good luck

gday again folks .. Im only into week 4 of injections and while thats not a long time I dont have any of the injection problems you guys talk about - Im doing the 45deg thing .. legs only .. no blood leaks .. no enbrel leaks (youre right megan - i think if i spilt any id lick it up!) .. i do get a small lump each time of the enbrel which i just gently massage away .. takes a few secs .. as for injection straight into muscle I think it inhibits absorption or speed of at least but hey whatevers working for you - i aim for between skin and muscle and no dramas so far .. *everything crossed* .. im going to try the "injection-near-the-part-that-hurts-theory" though .. lol .. might as well .. and (tryin to cover all posts here) I find it kind of exciting as well .. we're still in the guinea pig stage with this "hamster juice" so I think we're all pretty lucky .. have a great day people ...

Patrick