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How to inject in your arm? LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
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Old 02-12-2008, 01:48 AM
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How to inject in your arm?

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
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Old 02-12-2008, 01:32 PM
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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.
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Old 02-12-2008, 01:44 PM
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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
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Old 02-12-2008, 01:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crucialjames View Post
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).
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Old 02-12-2008, 02:44 PM
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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.

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Old 02-12-2008, 03:08 PM
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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.
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Old 02-12-2008, 06:10 PM
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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.

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Old 02-12-2008, 07:37 PM
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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.
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Old 02-12-2008, 07:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leafbear View Post
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.
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Old 02-17-2008, 12:22 PM
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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.
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Old 11-20-2008, 07:48 PM
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Did I miss something here? How did a commercial for Cialis get into a discussion on sticking a needle in your arm? Is there some kind of connection?
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Old 11-21-2008, 12:21 AM
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Firstly, you'll need a short needle. I use 5mm needles for all my injections, regardless of where they are.

Secondly, you need to pick your spot carefully. Depending on your build, you may have a fleshy spot between the top of your tricep and the bottom of your shoulder. If I inject in my arm, that's where I usually go it. If you still need to pinch up, you can press that part against a doorframe.

Generally though I'd advise against arm injections, because I find they tend to be more likely to bleed than any other location, and the blood will show up more. If you're worried about scar tissue on your stomach, don't forget that you can also inject in the upper part of your thigh or in your buttocks. These aren't as convenient as the stomach but it's good to have other options.
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Old 11-21-2008, 03:41 AM
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The only time I inject into a tricep is when doing a correction. It works much faster, but you need to use at least 8mm needles. The most comfortable site is the buttocks. It is large, you don't need to "pinch up", you don't feel much, and it hardly ever bleeds. I tend to use this site first thing in the morning, when it is readily accessible and no one is watching .
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Old 11-21-2008, 05:22 AM
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I don't bother with my arms anymore, just too darn awkward. I use my thighs, buttox and belly. The only time i have an injection in my arm now is when i get a flu jab
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Old 11-23-2008, 07:17 AM
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Bernstein has a video demonstrating how to give a painless injection; including in the back of the arm: Painless Injection Video (click2view).

Mark
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