Manual injection is great b/c you can control it! Here are my tips- put the shot on your skin and allow your mind to react to the sensation rather than just plunging it in. Pinch the skin too, and I do mine at an angle, which helps, as well. I can do my own on the back of my arms. My nurse taught me to go up to the edge of a wall and roll my arm along the corner so the wall helps lift up the skin under the arm. It holds it in place so I can inject myself. I also got the injection "holder" from Shared Solutions. It is like a grip thing that helps b/c my dexterity is not always great.
Again, good luck! Just remind yourself of how brave you are, and that you are doing something to protect yourself.

I also hated Copaxone. I used it for 11 weeks before I stopped it. I was having terrible shot reactions. I have now been on Rebif for 12 weeks and I LOVE IT!!!! I have had NO reactions and I feel great on it! I premed first with Aleve about an hour before my shot and I ice the area. I'm so glad I made the switch. I feel human again. Good luck!
Lori

I Have a question about the people who post how horrible the inferons are and all the flu symptoms you get from them. How many have even tried them? Is this from personel experience? and if so please share so people needing to make a decision on DMD have something real to go by.
I myself have been on Rebif for over a year and the only side effect has been a fever cleared up by OTC meds. I got a small infection in my stomach once but the alcohol pad was pretty dry so my fault.
I know that there are several people on this site who use Rebif and other inferons with NO SIDE EFFECTS. I also know Copaxone users who suffer horribly with the welts and knots and pain. I've only had 3 blood tests for Rebif, liver went up, down than stabalized, I have no welts or cry because of it or want to stop my meds.
When you talk about the flu or bloodwork please include your personel experience with it to help others make a more informed decision. It is also my understanding that the inferons are stronger meds so why take a weaker one that makes your body look horrible and is weaker than a fever or runny nose for a day.
I almost wanted to start Copaxone so I did'nt get the flu like symptoms everyone said I would get and am still waiting for them.
I think that maybe some people should also visit MSW's med site and see what people are complaining about, you hardly see any inferons esp. Rebif but the copaxone posts, it is insane. I did research first and reached out to people who took each version of the med, so that made me go with Rebif.
After all I've read about Rebif and Copaxone there is no way I would even consider Copaxone, I would go without first. I just wish if you want to talk about the flu like symptoms that you have actually tried the med first hand and not just repeat what the drug companies say unless you have personally experienced it. Myself I'm biased against Copaxone because of all the neg posts and talking to friends who are on it and would not put up with my body all welted up.You are not locked into a DMD and you should not be knocking down another DMD unless you have tried or say in my opinion or I've read this about it. I just posted a week or so ago about a trial with Rebif that when taken early decreases the disease progression and have'nt seen that from other well known crab drugs. I will appolige for sounding rude and realize no one ever posts how much they love getting a shot and myself am guilty of never giving Copaxone a shot, but everyone is different and you will not know till you try, but on the other hand bad information is bad if you've not tried it yourself. All I can say is no Flu or uneeded blood work, no welts, just a fever for a bit that is easily controlled. Maybe a poll is in order on how people who actually take the meds feel and side effects as I see almost all bad on Copaxone and hardly any bad on Rebif and like I said look at MSW's website, almost all bad on Copaxone. One last thing I would like to point out with Rebif I can do all 3 shots in the same place with no problems. But this is just my opinion so take it for what it is and again sorry if I sound rude, just would like to see some facts to back up the claims, and yes I would love to take a pill. If you don't like the welts just ask for some input from inferon users. I wish you the best of luck, just don't beat your body up.
Take Care
Dave

Anyone else out there heard of low dose naltrexone (liquid method) for control of MS? Online see ldninfo.org. No injections, inexpensive & has been shown to keep MS from progressing. Been on it for 10yrs, stayed in remission.

Never see a neuro, either. found out awhile ago that in fact I have CCSVI. This is a vascular problem.

Well said Dave!!!
I LOVE REBIF!!!
When I was on Copaxone I found nothing that would help with the itching. I was scared when I started Rebif because of all the negative info. on it. For me, it was awesome and I'veNEVER had a problem on it!
Lori

I guess I'm a little put off by a couple recent posts... Copaxone is the ONLY medication I am able to take due to other health issues. I don't mind the medication I just didn't like the welts which after doing a manual injection removing the air bubble I didn't even have a red mark. My mom is a nurse and she said the air bubble can be causing irritation in the tissue, which causes the welts. If you need to vent about other issues, please do it elsewhere. We all have our own issues and I really try not to knock the choices of other people. We ARE all different and scared in our own ways. The medications are a personal choice.

I've posted on negative experiences with the Interferons because we do have personal experiences with them. Obviously, everyone reacts differently. Whats good for some is not always good for others. I do not believe that anyone is or should be out to scare or worry other people. We all share our personal experiences. My husband was on Copaxone for a few years and did well, but nothing noticeable from it. He has been on Betaseron for a little while now and is not doing well at all. Along with the flu-like symptoms he is having severe reactions, causing him issues that are completely untolerable. MelanieAlexis, I wish you the very best.

I do my shot as soon as I get out of the shower. I don't know if its the fact my skin is still damp but they don't hurt as bad when I do it that way. From time to time when my lumps get bad I use Arnica gel and that helps alot. It's a natural remedy for swelling and bruising that nature food stores carry. Just be careful not to push the gel into the site needle track. Alcohol is a preservative in Arnica gel and if you do push it in the hole is burns a bit. It does make the injection site issues better I have found. Little things you figure out after being on this therapy for almost 9 years.

Copaxone is the only med so far that I can take for personal reasons and I am just happy there is something out there for me. That being said, I can put up with the sting and the itch and welts and yes it does get better. I've been on it for a year now and my MRI proves it's working for me.

Gentle hugs, Linda

I just got home from my Neuro's office. She insisted that Copaxone is my next step. I have been on Avonex (not good for me), Tysabri (I liked it, but now test + for JC Virus so dr. doesn't want to prescribe Tysabri for me now.) So, I guess I will be getting on the Copaxone train too. Not at all happy about it, but, I need to be on something! So, I do hope that things get better for you melanieat..., and I do hope that I can handle the Copaxone too!

I was happy to read some of the hints those on C have shared. Thank you to each of you!

Please vent away....this is what this site is for and we are all in this together. The welts will go away eventually and have been on it on and off for 6 years. Just remember to watch your stress level as it can be attributed to exacerbation. good luck.

I have been on copaxone for two years now. I still get those red, itchy welts and am constantly scratching myself. The pain, however, does go away. In fact my injection sites have pretty much lost all feeling now (not sure that is a good thing!). The good news it that after I had taken it for 6 months, I had no more lesions develope on my MRI-I still had the original ones but no new ones. That was fantastic news! Just hang in there because, in my case, the medicine really did help. :)

I got diagnosed after one MRI so I won't know if its working or not. I got diagnosed on Valentines Day of this year and started the copaxone in March... its kind of hard for me because i feel like i will never know if its good for me or not... MS can go either way... Anybody can go years without a relapse...

I too take copaxone, and I will be one to say that it does get easier.

I took rebif prior to copaxone and it made my liver enzymes fly through the roof so my doctor and I chose to switch.

The welts and pain do get better over time. My suggestion is to not use the auto inject, self injecting allows you to inject slowly which i find helps. I also suggest injecting into areas that are pure fat. I am a small person (5' 5'' and 115 pounds) so i dont have a lot of options as far as injection sites so i mostly choose my butt and legs. Stomach and arms are a no no for me. I often inject in my butt/leg area (kinda where a "saddlebag" would be) and have found i dont get any reaction other than a mild burning sensation that goes away after 15 mins. I also must admit that the side effects of copaxone are significantly less painful than rebif, with rebif i had HUGE red markings all over and it literally killed me to inject----it burns so bad.

So perhaps you need to take the time to learn to manually inject on your own, and you will find the places that hurt less as you go. Your body does get used to the drug and the inflammation does go down after a while.

Keep your head up!