Painless Injections

Making injections as painless as possible may seem to be a strange thing for a needle exchange worker to be trying to find. After all if an injection is painful then the person is less likely to inject, right…. no, just think of the number of injectors that come into needle exchanges who are afraid to get their vaccinations because it means being injected.

The following article details two simple ways of reducing or even eliminating the pain of an injection, and why we need them.

Why make it painless

As I’ve already mentioned, I come across large numbers of injectors who are afraid to get vaccinations or blood tests because they are afraid of injections, yes they inject themselves 4 times a day, but that’s when heroin (insert other drug of choice if required) is involved. Never dissmiss the call of the poppy. So being able to reduce injecting pain is an important skill for nurses delivering vaccination and testing services.

The other one though is people who are injected by others. In some cases this may just be the fear of it hurting more when they self inject. So helping then reduce this fear is an important part of teaching them to do it themselves (this reduces risk of injury, abscess, and long prison stays for the person who normally injects them).

So how to make it painless.

Method 1: Pinching the skin before injecting. This can reduce any pain to just a very slight sting. The same effect can be gained by pressing for a short time on the are to be injected. This is caused by ‘pressure anaesthesia’, and is commonly used by dentists before they give you a local.

Method 2: Coughing. German researchers have discovered that coughing during an injection can lessen the pain of the needle. According to Taras Usichenko, author of a study on the phenomenon, the trick causes a sudden, temporary rise in pressure in the chest and spinal canal, inhibiting the pain conducting structures of the spinal cord.

Article References

Method 1, Jim Rose: Snake Oil . A great book on how to perform cons and sideshow magic.
Method 2, Ego Dialogues. This blog produced a great article on a number of ways to trick your body, well worth the read.