Key takeaways
- Subcutaneous injections typically cause minimal pain since they involve small, short needles that do not penetrate deeply into the tissue.
- People may be able to reduce the pain of injections by numbing their skin, relaxing their muscles, distracting themselves, and rotating the injection site each time.
- Subcutaneous injections are a safe, common method for delivering medications that need to absorb slowly into the body. They usually cause only minor complications, such as mild irritation at the injection site.
Healthcare professionals often use subcutaneous injections to give medications that need to be absorbed into the bloodstream slowly and steadily, such as insulin.
Subcutaneous injections are usually safe and do not require as much force as intramuscular injections, which people inject into muscle tissue.
The needle for a subcutaneous injection is usually small and short, so it should cause minimal discomfort.
Subcutaneous injections tend to be less painful than intramuscular injections because the needles are smaller and do not have to push through as much tissue. The typical subcutaneous needle size is about 5/8 inch in length, while needles for intramuscular injections tend to be 1 to 1 1/2 inches long.
The amount of pain someone feels will depend on factors such as the location of the injection, the person’s pain tolerance, and their skin sensitivity.
The pain level will also depend on which medication a person is injecting. Some medications may cause stinging, burning, or aching during or after the injection.
Several factors can influence the amount of pain a person feels during an injection. Children and people who fear needles may also experience anxiety during injections.
Here are a few strategies that
1. Numb the skin
A person or their caregiver can apply a numbing cream a few minutes before the injection to reduce the sensitivity of the skin. Many doctors’ offices have these products available.
Alternatively, a person can apply an ice pack to the skin briefly before giving the injection.
2. Try to relax
When someone is nervous or anxious, their muscles — including those near the injection site — may be tense, and the shot may feel more painful. Techniques such as taking deep breaths or blowing air out during the injection may help a person relax.
If a person receives injections often, they may find it easier to relax over time, as they become more accustomed to the process.
3. Use distractions
Sometimes, watching the injection happen may cause it to hurt more. To distract themselves, people can try talking with someone, looking away from the needle, or focusing on something else in the room.
When a child is receiving an injection, caregivers may want to hold the child in a comforting position, speak calmly or sing to them, or distract them with a video or toy. A parent may want to give a baby a pacifier before the injection or, if the child is nursing, breastfeed them during the injection.
4. Rotate the injection site
If a person receives injections repeatedly or frequently, it is advisable to rotate the subcutaneous injection sites. The skin may be sensitive or painful for some time after an injection, and repeatedly inserting a needle into the same area can cause more pain.
Injecting each dose into a different area of skin allows time for each site to recover.
When performing a subcutaneous injection, a person should choose a fatty area of the body, such as the abdomen, the back of the arm, or the thigh. If a person needs multiple injections at one time or an injection every day, they should rotate the site to allow each area to heal between injections.
Once a person has chosen an injection site, they need to follow these steps:
- Wash the hands: This is important to help prevent infections.
- Clean the injection site with an alcohol pad: Wait for the area to completely dry before the next step.
- Take the cap off the needle: The cap ensures that the needle is sterile until someone needs to use it.
- Draw the medication into the syringe: When doing this, follow the directions on the vial. That usually means turning the vial upside down and then pulling the plunger back to suck in the medication.
- Tap the syringe to remove air bubbles: This step helps ensure that a person receives the full dose of medication.
- Pinch a fold of skin: Use the thumb and finger to pinch a fatty area about 2 inches thick.
- While holding the needle like a dart, slide it into the skin at a 90-degree angle: Needles for subcutaneous injections are usually short and small and should go all the way into the skin.
- Push the plunger all the way down quickly: Do not push forcefully.
- Remove and dispose of the needle: Place it in a needle-safe container.
The best location for a subcutaneous injection depends on a person’s pain sensitivity and where they have some subcutaneous fat.
Common locations include:
- the back or side of the arm
- the fatty part of the stomach
- the front of the thigh
- the top of the buttocks, where there is more fat than muscle
Some subcutaneous injections come in the form of an auto-injector, which is a self-contained device that does not require drawing the medication into a syringe. People can follow the instructions on the package if they are using an auto-injector.
People can use subcutaneous injections to give many types of medication for various medical conditions.
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For this reason, subcutaneous injection is a suitable way to give medications that the body must use slowly over time, such as insulin for treating diabetes.
Other medications that are given this way include:
- blood thinners, such as heparin
- some fertility drugs
- some drugs for autoimmune diseases, such as Enbrel and Kineret for rheumatoid arthritis
Many drugs that people must take daily or inject at home are designed for subcutaneous injection.
The most common complication of subcutaneous injections is an injection-site reaction, which can involve pain or irritation near the injection site and may last for 1 to 2 days afterward.
Pain near the injection site can occur if a person inserts the needle at an unsuitable angle or if the needle moves slightly during the injection. Some medications can cause a bruise or irritation at the injection site.
Other possible complications, which occur much less frequently, include:
Infection
Any puncture in the skin can allow bacteria to enter and cause an infection. Properly cleaning the area and always using a clean needle can reduce the risk of infection.
People need to avoid reusing or sharing needles and should always dispose of used needles in an appropriate container.
Injection into a blood vessel
If a person sees blood in the syringe, the needle may have hit a blood vessel. Injecting medication into a blood vessel can change the way the body absorbs the drug.
In rare cases, injecting into a blood vessel can cause serious complications. However, the likelihood of hitting a blood vessel in the subcutaneous fat is extremely low. Any blood a person sees after the injection is most likely the result of slight bleeding.
A subcutaneous injection is a minor and very safe medical procedure as long as a person does it correctly.
Mastering the technique of injecting at home can take some practice. People can ask a healthcare professional for help and should not hesitate to ask questions about the benefits of treatment or how best to minimize the pain of an injection.