Injections in the thigh. How to give yourself the right intramuscular injection, where you can inject. Photo, video

To inject yourself into the thigh muscle tissue, you must have basic skills in using a syringe, needle and injection solution. It is recommended to resort to these therapeutic actions only in extreme cases, when there are no close people or medical workers nearby who can administer the drug intramuscularly.

Independent use of injection solutions requires compliance with safety rules, as well as a number of preparatory procedures that minimize the risk of complications.

Can I inject myself?

Injections into the muscle tissue of the outer thigh can be performed independently without the help of strangers. In order to administer the drug by injection to yourself, you should study in detail the provisions of the instructions that regulate the conduct of this kind of therapeutic measures.

Only if you have basic knowledge about the anatomical structure of the hip, the location of the lateral and deltoid muscles, and the possible risk of developing unwanted complications, can you begin independent treatment.

If you have the slightest doubt, a feeling of fear or an attack of panic that appears at the sight of a medical needle, it is recommended to refuse to inject the medication without the help of strangers.

Correct needle insertion site

The insertion of a syringe needle for the purpose of a therapeutic procedure can be carried out into the muscles of the buttock or the outer side of the thigh. These are the main areas of the human body that are best suited for intramuscular injections. In some cases, shoulder tissue may be used.

Where to give injections in the thigh

If there is a need to inject into the outer side of the thigh, then it is necessary to use that part of the lower limb that is located at a distance of 20-25 cm below the hip joint. This area of the leg has sufficient muscle mass density, and the injection of a medicinal solution will be as convenient and safe as possible.

What is required for the procedure?

It is necessary to give injections in the thigh to yourself only after carrying out high-quality hygiene of the surface of the hands.

To carry out this therapeutic procedure, you will need to have the following items available:

a sterile disposable syringe with a capacity of 2, 5, 10 ml, complete with a standard medical needle intended for intramuscular administration;
a bottle or ampoule with a liquid medicinal solution that is indicated for use for therapeutic purposes;
detailed instructions for using the drug to be injected into the outer thigh (before giving the injection, you must re-read the section on the dosage regimen);
a pack of sterile medical cotton wool or pre-prepared napkins, tampons, which are used for antiseptic treatment of the skin surface of the thigh;
ethyl alcohol 96% concentration, intended for disinfection of the tissue area into which the medicinal solution will be injected;
a pair of medical gloves, the packaging of which is opened immediately at the time of therapeutic manipulations.

A medical needle for performing an intramuscular injection must have a length of at least 3 cm. This will minimize the appearance of unpleasant sensations after its introduction into the muscle tissue, and will also ensure the deepest possible application of the drug.

The components of the injection solution will act much faster, which will significantly increase the likelihood of a positive therapeutic effect.

Using a syringe with a needle that is too short can lead to the injection of an injection solution into the area of subcutaneous fatty tissue, which will subsequently cause local tissue inflammation, as well as the development of other undesirable complications.

Preparation for the procedure

Injections in the thigh should be given to yourself only after high-quality preparatory measures have been completed. This is a prerequisite for successful treatment without the help of medical personnel.

Preparation for self-administration of an injectable drug into the outer side of the thigh muscles involves the following steps:

You need to take a bar of laundry soap and thoroughly wash your hands using warm water. Dry your skin with a clean and dry towel.
Then you will need to open the package of medical gloves and put them on your hands, ensuring maximum sterility.
The ampoule with the drug is shaken to ensure uniform mixing of all components, and then its surface is wiped with cotton wool, which has been previously moistened in 96% concentration of ethyl alcohol. These actions are aimed at disinfecting the bottle of medication.
The tip of the ampoule with the injection solution must be carefully filed with an abrasive element, which should come with the drug, and then its glass top must be broken off.
Open the package with a disposable sterile syringe.
Place a medical needle on top of the syringe, remove the protective cap, and then insert it into the glass ampoule with the injection solution.
Pull the plunger of the syringe so that a sufficient amount of liquid medication enters its cavity. In this case, it is necessary to remember the dosage regimen of the drug, avoiding the use of too large doses.
Squeeze out the remaining air bubbles from the syringe that got into it during filling with the injection solution. These actions stop immediately as soon as the first drops of medication begin to flow from the needle hole.

At this stage, the specified organizational measures aimed at preparing for self-administration of the drug into the muscles of the outer thigh are considered completed.

To maintain maximum sterility, the injection is recommended to be given immediately. The disposable syringe is disposed of immediately after injecting the solution into the tissue of the lateral or deltoid muscle.

How to give injections correctly: preparation

To know how to give injections correctly, you need to familiarize yourself with the preparation for this process.

So, preparation for the injection:

You need to wash your hands thoroughly with soap;
the ampoule with the medicine should be wiped with alcohol and shaken;
then the tip of the ampoule is filed and broken off, and the medicine must be drawn into the syringe;
You need to tap the syringe with your finger, which will help collect the air bubbles into one at the top of the syringe. By gradually pressing the plunger, the bubble can be pushed out through the needle;
To accurately check that there is no air in the syringe, you need to wait until the first drop of medicine appears from the needle.

Basic safety rules when injecting yourself in the thigh

Injections in the thigh must be given to yourself with extreme caution so as not to damage large blood vessels and peripheral nerves.

A prerequisite for self-therapy with injection administration of drugs is compliance with the following safety rules:

it is strictly forbidden to reuse a disposable syringe and needle, since such actions are fraught with infection of the tissues in the area of the injection;
if it is necessary to carry out long-term drug therapy using intramuscular injections, it is necessary to alternate the left and right sides of the thighs in order to eliminate the factor of the formation of extensive hematomas;
You should not inject into the same point of the thigh tissue, as this will lead to the appearance of symptoms of acute pain and will also cause the development of inflammatory processes;
use imported syringes, as they are distinguished by sharper and thinner needles that do not cause severe pain in the area of their insertion, having minimal trauma to epithelial and muscle tissues;
before intramuscular administration of the drug, it is always necessary to perform an antiseptic treatment of the skin surface to avoid complications;
If minimal signs of an inflammatory process or the onset of subcutaneous bleeding or the formation of an extensive hematoma appear, you must immediately seek medical help.

It is important to remember that at the moment of self-injection into the outer thigh, the lower limb should be relaxed. For this purpose, the leg is placed on a flat surface, since excessive tension can provoke involuntary contraction of the muscle with damage to its tissue structure. A similar reaction occurs immediately at the moment of needle insertion.

How to give an injection correctly?

The most common methods of administering drug therapy in the form of injection solutions are injections into the deltoid, gluteal and lateralis muscles.

During a long course of treatment, the use of these areas of the body can be alternated to avoid the development of an inflammatory process in the tissues of the muscular system. At the same time, it is always necessary to follow the rules for the safe administration of medications that are available in the form of medicinal solutions.

Injection into the deltoid muscle

The deltoid muscle covers the entire front and side of the shoulder and is also distinguished by its dense tissue structure.

In order to inject yourself into this area of the body, you must adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

Carry out all organizational activities dedicated to preparing for the injection of medication.
Soak a piece of sterile cotton wool or a previously prepared swab in 96% concentration of ethyl alcohol.
Perform an antiseptic treatment of the skin surface of the shoulder, wiping it thoroughly.
Visually divide the deltoid muscle into 4 even squares.
Bring the syringe with the exposed needle to the skin surface of the shoulder.
Using a smooth and precise movement, insert the medical needle of the syringe into the upper right segment of the deltoid muscle to a depth of 2 cm.
Slowly administer the injection solution contained in the cavity of the disposable syringe. Depending on the type of medication, a faster or slower injection of the medication may be required. In this case, you must carefully read the instructions for use of the drug.
After administering the injection solution, it is necessary to slowly remove the syringe needle from the deltoid muscle tissue.
Immediately cover the injection area with a clean piece of cotton wool, which has been previously moistened in 96% concentration of ethyl alcohol.
Hold the cotton wool for the next 10 minutes, and then dispose of it in the prescribed manner. If signs of bleeding of the tissues located at the injection site appear, it is necessary to re-moisten the cotton wool in ethyl alcohol and hold it on the surface of the wound for another 10-15 minutes.

After injection of the drug into the deltoid muscle, mild discomfort may persist in the tissues of the shoulder. The appearance of more severe symptoms in the form of acute pain that does not stop for several days requires additional examination by a general practitioner or surgeon.

During the injection, the hand into which the drug is injected should be in the most relaxed state. This will reduce the severity of pain.

Injection into the lateralis muscle

It is not difficult to give injections in the thigh to yourself, but performing this type of procedure requires composure, a steady hand and maximum concentration. In order for the injection of the drug to be carried out technically correctly, the following instructions must be observed:

Take a piece of sterile cotton wool, soak it in 96% concentration of ethyl alcohol, and then perform an antiseptic treatment on the outer surface of the thigh.
Visually divide the lateralis muscle into 4 identical segments located 20 cm below the hip joint.
Place the lower limb on a flat surface, completely relax its muscles, and place a cushion made of a towel or a piece of dense fabric under the knee joint. This will avoid reflex muscle contraction, which can occur immediately at the time of the injection.
Insert a medical needle from a disposable syringe into the lower right segment of the lateral muscle, immersing it into the body to a depth of 2 cm.
Slowly and without sudden movements, administer the injection solution until it is completely injected into the tissues of the lower limb.
Smoothly remove the needle from the outer side of the thigh, and wipe the injection site with sterile cotton wool soaked in a 96% alcohol solution. Then you should press the cotton wool against the wound to avoid increased bleeding of the damaged area of the body.
Hold the cotton wool for the next 10-15 minutes.

During the injection, it is necessary to keep the syringe as level as possible. The needle should not be directed at an acute angle, as in this case the injection will be too painful and may cause undesirable complications.

After injection of the drug, you should refrain from sudden movements for 20 minutes. The leg should be on a flat surface without being subject to physical stress.

What types of injections are there?

Most of the injections are done intramuscularly, a little less – subcutaneously. Therefore, it is useful to know how to give yourself an intravenous injection at home.

There are three more types of injections that are performed only by highly professional doctors and are prescribed in special cases:

Intradermal – used with local anesthesia;
Intraosseous - used either for anesthesia, or when the patient is extremely obese and it is problematic to inject the medicine into a muscle or vein;
Intra-arterial - used in the complex of resuscitation measures, they are considered the most complex and most often cause complications.

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At home, you can independently perform intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. To perform intravenous injections you need skill and the ability to focus not on your feelings, but on the process.

How to give an intramuscular injection to yourself

Here's where you can give intramuscular injections to yourself:

The buttock is the most “popular” place;
In the thigh - in the quadriceps muscle;
In the shoulder - in the deltoid muscle.

Injecting yourself in the thigh is the most convenient in terms of technique. But at the same time it is one of the most painful. An injection in the shoulder can also bring very unpleasant sensations. It is optimal to stab yourself in the buttock, monitoring your actions in the mirror.

The needle is inserted into the muscle in one sharp movement; you can insert it with a pop or slap. The needle immersion depth is three quarters. In this case, the needle immediately pierces the skin and enters the muscle layer. It no longer causes pain in the muscle.

The syringe should be placed perpendicularly, that is, at a right angle, to the imaginary axis of the spine, hip or shoulder. The injection site is in the buttock - its upper quarter on the side. The injection site is in the thigh and shoulder - their second third. These places have the least amount of nerve endings, although there is still a risk of hitting one of them.

The plunger of the syringe must be pressed slowly so that the medicine flows gradually but continuously. Rapid administration or portioned administration is quite unpleasant. In addition, with rapid administration, an infiltrate is formed under the skin - an accumulation of blood, lymph and the drug. It dissolves slowly, and touching it causes pain.

If the drug is only 1-2 ml, then it can be administered a little faster. In general, 1 ml is injected over 10 seconds, this is considered the optimal time. The injection site is treated with an alcohol wipe before and after administering the medicine.

How to give a subcutaneous injection yourself

When administered subcutaneously, the medicine enters a thin layer of fat and is carried from there by the blood. The sites for subcutaneous drug administration are as follows:

The area of the anterior wall of the peritoneum, between the ribs and thighs, excluding the hypersensitive area around the navel, which is richly innervated;
The place on the arm between the elbow and shoulder at the back or side;
Place on the leg between the thigh and knee.

It is more convenient for yourself to correctly inject yourself subcutaneously in the leg or stomach. You should take the syringe like a pencil so that you can easily reach the piston, with the other hand pull the skin 2-3 cm, grab more of the fat layer (but not muscle!) and insert the needle at an angle of 45 degrees. After this, slowly press the plunger until the medication is completely released.

Is it possible to give yourself intravenous injections?

Intravenous injections or injections are the most difficult form of injection to perform for yourself. They can be done to yourself if a catheter is installed in the vein. Then you just need to draw up the medicine, remove the catheter plug, release the air from the syringe and inject the drug. After this you need to close the plug.

Most often, the catheter is installed in the cubital vein, but if the walls of the vessels are weak, it can be placed in the hand or even in the neck. Giving intravenous injections to oneself is allowed in the most extreme cases, because to perform them correctly and effectively requires special training and practiced skills, unique only to medical workers.

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Possible complications

Technically incorrect execution of the injection, or failure to comply with the basic rules of preparation for intramuscular injection of an injection solution, can lead to the development of various kinds of negative consequences.

The table below lists the main types of complications that occur in patients who perform self-injections into the outer thigh or deltoid muscle of the body.

Types of possible complications	Characteristics of the pathological process
Hematoma	The formation of a hematoma in the area of injection of the drug occurs due to the fact that when the needle penetrates the muscle tissue, damage to a large vessel occurs. The blood enters the subcutaneous tissue, coagulates and forms a dense lump, which is quite painful to the touch. The lack of treatment for this complication leads to more severe consequences in the form of the development of an acute purulent-inflammatory process. In this case, the help of a surgeon may be required to sanitation the damaged tissue. For faster resorption of the resulting hematoma, regular treatment of the painful area with ointments and gels with angioprotective properties is recommended.
Isolation of infiltrate	One of the most common complications that arise after self-performing intramuscular injections is the release of infiltrate, which accumulates in the subcutaneous space and soft tissues. The sacral fluid enters the surface of the epidermis and is distinguished by a rich reddish tint. A similar complication develops after a medicinal solution is injected into the same place for several days in a row without making a sufficient indentation. The release of infiltrate indicates the initial stage of the inflammatory process, which tends to progress. To eliminate this complication, a warm compress is applied to the surface of the outer thigh or deltoid muscle, and a mesh of medicinal iodine solution is also applied.
Broken medical needle base	A complication in the form of a broken syringe needle may occur due to a violation of the technical rules for performing the injection. For example, if at the time of the injection the muscle tissue of a person’s lower limb was in a state of tension, or the needle was inserted into the body at an acute angle until the very beginning of its cannula. If such an unusual situation arises, it is necessary to remove the needle fragment using medical tweezers. If the metal part goes too deep into the tissue, then you should use the services of a surgeon.
Purulent inflammation	This complication occurs due to the fact that a person who independently performs injections on the outer side of the thigh does not follow the rules of antiseptic skin treatment. During the injection of the drug, infection of soft tissues occurs, which are subsequently affected by bacterial, viral or fungal microorganisms. Purulent inflammation of the injection site is accompanied by the formation of a dense abscess, an increase in general and local body temperature, and the beginning of the process of tissue necrosis.
Lump formation	The appearance of lumps in the area where the drug was injected without signs of acute pain is possible if a person independently administered injections, but did not follow safety rules. In conditions of prolonged hypothermia of the body, the solution hardens in the muscle tissues, and their natural trophism is disrupted. Ultimately, compactions form in the lateral or deltoid muscle, the elimination of which requires the use of drugs with absorbable properties or the method of their surgical removal is used.
Nerve damage	In order to prevent this complication from occurring, it is necessary to inject directly into the muscle where there is no passage of peripheral nerves. A person who does not have knowledge about the anatomical structure of his body may mistakenly insert a syringe needle next to a nerve. As a result of performing these actions, an attack of acute pain occurs, a reflex contraction of the muscle tissue of the limb occurs, and their edematous state develops. The pain syndrome may persist for a long period of time.

The occurrence of the above complications can be avoided if injections are performed technically correctly and safety rules are followed.

Is it worth giving yourself injections yourself?

If the drug has different forms of administration, then you should ask your doctor to prescribe non-injectable medications. Old-school doctors claim that injected medications act faster and better than those taken orally. From their point of view, the tablets negatively affect the digestive system, and the drug administered by injection goes directly into the blood and does not create a load on the internal organs.

Modern research shows that blood-borne medicine affects a person the same way, regardless of how it entered the body. The liver and kidneys remove substances both entering through the digestive tract and entering directly into the blood. A number of antibiotics are detrimental to the intestinal microflora no matter how they are used. Therefore, it makes no sense to give preference to injections over other forms of medication only for safety reasons.

Injections must be given when the drug is not available in other forms, the patient has serious lesions or diseases of the mucous membrane of the esophagus or stomach, or malabsorption in the intestine. In other cases, the patient can choose a different dosage form. If injections cannot be avoided, then it is advisable to negotiate with a doctor rather than experiment with yourself.

But if you want to learn how to help yourself, then it’s worth mastering the wisdom of self-injections. As a result, diabetics are forced to inject themselves with insulin several times a day, and this allows them to hone the skill. So, there is nothing particularly difficult about it. Moreover, this knowledge can be useful in a critical situation, when you need to relieve swelling in a severe allergic reaction or reduce a high temperature, but there is no way to wait for the arrival of an emergency doctor.

Why does my leg hurt after an injection and what should I do?

Pain that persists for more than 1 hour after intramuscular injection may be caused by injury to a blood vessel or peripheral nerve. In this case, you need to seek medical help from a surgeon.

To give yourself an intramuscular injection into the outer thigh or deltoid muscle of the shoulder girdle, you must have basic knowledge of the anatomical structure of the human body. In this case, you should follow the rules of the instructions for inserting a medical syringe needle into soft tissues, and carefully carry out all stages of preparation for this therapeutic procedure.

Failure to comply with antiseptic body treatment measures, reuse of disposable syringes, prolonged hypothermia of the body can provoke the development of complications in the form of local inflammation, the formation of a purulent abscess, and multiple lumps.

Risks of self-injection

The most common problem that people encounter when administering injections on their own is the formation of an infiltrate. To eliminate it as quickly as possible, you need to lubricate the area with heparin ointment, make magnesium compresses, and install a mesh with iodine.

If the injection site is chosen incorrectly, damage to the sciatic nerve or superior gluteal artery may occur. These cases require contacting a doctor for adequate help. If the dose is incorrectly calculated, if it is underestimated, the effect may not occur, and if it is overestimated, an allergic reaction may begin. In the second case, you should immediately call a doctor.