It seems like I'm causing more pain than necessary when injecting

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TigerClaws

TigerClaws

Member Since 2015
Hello fellow sugar mommies and daddies!
I've been injecting my buddy Freeway since mid-November now and I'm still struggling with giving him his injections without hurting him. I would estimate that 1 of every 2 shots he will physically spasm/struggle. It seems that this happens more often when I'm depressing the plunger, but it also can happen while inserting the needle, or both. Once he twitched so hard that he bent the needle to a 45 degree angle! Needless to say, it's killing me that I'm hurting him so much, and his accusatory looks afterwards aren't helping either! I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar, or any tips on what might help? Any help would be appreciated!

I'll leave some further info below:
-using bd ultra fine II syringes, 3/10ml with a 8mm 31 gauge needle.
-injecting 3u of lantus
-I'll fill the syringe approx 20-60min prior to injection to allow the insulin to warm to room temp
-I'll generally only do the injection between his shoulders. He's a little overweight (13lbs) and I find it hard to get his skin to tent anywhere else on his body.
-I'll sometimes have to tent by grabbing his fur instead of his skin. I pull the tent approx 1.5-2" away from his body. I then pierce halfway up this tent, keeping the bevel facing up and the syringe parallel to the spine. It seems when I look at some example pics of tenting, they are pulling/pinching a much smaller piece of skin.
-I'm often wondering if I'm depressing the plunger too quickly. I find that the plunger does not depress smoothly or easily. I compare them to those squeeze ketchup bottles: you need more pressure to start the motion than to continue it.

Some specific quesitons:
Can we use a shorter (4mm, 6mm needle) and may this help?
I also have an insulin pen, is this supposed to be less painful then syringes?
When you insert the needle, how close to your fingers are you going? It appears in some photos that the needle practically goes between the fingers.
Anyone have knowledge on certain syringes being easier to depress than others?
Those giving 2-3 or more u/injection, how quickly are you depressing the plunger?

Thanks in advance to everyone!
Shaun & Freeway
 
I'm having the same trouble, Shaun. In the beginning Dottie didn't even notice the shots. But lately she's squeaking when I give the injection. And tonight she flinched, just as Freeway does. Like you, I have the bevel on top, and I'm injecting parallel to the spine. I have to, because she doesn't have much loose skin either. If I were to angle down, even a little, she'd have reason to squeak.

One problem is that I'm giving such a tiny dose, ( .5 unit) that I don't even feel the plunger go in. It's more like just sticking the needle in, no sensation of 'delivering' a larger amount of insulin. Perhaps I'm pressing the barrel against her skin too hard? Are you feeling the barrel against Freeway's skin fold, or is he pulling away before you can get the needle home?

(I'm using a 5/16 needle, too!) No resistance in the skin, but she cries just the same. And I'm not using the same site.
 
You can get either pen needles or syringe's with 6 mm length needles, not any shorter.
You said "I pull the tent approx 1.5-2" away from his body." pulling away that much maybe part of the problem. I inject Patches II just when she is finishing eating. Otherwise when tries to bite me.
With a small does like 3 units there really is not need to warm the insulin unless you also refrigerate the syringes. The room-temperature syringes will warm the insulin fine.
 
Freeway is so cute with his little kitty goatee!

Is he reacting to the insertion of the needle or the injection of the insulin itself?

If it's the former, I'm not sure what else there is to do because it seems like you're doing everything right. If it's the latter, Freeway may be one of those kitties sensitive to the sting of Lantus due to its acidic pH. If the Lantus sting is the culprit, you may eventually want to consider a pH-neutral insulin like Levemir.
 
I am using the 6mm syringes and I find that I hardly have to "tent" the skin at all. When I originally started. the first vet sold me 1/2" needles and for myself anyway, I found that I was more likely to do fur shots. I went to the 8mm and did much better. The pharmacist told me about the 6mm and said that for people, who tend to inject much straighter into the skin they were less likely to hit the muscle, so I tried a package and I loved them.
 
If you're having trouble tenting the skin try to see if Freeway's general posture is tense (a possibility if he's anticipating the injection being painful). If yes, try a gentle massage around the shoulder area and soothing talk to help him relax.

Saoirse used to flinch a little when getting injections and I would have problems getting a decent, high enough tent into which I could inject because her body was so tense. When I soothe her first her body relaxes and it's much easier to pull up a good tent. I also try to part the fur a little so I can see a patch of skin to aim for. The other thing I changed was to hold the barrel of the syringe when inserting the needle and only once it's in do I depress the plunger. All of these things have really helped us and Saoirse only occasionally flinches now. (For info, she's only on a small dose of Lantus, so stinging isn't really an issue for us.)


Mogs
.
 
Does anyone kbow if ProZinc stings? Dottie has a little bit of a hyperesthesia which is very similar to fibromyalgia in human beans. Her back often twitches along her spine and she's been known to bite at her spine and " chase and bite at her tail. when I first started the shots she was more concerned with her mouth which was very painful. But now that her mouth is settle down she's very aware of her skin on her back and around the base of her tail ( no I am not shooting into the skin around her tail I'm just giving you an example of how sensitive her back is).

Shaun, does Freeway have this kind of sensitivity? Does his skin often ripple along his back and flanks for no reason? Does he chases tail and bite at it?

I had forgotten about all this with my cat because her mouth has been the source of most of her pain lately. But this could be the reason that both our cats are flinching. Not sure what to do about it if they are Because hyperesthesia is what it is.
 
One thing that may help I read somewhere about another technique. Instead of a tent think about rolling the skin over my index finger. I think it is suppose to pull the skin tighter and it lets me personally have a better grip on the fur. The 2nd part is why I do it this way.
 
I never had a sting when I used pro zinc. I am sure it could happen tho--I know when I give SQ fluids it helps to freeze the needle as it "numbs" it and it seems to help (and that is a much larger needle) worth a shot? (no pun intended)
 
Jeanne: I'm not feeling the barrel against Freeway's skin, I didn't know we were supposed to put the entire length of the needle in.

AZJenks: He's reacting to both, though I think the injection hurts more than the needle insertion.

Mogs: Unfortunately, Freeway is always tense. Giving him his injections or testing BG is a two person job, because he'd never allow me to do it freely. Sometimes I have to pull him out of his hiding place to get him too.

Jeanne again: I don't think Freeway has this sensitivity...he does get ripples along his skin/flank, but that's usually in response to cat nip!

Ferndoc: I've read about this other technique before but I can't understand what is being described and I haven't found a pic/video that illustrates it effectively. Anyone that can give a detailed description of this technique, it would be much appreciated. I just can't understand what's meant by 'rolling the skin over the index finger'.

Thanks for trying everyone! This has just been really frustrating for me. I also had to do my first BG curve this weekend, and I was horrible at that too. At least 4-5 pokes before drawing blood, all of which caused him pain. He spent all day hiding except for when I had to pull him out for his poke or needle.

It's been very draining on both of us.
 
Tiger with the technique I don't think it's that much different. With a Tent I thing of pulling straight up. With the roll I think more about twisting away from me. Instead of my thumb meeting the tip of my index finger it sits meets at the 2nd knuckle. I still pull up the skin but then I roll it away from me instead of keeping it straight up.
 
TigerClaws said:
Jeanne: I'm not feeling the barrel against Freeway's skin, I didn't know we were supposed to put the entire length of the needle in.

AZJenks: He's reacting to both, though I think the injection hurts more than the needle insertion.

Mogs: Unfortunately, Freeway is always tense. Giving him his injections or testing BG is a two person job, because he'd never allow me to do it freely. Sometimes I have to pull him out of his hiding place to get him too.

Jeanne again: I don't think Freeway has this sensitivity...he does get ripples along his skin/flank, but that's usually in response to cat nip!

Ferndoc: I've read about this other technique before but I can't understand what is being described and I haven't found a pic/video that illustrates it effectively. Anyone that can give a detailed description of this technique, it would be much appreciated. I just can't understand what's meant by 'rolling the skin over the index finger'.

Thanks for trying everyone! This has just been really frustrating for me. I also had to do my first BG curve this weekend, and I was horrible at that too. At least 4-5 pokes before drawing blood, all of which caused him pain. He spent all day hiding except for when I had to pull him out for his poke or needle.

It's been very draining on both of us.
Click to expand...
I cannot find the thread I was looking for but I found this-
  • We had a terrible time with Scooter when we tried to inject using the 'tent' method, which was taught to us by the animal health technician at the local vets office. On a subsequent visit with the Vet, himself an owner of a diabetic cat, he displayed a different technique which works VERY WELL with Scooter, and she displays much less reaction and definitely less pain.

    The technique is to pinch some of the skin (for me using my left hand) between your thumb and forefinger (trying to avoid grabbing muscle underneath) and ROLL your hand sideways (for me, rolling my hand over to the left)pulling the skin over your finger...this makes the cats skin MUCH TIGHTER than pinching it up into a tent, and the tighter the skin, the easier the needle penetrates without pulling.

    The technique literally meant the difference between night and day, success and failure in our commitment to do what needed to be done to keep Scoots going. Just thought it worth sharing, some people might find it makes the difference for them.
    (Pat and Shelley and Scooter)
 
Shaun, if you try to keep the needle from going all the way in, there's a drag on the skin, the needle is twisting the area where the needle is. It does lessen the chance of a fur shot, too. But don't ram it in, just move quickly till you feel the tip of the barrel schnozzle spot against the skin.

I worked as a receptionist for a vet, a long time ago, and I was amazed :eek:at how fast he could give a shot, particularly on a cat who objected strenuously to being given a shot. The very suddenness of it lessens the pain. As for pulling the needle back a bit...since there's so little chance of getting a vein, I haven't been doing that because I am limited in the movement of one hand. I'm lucky to get that needle in, period because I second-guess myself all the time as to whether I just gave a fur shot. (only giving .5unit per shot, and I don't have any tactile feedback that the insulin is 'pumped in' because the dose is so small, and I use an 8mm length, tiny needle, too).

Later on, as my confidence grows, and Dottie starts to relax more, I'll start backing that needle out if possible. o_OI watch Dottie closely after I give the shot, too..to make sure the insulin didn't get into a vein. The good news is, it's not much insulin, compared to the large doses many have to give their kitties: a mere drop in the cat-bucket.

Dottie really seemed to respond to the finger-roll method of injecting, probably because her skin is so taut when you do it that way.
 
Shaun, Lantus can cause a sting because of it's acidic PH. The sting usually isn't an issue unless the cat is on higher doses but each cat is different and Freeway may just be a little more sensitive to that acidity. Some of us have switched over to Levemir which is another depot insulin as it has a neutral PH, thus no sting. Something to think about if the problem continues.

I also find that the plunger tends to move smoother if I "prime" it before drawing up the insulin. Pull and push the plunger up and down several times in the syringe to lubricate and loosen up the black rubber end on the plunger. I find some boxes of syringes are "stickier" than others and this extra step really helps.
 
MrWorfMen's Mom said:
I also find that the plunger tends to move smoother if I "prime" it before drawing up the insulin. Pull and push the plunger up and down several times in the syringe to lubricate and loosen up the black rubber end on the plunger. I find some boxes of syringes are "stickier" than others and this extra step really helps.
Click to expand...
Good tip, Linda. I also use this technique and it really makes a difference.

Mogs
.
 
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