humira injections

XxxHollyDollyxxX

hello my name is holly and i am 19 years old and have soriatic arthritis i have been on humira injections for about 7 months and i honestly don't no how to cope im so frightened because i no its going to hurt but it is the only medication that has helped me so if anyone has any ideas how i could prepare or distract myself for it please let me no
thank you

tillytop

Hello Holly and welcome to the forum.

So pleased the Humira is helping, but sorry that you are struggling so much with the injections. I did Humira for a couple of years and, I know it's not an easy thing to do. Does it hurt every time you inject? If so, I wonder if it would be worth having a talk with a rheumatology nurse at the hospital to see if they can give you any advice. I found it uncomfortable to do and sometimes it really did hurt, but not every time. I used to find it hard to inject into my stomach so used just to alternate legs instead. Another forum member was given a tip when injecting into your leg - that was to sit on the bed with your leg in front of you because apparently the leg is more relaxed then so the injection is easier.

There are a good few Humira users on the forum and I think that if you repost your message on the Living with Arthritis Forum, more people will see it and you will get some useful replies.

Thinking of you.

Love Tillyxxx

XxxHollyDollyxxX

Hi Tilly
Thank you so much for all your advice iv yet to try the injection in my stomuch as im frightened it will hurt more then my legs as im a small person anyway but i will definatly try sitting on my bed as you suggested and thank you again its nice to no there is people i can talk to

Katielawson1000

Hi I am a 21 yr old female which all this started from having a terrible car crash early in 2006 when i was 15!
My lower back pain got worse over the years and my doc and the hospital both said it was pulled muscles and bruising at the time of the crash and then further down the line whip lash that wud heal in time! I new in my heart from day one the pain and difficulty I was finding wasn't normal, we all know are own bodies! What feels right and what doesn't! I was constantly to and from the docs with different pain killers and inflammitories then they referred me to physio and eventually they sent me to a rheumatologist specialist were only roughly 2-3 years ago I was diagnosed with sacroilitis, inflammation of the lower back (sacroiliac joint) which is connected to My lower spine and pelvis.. As you people who also have this can agree its very painful and can really change and affect you as a person and ur lifestyle. I struggled hard with post traumatic stress disorder even 4-5yrs after the crash as I found it near enough impossible to accept and was convinced my life was ruined and would never be the same again because of my condition for this I received help from a councellor to help me deal with things and also I struggled being a passenger and not having control of the vehicle, also at this point I wasn't fully aware of all the treatments available to me, I tried massage as my shoulders and top half of my back and neck are very very stiff whereas my lower back is very tender to touch so gentle massage on my lower back to prevent setting the pain off!(I have massage 2 times a month depending on how bad I am) I have had acupuncture and reflexology which I found helped but only short term as well as the massage is short term relief. But every little helps. I have heat packs and pads and support belts and chair supports to try and make everything as easy and as comfortable for myself whether I'm at work or at home. I have also had cortazone injections into both of my sacroiliac joints which is a mixture of steroids and anaesthetic I found these worked amazing for me I was around 6-9 months with next to no pain and I finally felt I had a break from my pain which also helped me cope better mentally. Over time I have learnt to accept my diagnosis. I have Also been diagnosed a little while later as this I think is part of my condition I have developed Hip bursitis in both hips but my right side and right hip are my most painfullest and I have had a cortazone injection in my more sorest hip also.
I was told by the specialist when u feel ur injections are wearing off and you are beginning to feel your pain again to come back for more, and this is what I did I was having better quality life I was happy!!! Pain free!!! However they said they didn't want me on these anymore and suggested anti TNF injections which I am having my first one performed by a nurse who is coming to my house tomorrow!
My specialist has advised and they are keeping track as well as my physio that I have been goin to for 6 yrs to that my sacroilitis could turn in to Anklosing spondylitis.
Anklosing spondylitis is said to be hereditary but my family have no history of this!?? :shock:
Fair to say I'm a little bit nervous but who wouldnt be!? My back condition is a big part in my life as it has took on such a big affect!
my state of mind is if it's going to help me then what's a little under the skin injection whethere it stings or not I will do anything to be able to be pain free and live my life like a normal 21 yr old should and even to wear a pair of heels on a night out and not regret it and be in agony the next day!!! Would be a treat!! The cortazone injections I had in the past were between my joints! And had to be done by X-ray so I believe I can cope with a few seconds of stinging and a under skin injection!
Hope my general brief story might help some of u out there who are finding it hard to accept.....that it is possible to accept and that ur life isn't 'over'! There is help and treatments out there! And take care of yourself I always tend to feel pain more after doing something the day after I avoid heavy lifting too at work etc and make sure u tell ur work place so they are aware of ur needs etc.
Write bk people on any info on anti TNF do they work?
Thanks Katie xxx :P

Katielawson1000

Hi
In addition to my post above ( this was posted a few months ago but have posted it on this forum as its for a young person struggling to accept I wanted you to see my story)
I've been on my anti tnf inejections for a few months now and they seem to be working n I feel great well a hell of a lot better pain wise..... Obviously I still every now and then take my co codamol and inflammatory meds when I have a little pain (to keep on top of them mainly to help myself really anything to reduce my pain) or time of the month as my back is always bad then!! And I still take things easy but they really have worked for me so far so good.
One thing I did have to come off then for a month or two when I came Ill as ur immune system is lowered by anti tnf. I came off the injections to get myself better then went back on them recently.

My first injection when I first began anti tnf at the start of my anti tnf treatment went well the nurse was with me to watch over me as I would be doing the injection on my own from then on... Everyones symptoms will be different but here were a couple of mine ... I felt a lil light headed but nothing I couldn't deal with, in and out of feeling slightly sick and a tiny bit of upset stomach the main symptom for me was a strange metallic taste in my mouth for a day or two which wasn't very pleasant but this happened on my first 2 injections but now I am use to it... but at the time of my first injection I dealt with it n then I was fine and after my second injection I felt it starting work I did not expect it to be that quick! I feel a happier person now.....

Note : I have just gone back on them from being I'll with a cold and upset stomach bug

If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to ask and I will get back to u when I can. Xxxxx

P.s a good tip take your anti tnf injection 2-4 before going to bed this way your can sleep off if and any symtoms xxxxx

Mike2012

Hi, I was told i had Arthritis when i was 18 im now 26. I have gone through all ups and downs with the diease, before i found out i had it i did professional cycling, used to walk up mountains every weekend and do rock climbing. Now i do none of that.

Ive tried all kinds of medication, to stum the pain i am now on Humira 40mg self injected every two weeks, along with liquid morphine for pain relif. I inject into my legs, it does sting everytime i do it, but the medication works so well.

I've had one operation to fuse my left thumb and in the next few weeks i am having an operation on my left foot to fuse all the toes to my metatrasels.

I was in hospital on Wednesday this week and had 7 x 80mg steroid injections in my left foot to help with the pain.

I've suffered bad with depression when i first found out i had it, but i have had my family pull me through it, and some firends have stuck with me but not everyone understands.

We would be good to meet with people of a similar age, say under 30 that are going though the same thing.

stickywicket

Hello Mike2012. I'm sorry you don't seem to have had any replies. Our younger people don't tend to hang around here as much as us older ones (I'm definitely not young ) so those who do stick around often post on the Living With Arthritis thread where more people hang out.

You've been through quite a lot and I see you've a foot op scheduled. I hope it goes well.

Unfortunately, depression can be part and parcel of 'the great arthritis experience'. I'm glad you have good friends and family around. They can make all the difference though, of course, they don't understand quite what it's like.

If you try posting this on a new thread on Living With Arthritis I'm sure more people will answer and, with luck, some will be in the age group you're looking for.