How to Reduce Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Injection Pain

Numb the Injection Site

If you are prone to bruising and pain, you can use an ice pack to numb the skin prior to injecting yourself. Limit the ice application to no longer than 15 minutes to avoid frostbite.

If you still experience pain, you may be able to use an over-the-counter numbing cream containing lidocaine, either on its own or with ice application. There is also a prescription numbing cream called Emla that contains both lidocaine and prilocaine.

Do not use a numbing agent without first speaking with your doctor.

Choose Big Muscles for Intramuscular Injections

An intramuscular injection is given into the muscle below the skin and underlying fatty layer. It can be a little trickier to give than other types of injections.

Four sites can be used to give an intramuscular injection:

• The upper arm just below the shoulder
• The outer or middle part of the thigh
• The muscular part of the hip just behind the hip bone
• The upper muscular part of the buttock

Choosing the right site is necessary to avoid injury and ensure the proper absorption of the medicine. Pick a site that has a large, definable muscle with little fat covering it. (For example, the lower part of the buttocks may be too fatty for a needle to reach the muscle.)

If you notice bruising or pain, rotate your injection site. Rotating can help reduce pain when ongoing injections are needed. It may also reduce the risk of tissue scarring.

Tensing up won't make injecting yourself easier, so position yourself in a way that reduces tension in your muscles. You may need to lie down or bend over a table, but a relaxed muscle will hurt a lot less than a tense one.

Avoid Lean Areas for Subcutaneous Injections

Subcutaneous injections are those delivered in the fatty tissue that lies between the skin and the underlying muscle. Choose a site that has a little extra fat rather than extra-lean parts of the body.

The best sites for subcutaneous injections are those that provide an ample injection site and are well away from joints, nerves, and large blood vessels. These include:

• The upper outer area of the arm
• The front and outer sides of the thighs
• The abdomen (except around the navel)
• The upper outer area of the buttocks
• The upper hip

You need to be able to pinch the skin for an ample injections site. If you can't, select another body part.

As with intramuscular injections, try rotating your injection site if you experience pain or bruising.

Keep the Goal in Mind

If your daily injections get difficult or tiresome, think about why you are taking the medication. If it is because you are trying to get pregnant or fight a disease (like diabetes or pernicious anemia), keeping the goal in mind may help ease any fear or anxiety you may be experiencing.

Remembering the reason can also help you keep any discomfort you feel in perspective. When it comes to fertility treatments, remind yourself that the injections are not forever.

Know When to Ask for Help

If you can't inject yourself or are having difficulties with certain injection sites, have someone else administer the shot for you. This can be a partner, spouse, family member, or friend.

Certainly, with intramuscular injections, it is sometimes easier for a partner to inject you, say, in the hip or buttock than for you to do it yourself.

Ensure that you or the person who is administering the shot gets appropriate training from your healthcare provider or another healthcare professional. Learning the correct way to inject yourself can make a big difference between a painful and possibly unsafe injection and a safe, pain-free injection.

It is also important to remember that self-injection is not possible for all people. Don’t beat yourself up about if you can't; many people aren’t able to inject themselves.