...continue on in the thread. Then I don't have to worry about all the word and letter deletions or it suddenly going blank.

Anyway, on to RA...

Anyone else find that they have to switch their RA meds every couple of years? I first started on Enbrel for two years before it stopped working for me. I was then put on Xeljanz. Nice little painless pill! Was happy to be on that but it suddenly stopped working. Ive been in so much pain... can't sleep, cant sit, can't stand, cant lay down. I'm not a wuss, never have been, but I've been very weepy lately. I haven't been able to do anything. It feels like something is prying my rib muscles away from the ribs... and arm muscles away from the shoulder. When that pain starts subsiding it moves to my knees. Hurting joints are bad enough but then the muscles above my knees feels just like a badly pulled muscle.

Had some problems getting up with the Dr. Ended up having to get up early one morning, heavily dosing myself with NSAIDS and tramadol so that I could make it to the Dr's office to fuss them out. They worked me in, did some lab work and Monday I was put on Humira. Oh my gosh! I thought Enbrel stung but Humira is twice as bad. I take it out and let it get to room temp, use some ice to help the area (doesn't much) and the sting is so bad that when DH isn't home I'm not sure I'll be able to count to 5 before stopping.

I also have Fibromyalgia so I'm wondering if Humira is really painful for everyone or if it is intensified by the Fibro. How many times have you had to change meds? Have you ever cycled back to a previous used drug?

http://archive.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/index.html

That is one I read some time back. A little comedy with the pain!

Thanks, raven! I cringed while reading some of that but i think I might try the thumbnail X next time. I'm not a newby to this since I was on Enbrel before but wow, i thought I was going to pass out!

I found injection in my stomach is much much less painful. I always inject there usually to the right side of belly button about 2 inches or so. Pinch it good and pull up. Alcohol wipe prior to but allow it to air dry first.

I know some are crazy painful some nothing.

Because of the fibro, i can't pinch. Any pressure on my body is very painful... like a bad bruise. I feel bruised all the time when I have these "flare ups".

The stomach does seem like it would be less painful.

I inject insulin once a day, every day. I usually inject in the fatty part of my waist (love handles) all the way to near the belly button. My instruction were to stay away from the belly button maybe by 1.5 to 2 inches. I find that the fatty part of the waist has few nerve pain cells.

If the needle drags any alcohol into the injection site, it STINGS !!! If you do not want to wait for the preparation alcohol wipe to evaporate, you can dab with a clean tissue. Do not wipe for that can drag contaminates into the site. Merely dab. Alcohol needs about 10 seconds to do its job. A lesser time may result in leaving behind the more resistant bugs.

I take enbrel. I also take methotrexate along with it. No problems, this is the 3 different drug in 7 years since diagnosis. My husband came up with a solution to the stinging with the shot. Room temp is NOT body temp. So now, I take it out. let it warm up a bit, then put it in my shirt, or pocket or sit with it up against my skin for abou 15 minutes before I take the shot! What a world of difference!!! I have told all my Drs this and they said they will pass along this info. It really really does help. Unless I hit a nerve or vessel... then I have to just force myself to keep going. hhahahaah

If the needle drags any alcohol into the injection site, it STINGS !!! If you do not want to wait for the preparation alcohol wipe to evaporate, you can dab with a clean tissue. Do not wipe for that can drag contaminates into the site. Merely dab. Alcohol needs about 10 seconds to do its job. A lesser time may result in leaving behind the more resistant bugs.

That’s useful information, jemdandy, not only for those who need to self-inject medicine (and those who may need to help them) but also, I imagine, for wound care in general. Thank you!