Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Distract yourself and relax
• Part 2 of 2: Relieve pain around the injection site
• Tips

Injections can be very painful, but they will likely be inevitable at some point in your life. Many people go white at the thought of needles and blood, so actually getting an injection can turn out to be an unpleasant experience. You may also experience pain around the area where the injection was given. But when you distract and relax during the injection and try to relieve the pain after the injection, you will find that you can deal better with the painful injection.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Distract yourself and relax

1. You have to realize that needles are smaller. Most people have had injections as children and may have had bad memories of this experience. But when you realize that needles today are a lot thinner and cause less pain, this thought may make you more comfortable about an injection.
   • Ask the doctor or the person giving the injection how big the needle is or what degree of pain you can expect if you need it. In some cases, they may even show you how small the needle is.
   • You should realize that fear of pricks (or a prick phobia) is quite common.
2. Discuss your fear with your doctor. If you are concerned, you should discuss this with your doctor or medical professional both before and during the time of the injection. This could make you more comfortable and distract you as well.
   • Feel free to speak up about any fears or concerns you have before the medical professional gives the injection. Before actually giving the injection, ask the person how he or she will give the injection.
   • Ask the doctor to talk to you while giving the injection. You could see this as a kind of distraction technique. Talk about things and avoid topics related to your health. For example, you could tell the doctor about the trip abroad you are about to take and ask him or her for suggestions or tips.
3. Look the other way, not at the injection site. A recent study states that looking in the opposite direction during an injection is the best way to distract yourself. Focus on an object in the opposite direction of where you will receive the injection.
   • Look at a plate or other object in space.
   • Look at your own feet. This can help you shift your focus, and you may no longer focus on the injection.
   • Closing your eyes may help you relax and get rid of your bad feelings. Try to think of something else. For example, imagine that you are on a warm beach with your eyes closed.
4. Distract yourself with certain media. If you are able to temporarily shut yourself off for the injection that is waiting for you, it may distract you and help you relax. You could try different options. For example, listen to music or use your tablet.
   • Tell the medical professional that you want to distract yourself with the multimedia you have brought with you.
   • Listen to soothing and slow music.
   • Watch a TV show or movie you like.
   • Watch a funny video before and while getting the injection to relax yourself. This may help you associate injections with humor instead of pain in the future.
5. Use relaxation techniques. By relaxing your entire body, you may be able to get through the unpleasant situation. From breathing exercises to medication, you could apply a variety of relaxation techniques before and during the injection.
   • Squeeze a stress ball or other similar object with the hand of the arm that is not receiving an injection.
   • Take a slow, deep breath. Inhale deeply for four seconds, then exhale for the same number of seconds. This type of rhythmic breathing, also called "pranayama", can relax you and may also distract you.
   • Double your relaxation techniques, if necessary.
   • Tighten different muscle groups and then relax them, starting with your toes and ending with your forehead. Tighten the muscle groups for about ten seconds and then release the tension for ten seconds. Take a deep breath between the different muscle groups to relax even further.
   • Consider using tranquilizers to calm yourself. The injection is very quick and the sedative will no doubt work for a lot longer, so you should only use such medication if your anxiety or nervousness is extreme. Make sure to let the doctor know that you have taken the medication in case contraindications with the injection may arise. You must also make sure that someone drives you home afterwards.
6. Make some sort of script for the time of the injection. When you're about to get an injection, you may be very tense. Use the tactic of imagining a script so that you may be able to handle the injection better.
   • Write a “script” for the injection. For example, write down what you want to say to the doctor and what kind of conversation you want to have with him or her. Hello Dr. Maier, how nice to meet you again. I know I am going to get an injection and I am a bit scared. I would like to talk to you about my upcoming vacation to Munich when you administer the injection. ”
   • Stick to your script as much as possible during the time when you are with the doctor. Consider bringing notes with you if that helps.
7. Formulate the injection in simple terms. The formulation and guided visualization are behavioral techniques that can shape your ideas and the way you think about a specific situation by occasionally doing them as something mundane or banal. Use one of these techniques to help you get through the injection.
   • Reformulate the injection as follows: "This is a quick sting and will feel like the sting of a tiny bee."
   • Guide yourself with different images during the injection. For example, imagine that you are on top of a mountain or on a warm beach at the time of the injection.
   • Divide the entire situation into manageable steps to better deal with the injection. For example, divide the situation into greeting the doctor, asking questions, distracting yourself while giving the injection, and going home in a cheerful manner.
8. Ask someone to come along for support. Ask a friend or family member to come to the injection appointment. This person can talk to you to calm and distract you.
   • Ask the medical professional if the person can come with you into the treatment room.
   • Sit directly in front of the person you brought with you for support. If necessary, hold his or her hand if you are comfortable with this.
   • Talk to the person you brought with you about anything unrelated to the injection. For example, discuss dinner or a particular movie you would like to see.

Part 2 of 2: Relieve pain around the injection site

1. Keep a close eye on the injection site and try to detect possible reactions. It is not uncommon to experience some pain or discomfort around the injection site for several hours or days. Look at the injection site to see signs of inflammation from the injection. This can help you determine the best way to relieve the pain or may make you realize that you should see a doctor. Common symptoms include:
   • Itching
   • Redness of the skin around the injection site
   • Warmth
   • Swelling
   • Sensitivity
   • Pain
2. Cool the area with ice. Place a bag of ice or cold compress over the injection site. This can relieve itching, swelling and pain by slowing blood flow and cooling the skin.
   • Leave the ice on the injection site for 15 to 20 minutes. You should do this three to four times a day until the pain is almost gone.
   • If you don't have a bag of ice available, use a bag of frozen vegetables.
   • Put something like a towel between your skin and the ice or cold compress to minimize the risk of frostbite.
   • If you don't want to use ice, put a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the injection site.
   • Avoid applying heat to the injection site. This could make the swelling worse, as heat provides a greater supply of blood to the painful area.
3. Take painkillers. Certain over-the-counter medications can relieve pain and swelling. Consider using such drugs if you are in severe pain or if the injection site is inflamed.
   • Use pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen sodium (Aleve), or acetaminophen.
   • You should not give aspirin to children or teenagers under the age of 18, as these painkillers increase the risk of Reye's syndrome. This syndrome can be fatal.
   • Minimize swelling with NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium.
4. Rest the injection site for some time. Try not to put any weight on the limb containing the injection site temporarily, this is especially important if you have had a cortisone injection. This will allow time for the injection site to heal and may help prevent further pain or discomfort.
   • When you have had an injection in your arm, try to avoid lifting and carrying heavy objects as much as possible.
   • Try not to put any weight on your legs if you have had an injection in your leg.
   • If you have had a steroid injection, avoid heat for 24 hours to ensure maximum effect from the injection.
5. Seek medical attention if you are dealing with an allergic reaction or infection. In some cases, injections can cause allergic reactions or persistent pain. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience any of the following symptoms or are unsure about your medication:
   • Pain, redness, warmth, swelling, or itching that seems to be getting worse
   • Fever
   • Cold shivers
   • muscle strain
   • Difficulty breathing
   • High-pitched or uncontrollable crying in children

Tips

• Let the medical professional know if you feel unwell or feel like you are going to pass out, both during and after you receive the injection.