Nervous, Starting Enbrel.

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Permalink Reply by Jamie on February 19, 2010 at 10:41am

Enbrel is awesome. The pain isn't that bad, and the pain you feel is worth it. I used to squeeze a stress ball if I felt pain from the sureclick. It cleared me up in 2 weeks (the doc said i was the poster child). I'd still be on it if i could! its awesome

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on February 19, 2010 at 10:58am

Thanks for the relpy! Why did you go off it?

Jamie said:

Enbrel is awesome. The pain isn't that bad, and the pain you feel is worth it. I used to squeeze a stress ball if I felt pain from the sureclick. It cleared me up in 2 weeks (the doc said i was the poster child). I'd still be on it if i could! its awesome

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Permalink Reply by Jamie on February 19, 2010 at 10:59am

my hand and foot felt numb. i went to a neurologist and we have determined its nothing bad, but i decided to take a break from it...and maybe look into some other treatments. honestly. enbrel gave me 9 months of freedom!

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Permalink Reply by Arlene Vickrey on February 19, 2010 at 12:57pm

I have found that using the prefilled syringes instead of the sureclick pen is much less painful. Sure, you have to learn to actually stick the needle in, but it really doesn't hurt because the needle is so sharp. The thing is that with the sureclick all of the dose is injected just like that all at once. With the prefilled syringe you can slow down the injection some and it doesn't burn as much.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Van Houten on February 19, 2010 at 1:32pm

I have been on Enbrel for six years now. It burns if you do not let it warm up. Let stand for 15-20 minutes. Room temp. Wash your hands with antibacterial and clean injection site with alcohol. Do not swap site with alcohol after injection, avoids irratation. I put a small round bandaide over the needle mark right after shooting. Encouragement: I would most likely be in a wheel chair, if it weren't for this drug. But it does take some time on the P, but PA, works fairly quickly. I am sure everyone is different, hope it works for you. As with any meds for this disease, there are flares. However in my case it was night and day. I have been on everything prior to the biologics coming out. Trust me, I think you will see a change. I hated needles prior to having to go this route, but now it is routine. If you would like any further information, please feel free to contact me again. I will gladly share my side effects, experiences, and further meds used with this injectable. I take 50mg, every 5 days. I say no to methotrexate! Been there done that! Also, make sure you have a TB test, Flue shot, and the H1N1 shot before starting.

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Permalink Reply by reggie on March 30, 2010 at 6:23pm

NO!!!! Not at all. I agree that the syringes are less painful and room temp really helps. I am on the humira pen right now and did the Enbrel syringe in the past and the syringe was less painful, however more complicated. The pen is really easy and 10 seconds of discomfort every 2 weeks(totally worth it if you ask me-considering the alternative!) And an added benefit is people think you are a real tough cookie when they learn that you have the chutzpa to stick a needle into yourself! My husband used to inject me, which you may find more comfortable if you have someone who you trust to do it for you. But we got into an argument one day, years ago, on a day that I needed my shot and there was no way that I was going to ask him for help! Boy was I proud of myself when I worked up the courage to do it myself. You will be fine. Don't be nervous. No one is a bigger baby than me, if i can do it so can you! Best of Luck to you!

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Permalink Reply by Jamie on March 30, 2010 at 6:28pm

the injections aren't bad. i'm back on it and i can't use the stress ball...so i just deal...15 seconds for clear skin...its ok

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Permalink Reply by Miranda Davis on March 30, 2010 at 9:57pm

I gave myself Embrel shots for a while until they stopped working and I didn't have any problems. Enbrel worked for awhile but my body gets so use to everything so fast that nothing works. Good Luck but I don't think they hurt that bad.

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