Multiple sclerosis advice?

I have relapsing remitting ms. I take betaseron. I gradually up the doses, now i'm up to the full strength. After i take that strength, i feel so bad afterwards. the next day is so bad for me i can hardly move. I feel like i have been beaten. How long will i feel like this or how long will it take for me to get use to the injections? Another issue, is i have injections site reactions. My thigh are all sore and my stomach is very tender, any suggestion on how to reduce the soreness of the shots.

I also take Betaseron (8 years now). I only had flu like symptoms for the first few injections . Injection site reactions are very common.

Here are a few ideas that might help.
30 minutes or so before injection take a couple of tylenol and ice the injection site.
Do Not Rub the area after injections
Take injections just before bed so you (hopefully) sleep through the worst of the flu like side affects
Are you using an "autoject" . It sure made my life easier
Be sure to rotate the injection sites.
Keep in touch with your Neuro or call "pathways" for advise if things dont improve

Side Effects
Getting over the side effects of injecting interferon beta 1a differs from person to person. I take Rebif and never had a problem. My doctor told me about them and to take Motrin and inject at night. (So you sleep threw the worst of it)
Sight reaction
Before you inject yourself put a hot rag on the sight, it takes away the sting. After you inject put a cold rag on it and rub the site. This will help to disperse the interferon beta 1a through your body, thus, not leaving it set in one spot. That alone will help with the site reaction. Hope this helps


GaryWithMS

How long ?

I'm Taking Avonex for 3 years, and it took me a good 2 months before I had only normal side-effects. Don't neglect also the psychological effects that varies from a person to another.

You will find many tips over the net and take only the ones that is suitable to you. They are no miracle recipe.

2. Site reactions

Personal recipe. Depending what I'm doing with my family, I fix the exact hour to my injection. Lets say 10h12pm.

I prepare the syringe 1-2 hours before. The solution will be warm not cold at the proper time.

+/- 15 minutes before I'm taking an Advil and 5 minutes prior to my injection I'm warming up my legs muscles ( it's always there and no issue at all ) doing physical exercises like running on place. Then 10h12 it's the injection and at +/- 10h14 everything is finished, cleaned and well discarded.

Remember, this is only a personal recipe not a miraculous one. You will get what we could call normal side effects which last to me +/- 12 hours.