Injection Sites

[Wynternight]

Anyone here inject into their vastus lateralis? I've been doing the dorsal and ventral gluts since starting and gave the deltoid a go Sunday (that one ached badly for awhile) so I'm thinking of giving the vastus a try. Any pain comparisons anyone can give me between sites would be most appreciated.

[Mariah]

I haven't, but I don't see why you couldn't. Hugs
Mariah

[RaptorChops]

I inject in the vastus lateralis region. It can be tricky at times but I technically taught myself how to do it. The only thing I went by were youtube videos lol. I taught myself to basically poke around the area with the cap of the needle and if I felt a weird sensation I wouldn't inject there. I try to find a spot where I don't feel any sensation at all. It can hurt at times and my problem is I don't push the needle in fast enough because of anxiety, soooo I end up making it a lot more painful than it should be. Sometimes though I get it and I barely feel it. Good luck!

[Megan Rose]

My Doctor taught me to inject in that muscle, doing weekly shots for almost 4 years now.   I alternate thighs each week, and vary up/down by a couple of inches.   

You may want to use a 1" needle instead of a 1.5, if your thighs are thin.

[Wynternight]

My Doctor taught me to inject in that muscle, doing weekly shots for almost 4 years now.   I alternate thighs each week, and vary up/down by a couple of inches.   

You may want to use a 1" needle instead of a 1.5, if your thighs are thin.

I use a 1" as I'm not too meaty. That's the good thing about that vastus, that there are multiple sites each side. It just seems like it would sting worse than the dorsal or ventral gluts.

[FTMax]

I had to google your science words But I self inject in the thigh. I rotate between four different points (basically making a box with two dots more on the top of the thigh in line with the outside edge of the knee, and two more lower on the side) on each leg, and I switch legs every week.

Sit on the edge of a chair and extend the leg you're going to inject in as far out as you can, resting your heel on the ground. This should help you grab more to inject in since you're not too meaty.

I don't have any pain during the injection. Massage the area immediately after and don't baby the leg. I've found that if I go to the gym and use all the leg machines and go for a run after injecting, I have significantly less pain and stiffness the next day.

[Jessie Ann]

That is where I inject and I alternate between legs.  I usually put an ice pack on the injection site for about 10 minutes prior to injecting (a trick my doctor taught me) and then kind of tap the area to the side of where I am injecting right before putting the needle in.  I've not had any issues since I started almost 5 months ago.

[ainsley]

I have been stabbing my thighs to inject E for a couple years now.  I alternate legs.  I run a lot, so my thighs are not too fleshy and that sometimes can make it a less comfortable feeling, but it never lasts long.  I use the 3cc - 20 G x 1 1/2" Luer-Lok syringe with needle.  And of course, I use an aseptic technique.

[Rachel]

I have been injecting in the thigh for 10 months. I alternate legs and location on the thigh.

I inject in bed and put no weight on the leg after I inject and then go to bed.

[Wynternight]

Thank you all for the replies. I've injected people in the vastus (mainly peds) for years but feel a little squeamish to do it myself. I think I'll try it this Sunday.

[Newgirl Dani]

I inject in the vastus lateralis region. It can be tricky at times but I technically taught myself how to do it. The only thing I went by were youtube videos

Same as this.

My Doctor taught me to inject in that muscle, doing weekly shots for almost 4 years now.   I alternate thighs each week, and vary up/down by a couple of inches.   

You may want to use a 1" needle instead of a 1.5, if your thighs are thin.

Same, except the nurse that was teaching me did not know what she was doing, I did not know though till later.

I have injected into the VL since the beginning, over 13 months ago.  Every 7 days switching thighs each time, varying the injection an inch or so away from the one before.  I use a BD 1cc luer lock, I used to use a 1" 22g but now my thighs are getting fatter so I use a 1 1/2' 22g and all is good.  I sit in a nice comfy chair and when all is prepared (use the 20g for drawing up from vial) switch to the 22g, remove excess air, I scoot my chair back just a bit so that I can allow the leg getting the injection to stretch out (this relaxes the muscle).  I find the muscle by using my fingers to sort of 'bunch up the muscle' lightly, once I've located the exact place I want to inject, I let go, use my alcohol swab, loosely isolate the muscle again as before, insert the needle, draw back on the plunger just slightly to see the tiny air bubble, and as I inject I slowly relax what little grip I have on the muscle.  No pain, no problem, what I like about this is the total control over every move.  Hope this helps,   Dani

[Wynternight]

I did the vastus today. Easy acess and no pain. I'll rotate sites there for a time from now on.