How to inject in your arm?

crucialjames · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 12:48 AM

Anyone have good methods to inject yourself into your back of your arm. I tried holding/pushing against the desk and injecting but it hurts because there is not much fatty tissue its all muscle and I think im injecting in muscle not sure but painful

lgvincent · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 12:32 PM

I inject at an angle and rarely have pain. I will sometimes hit a muscle but not very often. It's the least painful place for me to give an injection.

crucialjames · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 12:44 PM

I'm 180 lbs and my arms are muscular whats your technique to inject just let your arm rest down or you hold it against a desk or something?

I've been doing my stomach area and its starting to have scar tissue so im getting worried and need to change the suite right away

Eddy · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crucialjames

I'm 180 lbs and my arms are muscular whats your technique to inject just let your arm rest down or you hold it against a desk or something?

I've been doing my stomach area and its starting to have scar tissue so im getting worried and need to change the suite right away

Scar tissue over your _entire_ abdomen? What needles/technique do you use?

Granted, I've only been injecting for nine months... but I find 8mm 31ga needles work well. I rotate all over my abdomen, and release the pinch _before_ depressing the plunger (despite what "everyone" has advised).

Leafbear · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 01:44 PM

Eddy's right that the shorter needle might help you on the arms. I read somewhere that it might make a difference in your absorption rate... don't know for sure (anyone else?), but you should keep an eye on it, I guess. The shorter one might make things easier on your belly, too. (I think mine are half-inch.)

I presume that either you know about the thigh option or have no fat to spare there, either. Also you may not know/have the... I guess lovehandle

is the best way to describe it... you have to twist to get there.

My method to get to the back of my arm is best used by gals. I cross the one I'm injecting into high across my chest. I have some fat back there to get to, though.

Leafbear

xMenace · #6 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 02:08 PM

It's easier with a syringe, but if you are strong enough, you can do it with a pen. Hold the device firmly between your index and middle fingers with the business end pointed down. Use your thumb and ring finger to pinch the skin. While pinching, insert the needle. Once it's in, let go of the skin and re-position your fingers to inject. With a syringe you can maintain control with your fingers, but with a pen you may need to balance it point first while you reposition. Maintain slight pressure while repositioning. Now inject.

Tony · #7 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 05:10 PM

I'm on a pump and only resort to injections when my bg is extremely high.

I like to use the back of my arm when my bg is high as I find it to work faster then any other spot. My next best place when in this situation is the side of my leg.

What you can try doing for the back of your arm is. First though you need to see if you can pinch an inch of skin, every important! Pinching ensures that you don't inject into the muscle. If you don't practice this you could be injecting in the muscle, which is painful.

If you have an inch at the back of your arm you can try this.
Pinch the skin and place the pinch skin against the corner of a wall and make sure the syringe is angled correctly for your injection. This works well for me.

Welcome to the forums by way!

silverfrost · #8 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 06:37 PM

Hmm, arms are tricky. Well, I like using my arm, though... I just push the fatty part up by putting my knee behind my arm (this is while sitting of course) and sort of pushing the skin up. For me, it isolates the spots that won't be as painful, and I have the one hand free to inject.

Eddy · #9 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafbear

Eddy's right that the shorter needle might help you on the arms. I read somewhere that it might make a difference in your absorption rate... don't know for sure (anyone else?), but you should keep an eye on it, I guess. The shorter one might make things easier on your belly, too. (I think mine are half-inch.)

I should clarify: I'm using the short needle for abdomen (anywhere between front and side). Anything longer meant injecting at an angle, which I didn't like.

And I'm "average" build (5'11", 175-ish pounds)... I can't imagine how someone who's particularly lean/built would manage an 8mm needle (shortest I've been able to find in Kansas) in the arm.

crucialjames · #10 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 11:22 AM

I just got some short needles I will be trying my arm soon. I do recall that the back of my arm works a lot faster and I almost scared myself once having my fiance inject in my arm for me then my levels where droping faster than normal.

I just starting to have scar tissue in the stomach area and thats far from a good sign.