Injection - infection?

[Kreuzfidel]

Hey, guys, I need your advice.  My wife gave me my injection on Tuesday night (Monday for Americans) and now my glute is excruciatingly painful - under the injection site, there's hard swelling and my skin is red and hot with the redness now spreading with the swelling.  I'm also having pain in the lower back and abdomen.  So basically at first I thought I'd knotted up because I rode in a car immediately after my shot - but now 4 days later, these symptoms are worrying me.  Has anyone had this before?

[Dominick_81]

4 days after your shot and your still having symptoms? I would check in with a doctor and see what's going on. Hope it's nothing serious.

[SnailPace]

DEFINITELY doctor worthy.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

A couple of things comes to mind. 

First not a aseptic injection.  Make sure the injection site is aseptic.  Clean with alcohol and let air dry.

Second no aspiration.  When give an injection, pull back slightly on plunger and make sure you have not hit a vein.

Third, possible hit a nerve.

Definitely go see the doctor.

[Cindy]

Doctor ASAP.

Any delay get some antiseptic cream from the chemist, Betadine or something similar. If you are developing a temperature get to the hospital.

Cindy

[Aussie Jay]

What test are you on mate?? I have Reandron/Nebido which is a massive 4ml injection in the glute and there are times I will get a big lump and it's sore for a few days until it settles.. And then there are other times I'll have a shot and there's no pain/lump etc - all about technique and sheer ass IMHO lol

Either way if you're concerned definitely worth a trip to the GP as everyone else has said.

[=celestica=]

Proof that women can't do anything right.

If I was a dude this would be funnier.

[Kreuzfidel]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.  It's nowhere near my psiatic nerve and I didn't even feel any pain until a day or two after the injection, so I don't know if it's a nerve.  Wife aspirated as usual, injected at the same speed, etc.  We don't swab the skin with alcohol before injecting because the doc said it wasn't necessary (?).  @ Aussie Jay - I'm on Primoteston Depot .  My GP's clinic isn't open until Monday - do you think this could be serious enough to merit going to the ER?

[Cindy]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.  It's nowhere near my psiatic nerve and I didn't even feel any pain until a day or two after the injection, so I don't know if it's a nerve.  Wife aspirated as usual, injected at the same speed, etc.  We don't swab the skin with alcohol before injecting because the doc said it wasn't necessary (?).  @ Aussie Jay - I'm on Primoteston Depot.  My GP's clinic isn't open until Monday - do you think this could be serious enough to merit going to the ER?

If you are running a temp, have dizzy spells or feel a general malaise; yes. If it is 'just annoying' probably not, BTW this advice is personal not professional.

The possible dangers. Local infection resulting in some scarring and possible ulceration, these will all fade. Big danger, infection leading to septicaemia, life threatening.  But you should be feeling the affects by now, as in temp increase etc.

Your call.

You can call the medibank hotline and get advice from them.

You are unlikely to hit the sciatic nerve with a glut injection unless you are skilled at finding it or very unlucky. And the affect will be immediate.

If you are concerned, call the hotline and ask (for people I know K is in my local area). If you go to FMC or RAH on Saturday night you are looking at about 8 hours wait, unless you have severe symptoms.

I'll also remove doses from your post

Take care and call me if need be,

[Aussie Jay]

Cindy, as usual is spot on! Unless you're experiencing those more severe symptoms I wouldn't call an ambulance or visit A&E.

BUT having said that it is YOUR DECISION.

Although I have medical training this is my PERSONAL OPINION because it's kinda hard to assess via the internet lol. Did the symptoms start 4 days ago or completely new today and may be attributed to something else? Are you febrile? Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea? Is the redness spreading like wildfire? Could you attribute your LBP/Abdo pain to anything else? Call the hotline or see if you have access to an after hours GP anywhere as an alternative to A&E - just A doctor (til you can consult with your's) to assess if it is just an isolated unfortunate reaction to the injection or if it is in fact something more sinister like an abscess or type of cellulitis etc and if you need antibiotics or an assessment in ED..

With any combination of those more severe symptoms I would lean more towards ED.. Don't go worrying yourself silly though - but if you are getting more and more concerned, you might as well be concerned sitting in the waiting room at A&E as much as laying awake in bed at home all night hey! But if you can save yourself that hassle (but don't let the wait deter you if you are in fact sick!), wait to see a form of GP tomorrow if you can and manage any low grade fever/pain with panadol etc. 

BUT again - YOUR DECISION mate, I nor anyone else can see or feel what you can.

Jay

[Felix]

Make sure to check in when you know you aren't dying, so we don't stay worried.

[Kreuzfidel]

Thanks, y'all.  My wife put hot/cold packs on it last night and the redness doesn't seem so intense.  Decided to stick it out til Monday as there's just no way I can sit for 8 hours at the Emergency Dept.  I'll keep you updated

[xander]

Is it an actual rash?

I had something similar happen to me recently, redness, swelling, horrible pain. Lasted a week. Turns out that it was from being injected badly. But I had no actual rash.