Struggling with Injections

[Bishop]

First of all I have read the sticky here on injection sites and watched Mr Vergel's video on shoulder injection as well as Dr. Crisler's video on subq stomach injections.

Everything goes smoothly in every site I have used so far during the injection. I'm using easy touch 28g .5" insulin syringes.

The issue is that I have a soreness like a bad bruise for 3-4 days after the injection. It happens each time and doesn't seem to matter which location I use.

I am wondering if there is some little thing I might be doing wrong that is causing the soreness. For what it is worth I was also extremely sore after the deep gluteal IM injections done by the nurses.

Any advice on things I might look out for would be very welcome.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Bishop

Why don't you talk to your doctor about pellets or T gels/creams (if you do not fear transferring to a female or kid)?

I have read several of your posts and it seems that you probably will not do well on injections due to several issues.

 

[James]

Bishop - If you're having this challenge every time and regardless of the injection site, you may be having an allergic reaction to something in the injection. Remember, there's more in that shot than just testosterone.

 

[eli]

Try a different brand ? or a different ester like Test E ?

 

[James]

Mine has a few additional things, one is vitamin D, compounded into it. Bishop, do you know if you're using grape seed, cotton seed oil? Odd you get that reaction so often.

 

[Helboi]

As James said, the type of oil may make a difference. But I would also make sure you're injecting very slowly...sometimes when I go too fast that causes pain issues and even knots.

 

[lcvl]

Before assuming it's an allergic reaction to the ester make sure you're using proper injection technique. Sometimes if my hand gets a bit shaky and the needle moves around a bit I get some soreness at injection point.

 

[Bishop]

Thank you! It's cotton seed oil. I have been counting to 10 so it is roughly 10 seconds for the .5ml.

It is possible that my hand is shaking some and wiggling the needle a bit so that could be an issue.

I've used 3 different brands. One was Sun, one was Watson, and the most recent is Waterford. I am fairly certain all 3 were cotton seed. All were test cyp.

I really hate to hear that you think I won't do well. I've tried the gels and the pellets. The gels didn't improve anything for me even at the max dosage (androgel) and I have two young boys who wrestle with me all the time. The pellets are just something I can't see myself doing. The one time I tried it I got a significant scar and they had to use so many to raise my level it was like sitting on a walnut.

This is pretty much my last chance for correcting the issue.

 

[Bishop]

One last question. Could it possibly help to inject less oil but more frequently? I am due for an injection today and I was debating trying a smaller amount just to see if it made any difference. Current dose is .5ml of 200mg/ml

 

[CoastWatcher]

One last question. Could it possibly help to inject less oil but more frequently? I am due for an injection today and I was debating trying a smaller amount just to see if it made any difference. Current dose is .5ml of 200mg/ml

Am am I correct in assuming you are injecting 100mg (ml is a volume, note a dose)? This is weekly? You can certainly adjust to 50mg every 3.5 days, many of us do very well on smaller, more frequent injections. Let me ask you a very blunt question: is the TRT providing you with sufficient symptom relief/quality of life improvement that it is worth the discomfort the injections cause?

 

[Bishop]

CW,
I am doing 100mg twice a week as a .5ml injection each time. My bottle is 200mg/ml so I do .5 ml on Tuesday and Friday.

The answer to your question is definitely. I'm sore constantly from the gym anyway and as I said this just feels like a bruise from sparring or something of that nature.

I can definitely deal with it but I wanted to know if it was possible that I am doing something wrong and causing the pain when it isn't necessary.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Bishop

It just seems odd to me that someone using a 28 gauge 1/5 inch syringe to inject .5 cc is having pain every time they inject. You have also told us that you have tried different injectable testosterone products and had the same issues. You may want to give a try a formulation with testosterone cypionate and grape seed oil to rule out allergy to cottonseed. Compounding pharmacies can formulate that for you if specified.

Also, keep in mind that Testosterone Cypionate contains 20% Benzyl Benzoate as a solubilizer and 1% Benzyl Alcohol as a preservative. You may be allergic to either one of those.

I am sorry you had scarring with the pellets. They would have been a good option.

Just to rule out improper injection technique, can you take a few pics of how you inject and post them here?

 

[Bishop]

Thanks for the follow up! I have never had allergy issues to anything but that doesn't mean this couldn't be a first. I just did my injection today so I won't be doing another till Tuesday.

I tried very hard today to keep the needle still and also to inject slowly. One video I watched mentioned that the small guages can generate too much pressure and irritate the tissue easily if you aren't careful.

 

[Bishop]

Also I don't know if it matters but the pain is not constant. I really only notice it during flexation of the muscle like when working out or stretching.

 

[Vince Carter]

It's my opinion that .5ml is a lot to shoot in your body at any one time, many guys do it with out complication, I think I did in the past, but that could very well be an irritant, to you. But I also support that notion that the esther could be a factor for you. I've had localized reactions, very sore for days afterward, like some one hit me with a hammer. Over time I simply found some spots that work best for like, like the upper outer though. I have almost no issues using that spot.

 

[ERO]

Agree with Vince. If I do sub-Q in the stomach area I get lumps and soreness, but when I do it anywhere else no lumps and no pain, so try other areas if you have not already. Shoulders are a great choice as well.

 

[Bishop]

Update from my shot yesterday. I tried very hard to keep the needle still and also injected even more slowly than usual. After the shot I also took the time to do some vigorous massaging. Today the shot is basically painless.

On my last shot someone bumped the stool I was sitting on and my hand jiggled a bit with the needle in my thigh. I didn't think anything of it at the time but that could have made it worse I imagine.

I'm thinking that perhaps the massaging really helped break up the big blob of oil. In the past I just sort of rubbed a little bit and moved on.

 

[Vince]

Update from my shot yesterday. I tried very hard to keep the needle still and also injected even more slowly than usual. After the shot I also took the time to do some vigorous massaging. Today the shot is basically painless.

On my last shot someone bumped the stool I was sitting on and my hand jiggled a bit with the needle in my thigh. I didn't think anything of it at the time but that could have made it worse I imagine.

I'm thinking that perhaps the massaging really helped break up the big blob of oil. In the past I just sort of rubbed a little bit and moved on.

When I get my flu shot, which is in my shoulder it always makes my shoulder sore. I always inject testosterone in my shoulders and I've never been sore. I use easy touch 27gauge 1/2"

 

[Helboi]

I'm thinking that perhaps the massaging really helped break up the big blob of oil. In the past I just sort of rubbed a little bit and moved on.

I would bet so too. I always massage it really good and usually have no pain issues.

 

[Bishop]

Just as an update for you guys. After reading more I believe my pain issues were mainly that every time I injected I was using a new location. It seems pretty common that the first one or two injections in a new location causes some lingering pain because the tissue isn't used to the extra volume of the solution. Over time it adapts and so you don't get the lingering bruised feeling. That seems to have been the case for me.