Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: How to distract and relax
• Part 2 of 2: How to Reduce Injection Site Pain
• Tips

Injections or injections are quite painful procedures, but sooner or later everyone has to do them. Many are even scared to imagine that they will have to give an injection and they feel bad from the very thought of a needle and blood. In addition, pain may occur at the injection site.However, if you learn how to distract and relax during the procedure and know how to relieve pain at the injection site, then even the most painful injection will not be intimidating to you.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: How to distract and relax

1. 1 Think about the fact that the needles are now very thin. Most people have a fear of injections since childhood. But if you think about the fact that the needles are now much thinner, and the procedure itself is less painful, then it will be easier for you to relax before the injection.
   • Ask your doctor or the person who will be injecting how you feel. You can ask to show you the needle to see how thin it really is.
   • Understand that fear of needles or injections is quite common.
2. 2 Talk to your doctor. If you are scared, talk to your doctor or other healthcare professional before and during the injection. This will make it easier for you to calm down and distract yourself.
   • Explain to the doctor who will give you the injection that you are afraid and worried. Ask him to tell you exactly how he will inject.
   • Ask your doctor to distract you with conversation while he is injecting. Talk about something distracted and unrelated to your health. For example, tell us how you plan to spend your vacation and ask if he has any suggestions for a place to stay.
3. 3 Turn away while you are injected. There was a recent study that found that the best way to distract yourself while you are injecting is to look away. You need to focus on an object at the opposite end of the room.
   • Hold your gaze on a painting or other object in the room.
   • Look at your feet. This will also help to look away from the injection site.
   • Close your eyes. Imagine that you are on a warm beach or in another equally pleasant place. This will help you relax and not think about when the injection will start.
4. 4 Distract yourself with some information. Find something interesting on your tablet or just turn on the music - this will help you relax and not focus on the injection.
   • Do not forget to warn the doctor that you specially took some kind of information carrier with you and you want to try to distract yourself with it.
   • Play some calm, slow music.
   • Watch an interesting show or your favorite movie.
   • Watch some fun videos before and during your procedure. This will help you relax and the injection will be associated with humor, not pain.
5. 5 Try a relaxation technique. If you can relax your body, the injection will be less painful. For example, try special breathing exercises before and during your procedure.
   • Squeeze the anti-stress ball with your free hand.
   • Breathe deeply and slowly. Take a deep breath for four seconds, then exhale for four seconds. This rhythmic breathing is called pranayama. It will help you relax and distract yourself.
   • If necessary, use several relaxation techniques at the same time.
   • Tighten and then relax the different muscle groups. Start with your toes and finish with the muscles of your forehead. Tighten your muscles for 10 seconds and then relax for another 10 seconds. In order to enhance the relaxation effect, alternate the exercise with a deep breath.
   • Take a sedative to help you relax. Just remember that the injection is a very quick procedure, and the effect of the sedative drug lasts quite a long time. Therefore, take a sedative only as a last resort if you are very afraid and nervous. Also, be sure to tell your doctor which drug you are taking as it may not be compatible with the injection, and make sure someone helps you get home after the procedure.
6. 6 Write a script for the procedure. The sight of a needle can scare you a lot.To make it easier for you to cope with the fear and withstand the injection, apply the behavioral tactics of the figurative script.
   • Write a "script" of the procedure. For example, jot down on paper what you are going to talk to your doctor about. "Good afternoon, Doctor. Nice to see you. I'm a little scared to inject. Would you mind if we talk about my trip to Munich while you inject?"
   • During the procedure, try to adhere to the script as closely as possible. If necessary, take your notes with you.
7. 7 Imagine the injection as something quite uncomplicated. By shaping perceptions and applying behavioral techniques, you can change your attitude towards certain situations so that they seem mundane and commonplace. Use any technique to change your attitude towards injection.
   • Think of the injection as "a quick bite, like a little bee sting."
   • During the injection, tune in correctly using various images. For example, imagine that you are on a mountain top or on a warm beach.
   • Divide the procedure mentally into a series of moments that you control. Imagine how you first greeted the doctor, asked him the questions you are interested in, distract yourself in various ways while you are given an injection, and then you safely go home.
8. 8 Ask someone to support you during the procedure. This could be a friend or family member. While you are injecting, he can talk to you, thus helping you to calm down and distract yourself.
   • Ask your healthcare provider if someone can come with you to the treatment room.
   • Ask a friend to sit across from you and take his hand. It can help you relax.
   • Talk to your friend about anything. For example, talk about a past lunch or a movie you want to watch.

Part 2 of 2: How to Reduce Injection Site Pain

1. 1 Observe for reactions at the injection site. Often there may be painful and unpleasant sensations at the injection site. They can last for hours or even days. It is important to notice the post-injection inflammatory response in time. Then you can do something right away to relieve the pain and see your doctor if necessary. The most common symptoms are:
   • Itching
   • Redness spreading from the injection site
   • Feeling hot at the injection site
   • Edema
   • Sensitivity
   • Pain
2. 2 Use cold. Apply ice or a cold compress to the injection site. The cold will help relieve itching, swelling, and pain by slowing down blood circulation and cooling the skin.
   • Leave the ice on for 15-20 minutes. Apply cold three to four times a day until you see improvement.
   • You can use a bag of frozen vegetables instead of an ice pack.
   • Be sure to wrap the ice in a towel to avoid frostbite on your skin.
   • If you do not have ice, you can apply a clean, damp, cold tissue to the injection site.
   • Do not apply heat to the injection site. Heat will increase blood circulation and, as a result, increase the swelling of the infected area.
3. 3 Take a pain reliever. Over-the-counter medications can help reduce soreness and swelling. If the inflammation and pain at the injection site is very severe, then it is worth taking a pain reliever.
   • You can take pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen sodium (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
   • Aspirin should not be taken until the age of 18, as it can trigger the development of Reye's syndrome, which can be fatal.
   • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium can help reduce swelling.
4. 4 Try to protect the injection site. It is especially important not to strain the area if you have been injected with cortisone. In order to prevent the appearance of unpleasant, painful sensations, it is necessary that the injection site is completely healed.
   • If you got an injection in your arm, try not to lift weights with that arm.
   • If the injection was made in the leg, then do not strain it too much.
   • If you have received a steroid shot, avoid overheating for 24 hours so that the drug works as effectively as possible.
5. 5 If you notice signs of an allergic reaction or infection, seek qualified medical attention. Sometimes an allergic reaction or long-term painful sensations can develop as a result of infection. See your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:
   • Increasing pain, redness, fever, swelling, or itching at the injection site
   • Increased body temperature
   • Chills
   • Muscle pain
   • Labored breathing
   • High-pitched, incessant crying in children

Tips

• If you feel unwell or weak before, during or after the injection, be sure to tell your doctor.