I have been on Copaxone since 2002 and its been great. However recently I have been having more reactions to the injections - swelling,redness and most recent was a large swelling under the skin which turned to a bruise like mark - quite large. This has now become a scab (if you can call it that) but is very sore to touch. I had the injection about 5 weeks ago.
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Q: Severe injection site reaction with Copaxone
Answers (3)
2/12/10 1:35pm
Hi Rosemary,
I too have used Copaxone. One thing I noticed is that if I hadn't been rotating injection sites regularly and returned to an area that I hadn't used in awhile, I got a great reaction (almost like it was all new again). Do you have an MS nurse? If you do, perhaps you could ask to give yourself an injection while she observed and get any feedback and suggestions on your technique. My nurse says that she does this for folks and that sometimes over years we can get a little sloppy. Hope this helps.
5/29/11 6:18pm
Hi quin,
When I was taking Copaxone, I skipped injecting my arms. That was my personal choice. Instead we found a bit more "footage" on other areas of my thighs and hips. I think that you might be right about hitting a muscle. Very painful. Since you have less fat on your body, you will need to be mindful of this in order to avoid hitting the muscle again.
2/ 9/10 6:25pm
Are you using a Autop-injector, are you rotating sites of injection are you taking Tylenol or some type of fever reducing medication b/4 or after you inject. Do you have an ice pack to place on the injection site after you inject. Rub the area real good before you inject, don't know why but when I was injecting it helped
Don't know if any of this will help.
sherry/smomdukes
6/ 1/11 1:08pm
Hi. Yes, I restarted Copaxone in April after I had discontinued because of severe reactions (chest tightness, inability to breath, low back pain and chills/tremors) I was on it this time before I had all these reactions again as well as temporary hives and an injection site reaction that looked like I had been injured/kicked in the stomach. The bruise was as bad as the bruise I had from a seat belt injury I received in a car accident before. The spot on my stomach was about 2X3 inches and developed an open sore in the middle. It has been 28 days and the skin is now peeling away the sore in the middle has closed up but there is still a 1x1 lump under my skin.
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By Rosemary— Last Modified: 06/01/11, First Published: 02/09/10
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I have been injecting three months and i find the sites are less painful, but my arms are getting a bit tricky as i am being left with small nodules under my skin one now from 10 days ago.I have various creams and am using those, but today i injected my thigh,usually ok, but i think i hit the muscle. My whole muscle starting twitching and moving strongly my leg got really painful and has stayed sore all day.
At the same time i had an awful feeling of nausia and my head just kind of blocked up. wierd to describe - that passed, but am a bit worried about my thigh muscle. I don't have a lot of fat and to rotate well i moved the site forward more than usual, about 10cm back from knee.
Any thoughts from anyone ?