Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Take immediate action after the injection
• Method 2 of 3: Soothe inflammation after the injection
• Method 3 of 3: Relieve pain in children
• Tips
• Warnings

Nobody likes to get an injection or get vaccinated, but often this is necessary to stay healthy. Fortunately, you can easily soothe the pain after an injection. To reduce pain, get moving immediately after receiving the injection, take over-the-counter pain relievers, and keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water. In the case of inflammation, an ice pack or cold compress can help reduce swelling and soothe the pain. If your child has been injected and you want to ease the pain, make sure he or she gets enough rest, drinks fluids, and asks your doctor for advice before giving your child painkillers. Contact your doctor if your symptoms worsen and do not improve during aftercare treatment.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Take immediate action after the injection

1. Move your arm or leg immediately after receiving an injection into it. If you received an injection in your arm or leg, wait for the doctor or nurse to bandage the area with gauze. Once the bandage is in place, slowly rotate your arm over your head nine or ten times to get blood circulation going. If you received an injection in your leg, gently shake it back and forth nine or ten times and pull your knee up once or twice. Resting your arm or leg immediately after receiving an injection makes it more likely that it will hurt, so move it a bit when the doctor or nurse is ready.
   • There is no need to run a marathon or exert yourself in any other way. Just move your body enough to keep the blood flowing for 30-45 seconds.
   • If you received an injection in your side or hip, stretch that area as much as you can to prevent the injection site from swelling. In this case, it helps to stay upright.
2. Apply a cold compress to the injection site for a short time to soothe the muscles. After exercising, apply a cold compress to the injection site for ten minutes to ease the pain in your muscles. Then remove the cold compress and expose your skin to room temperature air. Then apply the cold compress to your skin for another one to two minutes. Alternate between using the cold compress and exposing your skin to the air to ease the pain.
   • Do not apply a warm compress to the affected area after the injection, as this will not relieve the pain as well as with a cold compress. However, you can use a warm compress before the injection to help your body absorb the medicine better.
3. Take over-the-counter pain relievers to relieve symptoms. After the injection, take 600 mg of paracetamol, if that is your preferred pain reliever. However, you can also take 400 mg of ibuprofen if you want to prevent inflammation. Both medications help to relieve pain after an injection. Ask your doctor which pain reliever is best for you after the type of injection you received. If you expect the area to swell, take ibuprofen instead of acetaminophen.
   • Do not exceed the maximum daily dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
   • Paracetamol is available under the name Panadol, among others.

   Warning: do not take these painkillers on an empty stomach. You can damage your liver and have an upset stomach if you don't have any food in your stomach when you take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

   
   
4. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water after your injection. Drink 1-1.5 liters of water for three to four hours after the injection to keep your body well hydrated. By making sure you get enough fluids after receiving an injection, the area will not hurt unnecessarily during the healing process.
   • Don't drink so much water that you get cramps and nauseous. After your injection, simply drink some water from time to time to rehydrate your body.

Method 2 of 3: Soothe inflammation after the injection

1. Apply a cold compress or towel to the injection site to help reduce swelling. If you received an injection and your skin starts to swell, first make sure that the surface temperature at the injection site drops. Place an ice pack, cold compress, or towel moistened with cold water over the injection site. Leave it there until the swelling subsides.
   • Don't put the ice pack on your skin like that, but cover your skin with a towel or thick cloth first.
   • The cold also soothes the pain and makes the area less sensitive while the swelling subsides.
   • You can easily make your own ice pack by filling a resealable freezer bag with ice cubes.
   • Heat can help with muscle pain, but cold reduces swelling. Heat is less helpful with this problem.
2. Take 400 mg of ibuprofen to relieve inflammation and pain. Take two or three ibuprofen tablets if you notice the injection site starting to inflamed or swelling. Ibuprofen, unlike acetaminophen, is an anti-inflammatory pain reliever, which means it really helps to soothe the swelling or inflammation. Make sure to eat something before taking ibuprofen to avoid stomach pain and possible internal damage.
   • You can safely take a maximum of 1200 mg ibuprofen over a 24-hour period.

   Tip: you can take ibuprofen in combination with paracetamol if you want, but this will not help relieve the swelling or inflammation. It is usually safe to take both painkillers together to provide the best possible pain relief, but there is some evidence that it can be dangerous if done regularly.

   
   
3. Rest the area and be careful not to overload the muscles near the injection site. To avoid putting stress on the inflamed area, do not use the muscles near the injection site for four to six hours. For example, if you've had an injection in your shoulder, you're not using the muscles in your upper arm, shoulder, and upper chest. By leaving all the muscles in the area alone for a while, you prevent the inflammation from getting worse.
   • It is normally a good idea to move your body after getting an injection, but it will take longer for the swelling or inflammation to go away if you don't rest your muscles.
4. Check with your doctor to see if he or she can prescribe a stronger anti-inflammatory drug. In some cases, it may be necessary to use a stronger or special anti-inflammatory drug. If the swelling does not go away, you develop a fever, or continue to experience pain, contact your doctor right away to see if there are any other medications you can be prescribed.
   • In general, it is a good idea to contact your doctor if your symptoms continue to increase rather than decrease.

Method 3 of 3: Relieve pain in children

1. Distract children after an injection so that they have less pain and anxiety. Children can become restless and react very strongly to the pain of an injection, so do your best to distract your child. Let your child play with his or her favorite toys, read a book or watch a video on your phone or tablet. When the injection is given, give your child something nice like a sticker or candy to reward his or her good behavior.
   • Make sure your child does not move too much while receiving the injection, as this will make it a lot more difficult for the person giving the injection.
2. Give your child a lot to drink and do not bandage the injection site. The two easiest ways to relieve a child's pain after receiving an injection are to give your child plenty to drink and leave the area alone. After receiving the injection, give your child a glass of water and encourage him or her to finish drinking the glass. Let your child drink another glass or two of water for two to three hours. Do not bandage or apply pressure to the injection site.
   • Give your child one to three glasses with 250 ml of water to keep him or her hydrated. Encourage your child to drink some more if he or she can handle it.

   Tip: As a reward, feel free to give your child a glass of juice instead of a glass of water. Other liquids also help to hydrate your child as long as they are low in sugar and salt.

   
   
3. Ask your doctor if you can give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Children over the age of five can usually take a small amount of acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain, as long as there are no interactions with other medications your child is taking. Ask your doctor about acetaminophen and ibuprofen while he or she is giving the injection.
   • Do not give your child aspirin if he or she develops a fever or flu-like symptoms. In no case is this drug suitable for children under the age of three.
4. Apply a cold washcloth to areas that become swollen or inflamed. If the injection site starts to swell, grab a washcloth and run it under cold water. Fold the washcloth into a small, soft rectangle. Ask your child to sit or lie down and put the washcloth over the area that is starting to swell. This will help reduce swelling by cooling the area while your child is resting.
   • You can use an ice pack if you wish, but it can be difficult to get a young child to sit still with a cold compress on the skin.

Tips

• Apply a topical anesthetic to the injection site to make the injection less painful.

Warnings

• Contact your doctor or go to an emergency room if you experience nausea, vomiting, facial swelling, loss of vision, or fever after receiving an injection that should not cause these symptoms.
• Always speak to your doctor if you have any questions about your medications and if the symptoms get worse after the injection, instead of getting better.