How to give an injection in the leg. How to inject yourself in the buttock and thigh

Intramuscular injection is a manipulation that must be performed by a medical professional. However, in modern conditions It is not always possible to get to the clinic every day to have the necessary procedure done. A course of intramuscular injections usually consists of 7-10 procedures. Therefore, it would be useful to know how to inject yourself in the thigh in order to receive treatment in a timely manner if necessary.

What is an intramuscular injection

An intramuscular injection is the injection of a medicinal substance using a syringe with a needle into a muscle. Typically, the largest muscles in the body are suitable for this procedure - the gluteal, femoral or shoulder muscles. They are the most developed and well supplied with blood, thanks to which the medicine quickly joins the bloodstream.

Medical institutions consider it standard to administer the drug orally gluteal muscle, or rather, its upper outer quadrant. If a person wants to give himself an injection, the thigh muscle is most suitable, as it is the most accessible.

Interesting!
Is it possible to give an injection in the thigh instead of the buttock - these muscles are almost identical, so there is no difference in the place where the medicine is administered. However, excessive thinness can become a problem when the thigh muscles are very thin. Then it will be difficult to give an injection, since the needle will immediately reach the bone. According to doctors, it is still better for people who are too thin to inject drugs into the buttock.

What is required for the procedure

If a person wants to give himself an intramuscular injection in the thigh, he will need to prepare all the necessary things. What is needed to make an injection into the thigh:

First of all, you need to take the required medicine. Before manipulation, it is necessary to assess the condition of the medicine and the ampoule. The ampoule must be intact, the name of the medicine, series and expiration date are clearly legible. The medicine itself should not be cloudy (unless otherwise indicated in the instructions). You should check the color and transparency of the medicine with the description according to the instructions;
Next you will need a syringe with a needle. For intramuscular injections, 5 or 10 ml syringes with a 0.7 mm diameter needle are used. This needle is long enough to penetrate the muscle layer and thin enough not to cause pain;
To treat the injection site you will need an antiseptic (alcohol is best) and a cotton swab. Instead of alcohol, you can take iodine.

After everything is prepared, you need to wash your hands thoroughly to avoid infection. Additionally, you can treat your hands with antiseptic.

Execution technique

How to properly make intramuscular injections into the thigh - the technique for performing the procedure is actually quite simple. The manipulation is performed according to a strict algorithm:

They give an injection in the anterior or lateral surface thighs - there is less fat layer here, and the needle immediately enters intramuscularly;
Open the ampoule with the medicinal substance - it has a special mark for this;
The syringe is removed from the packaging, the protective cap is removed from the needle;
Take the drug from the ampoule, making sure that no air bubbles get in;
If air does get in, it must be removed from the syringe through the needle, lightly pressing the piston;

The skin of the thigh must be thoroughly treated with alcohol - treatment is done from the center to the periphery;
After treatment, an injection is made with a sharp, precise movement - the needle should enter approximately ¾ of the way into the muscle layer, at a right angle;
After this, you can inject the medicinal substance by slowly lowering the syringe plunger;
When the drug is completely injected, the needle is removed and the injection site is pressed with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol;
It is recommended to lightly massage the puncture site to speed up the absorption of the drug.

Immediately after the injection is made into the thigh muscle, you need to collect the syringe and ampoule with a needle. Disposal is carried out as normal waste. The needle should be capped. The syringe cannot be reused for manipulation, as it loses its sterility.

Some drugs require dilution. So, antibiotics are diluted with novocaine to reduce pain. Medicinal substances in powder form are diluted with water for injection or sodium chloride solution. To dilute the drug, you need to open the ampoule of the solvent, draw it with a syringe and inject it into the ampoule with the powder. Next, you need to shake the ampoule thoroughly so that the drug is completely dissolved. Intramuscular administration is recommended to be done with a different, clean syringe.

Expert opinion!
Injecting yourself in the thigh is not a very painful procedure. However, the occurrence of pain may be associated with a psychological barrier. Because of the fear of an injection, the muscles of the thigh region tense and become tight. Naturally, needle penetration causes pain. It is necessary to try to eliminate the psychological barrier, relax the muscles as much as possible, then the pain will be minimal.

Possible complications

With injections in the thigh area, complications may develop. This usually occurs due to non-compliance with the manipulation technique. The most common complications are:

Post-injection infiltrate - occurs due to frequent punctures in the same place;
Suppuration of the injection site - due to insufficient antiseptic treatment of the skin of the legs and arms, as well as an unsterile needle;
Bleeding and hematoma are due to damage to blood vessels by the needle.

To prevent the formation of infiltrate, you need to make injections in different parts of the thigh, and also alternate legs, especially if the treatment course is long. If an infiltrate does form, the area should be lubricated with heparin ointment.

Suppuration of the injection site requires treatment medical care. The festering area must be opened and the pus removed. Next, a course of antibiotics is prescribed.

Allergies may occur to some drugs, so for intramuscular administration you should use only those drugs prescribed by your doctor.

Intramuscular injection to yourself is a simple procedure. But many people are afraid to do this manipulation for fear of pain. To make the procedure painless, you need to know where to inject, relax the muscles and follow the technique of inserting the needle.

How to inject yourself in the buttock and thigh? This question is asked by patients who do not have the opportunity to visit a medical facility, and everyone should master this technique in order to be able to give themselves an injection if necessary. So how do you master this skill?

An injection into the buttock and thigh is called an intramuscular injection; this technique is not complicated; the main thing in this situation is to overcome uncertainty and correctly follow the basic rules of self-injection. It is important to prepare everything you need in advance.

In particular, for such manipulation you will need the following devices:

A disposable syringe, its volume can vary from 2 to 20 milliliters, which is determined by the drug administered;
Ampoule or bottle of medicine;
Alcohol to disinfect the injection area;
Cotton balls or napkins.

Next, you need to prepare a syringe with medication. To begin with, it is recommended to wash your hands with soap, after which you can begin to open the container with the medicine, be it a bottle or an ampoule, in the latter case it is treated with alcohol, after which you can carefully file the tip of the ampoule so that it breaks off easily, for this purpose to parenteral In this case, a special file is placed in the box, and filing is carried out at a distance of 1 cm from the beginning of this container.

Then the cap is removed from the needle and immersed in the bottom of the ampoule, trying not to touch the edges; to do this, the needle is held in a vertical position. After the medicine is drawn up, you should tap the syringe with your fingertip, which will help the air to collect in its upper part.

Next, gradually pressing the piston, it is recommended to push air bubbles through the needle, and it is also important to wait until a drop appears medicine on the point of a needle. Close the finished syringe with a cap, put it aside and begin choosing the injection site; in addition, the area where the injection will be given must be in a relaxed state.

How to inject yourself in the buttock?

Before administering the medication, it is recommended to select a site for injection. To do this, the buttock is mentally divided into four parts, the injection is carried out directly into the upper outer quadrant; in this area there is a low risk of injury to the so-called sciatic nerve.

After determining the area for injection, you can lie on your side, bend your leg where the injection will be performed, then the area is treated with an alcohol disk, the cap is removed from the needle, and it is inserted perpendicularly into the area for injection approximately two-thirds of its length.

Then press the piston and slowly inject the medication. Then the needle is quickly removed and cotton wool moistened with alcohol is pressed onto the injection area; however, this area should not be massaged, as this can cause infection. The napkin is simply pressed tightly and kept in this form for some time.

How to inject yourself in the thigh?

The process of injecting medication into the thigh requires identifying the area for future injection. To do this, the patient should sit down, after which it is necessary to bend the leg at the knee, where the injection will be given. That part of the thigh that will hang slightly from the chair and will be suitable site for injection.

The technique of giving an injection in the thigh includes the following steps: first you need to wash your hands with soap; then the person sits on a chair and bends his leg at the knee joint; the area of future injection is wiped with an alcohol cotton swab; relax the leg as much as possible; quickly insert the needle two-thirds of the way; gently press the piston and inject the medicine; remove the needle and press the alcohol swab to the injection site.

Safety rules

For a future injection, you should choose a place where there are no wounds, abrasions, purulent inflammation, or dermatological diseases. This syringe cannot be reused; after injection, it must be disposed of along with the needle.

Complications from an incorrect injection

After an intramuscular injection, a hematoma often occurs; this occurs as a result of damage to small vessels or with very rapid administration medicinal product. Such a bruise goes away on its own after some time, it does not require additional treatment, the only thing is that you can make a mesh of iodine, which will help it resolve faster.

If the medication is not completely absorbed, an infiltrate may form in the muscle, which is some kind of compaction under the skin. Here you can use ointments that will help speed up the resorption process, and you can also apply a warm compress.

The most unpleasant complication is the appearance of an abscess, which can appear as a result of contact with pathogenic microorganisms into soft tissues, which will provoke an inflammatory process. This can occur if the area where the injection is given is not sufficiently disinfected.

If there is an abscess in the area of the injection, compaction, redness, and pulsating pain will appear. In such a situation, a person needs to see a therapist as quickly as possible, and if the problem is advanced, the intervention of a surgeon will be required.

Conclusion

In general, giving yourself injections is not a complicated procedure; you need to follow correct technique and everything will work out.

How to give an injection in the thigh? Pain in any area or part of the body indicates that the body is unhealthy. Often pills and medicines replace injections, and often injections in the thigh. This is also due to the fact that the injections do not enter the stomach and do not go through the digestive process, cannot harm the liver and other organs, and do not form lumps or unpleasant pain.

Whatever the disease, pain in the body prevents you from living and developing fully.

Injections are prescribed to eliminate pain in the safest way for the body, and they need to be done in places where there are no large vessels and nerves, and the thighs and buttocks are such an area. Injections are given in the thigh only when, due to health reasons or other factors, it is not possible to give an injection in the buttock. The principle of execution is the same as in the buttock, but there are some differences. An intramuscular injection into the thigh is performed only in the upper part.

As a rule, when a doctor prescribes an injection into the thigh, it is not one or two procedures, so many people do not have the opportunity to travel to the clinic every time. It is much easier to learn how to make injections into the thigh and buttocks yourself. There are a number of features that must be taken into account when giving intramuscular injections:

It is necessary to choose the right needle, that is, for example, for people of large build, the needle must be of the appropriate length.
It is imperative to ensure the sterility of the cotton wool, bandage, needle and the cleanliness of the place where the injection will be given. This is especially important if injections are given at home.
Choose a location. In order to determine the place on the thigh, you need to apply two palms and stick out your thumbs. The point where they converge is the necessary place.
Correct location. You need to choose the most comfortable position. Of course, the injection can be done while standing, but this is impractical.
It is necessary to ensure that the cotton balls are soaked in alcohol, and medical drug was disinfected.
Preparations for injection. You need to wash your hands well, take the ampoule with the medicine, thoroughly disinfect it, shake it vigorously, file it and break off the tip, then draw the medicine into the syringe; the obligatory procedure is to push the air out of the medical instrument.
The last stage is performing the injection. Before performing it, you need to relax your leg as much as possible. The insertion depth should be 1-2 cm. You need to properly lubricate the injection site with alcohol, insert the needle into the muscle and, slowly, inject. The cotton wool soaked in alcohol should be pressed to the injection site and the needle should be pulled out.

The subcutaneous method of administering drugs is used when slow absorption of the drug into the blood is necessary, and usually 1-2 ml of the drug is injected directly under the skin. Typically, subcutaneous injections are performed by inserting a needle at an angle of 45° into a fold of skin. It is imperative to gather the skin into a fold to separate the underlying muscles from the fatty tissue, especially in thin patients.

You can try to remember what the nurse did and take note of the subtleties. In the conditions of modern Russian medicine, the ordinary population more often has to self-medicate, since not everyone can afford high tariffs for quality medicine. Very often situations arise when a person has to do some procedures himself. This refers to muscle injections. As a result, the question arises of how to give an injection with maximum benefit for yourself and at minimal cost?

If an intravenous injection is quite dangerous to do on your own, since a person can seriously harm himself, then intramuscular injections into the thigh are quite simple procedures and do not pose any difficulty. Despite doctors’ recommendations that you should not self-medicate, there are often situations in which giving an injection saves a person’s life before the ambulance arrives.

The following drugs can be injected into the thigh:

insulin;
painkillers;
vitamins;
antibiotics.

Since it is quite difficult to inject the buttocks yourself, it is easier to inject into the thigh.

Since it is dangerous to prick while standing because the muscles on the thigh can shrink and this can break the needle, it is better to prick while sitting or in a lying position.

Pain after injections

Unscrupulous and unqualified medical personnel or human irresponsibility can lead to complications even with the simplest injection. It is considered natural if, when receiving an injection in the thigh, the muscle ache for some time, but after a certain time this pain goes away on its own.

But if the wound hurts after the injection, it means that an infection has occurred and infection has set in, and this can have quite serious consequences. Infection occurs when using dirty and unsterile medical equipment, including syringes and gloves, or if a person himself introduces an infection into the wound.

When the injection site becomes inflamed, the temperature rises, the condition worsens, and the person experiences pain in the affected areas. If the pain is very severe, then the nerve is damaged. Nerves are extremely rarely damaged during injections in the buttocks, but if they are affected, it is necessary to consult a doctor for complete drug therapy. The pain from such an injection does not go away for a long time.

Small bruises after the injection indicate that the vessel is damaged. They pass quickly, and the pain also disappears as the bruises disappear. But if the bruise is large, then you need to make an iodine mesh. Such an injection can also become an abscess.

If lumps appear after the injection, this means that it was injected into fatty tissue. This is more common in obese people.

Hip joint

The hip joint takes on the heaviest loads in the process of life, movement, and moving heavy objects. The pain in these joints leads to a decrease in quality of life, deterioration of mobility and discomfort. If it hurts after the injection hip joint, you should immediately consult a doctor who will conduct a full examination and find out what caused the pain.

Injection into a muscle or vein is often used as the main medical manipulation. The procedure is performed at home or in a clinic.

Necessity

An intramuscular injection into the thigh is necessary to administer the medicine bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and provide fast delivery necessary substances to the affected area using blood flow.

The injection area must have sufficient volume muscle tissue and not have large vessels, nerves or a fatty layer nearby.

The following places are used for the procedure:

anterior thigh;
upper outer quadrant of the buttock;
deltoid muscle.

An intramuscular injection into the thigh often saves lives when assisting the victim and when it is impossible to turn him over or free his hands to intravenous administration drug.

Execution technique

Before making injections in the thigh, you should carefully read the name of the substance on the ampoule and its expiration date. If the integrity of the container or packaging is damaged, the medicine must be replaced.

Preparation

To perform the manipulation you will need:

alcohol or aseptic solution;
sterile cotton balls or napkins;
a disposable syringe with a volume of 5 to 10 ml (if the injection is given to a child or an exhausted person, then a smaller syringe is used);
medicine in a bottle or glass ampoule.

Solution collection technique:

Wash your hands with laundry soap, treat them with an antiseptic, or wear rubber gloves.
Wipe the neck of the ampoule with the drug with alcohol. If the substance is in a bottle, treat its cap.
Open the container and take the ampoule, holding it between your fingers.
Draw the medicine into the syringe without touching the needle to its walls.
Put the cap on and carefully remove air bubbles by holding index finger cannula.

After diluting the dry substance, it is necessary to replace the needle and perform the injection with a sterile instrument.

Selecting a location

The place for an injection in the thigh is its outer surface in the upper third.

Before carrying out the manipulation, it is necessary to carefully examine and palpate the affected area. There should be no purulent rashes or tumor-like formations on it.

Direct injection

How to give an injection into the thigh:

Sit or lay the patient down so that he is as relaxed as possible.
Lubricate the injection site with alcohol: first the large surface, then the area of direct injection.
Take the syringe with a brush so that your little finger is on the needle cannula. Using the fingers of your other hand, stretch the skin in the injection area (for the procedure for a child skin collected in a fold).
Insert the needle at an angle of 90 degrees, leaving a small part of it above the skin.

When introducing an oil solution, pull the piston towards you to check whether the vessel is touched.

The drug must be injected slowly, pressing the plunger with your thumb or using your free hand.
After the medicine is completely in the muscle, remove the syringe and press the injection site with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
For better absorption of the drug into the blood, massage your leg in a circular motion.

Correct placement of injections in the thigh

An important factor influencing the effectiveness of the procedure is differentiation various techniques performing injections.

Into the lateral muscle

For injection into the leg right hand should be kept below the trochanter of the femur, and the left hand should be placed 20 mm above the knee. The thumbs should be in line and touching. In the center between them there is an area for giving an injection.

The correct position for the patient is lying on his back with a slightly bent leg or sitting.

Into the deltoid muscle

If it is impossible to inject in other places, it is carried out in the area of this muscle.

Technique:

Remove clothing from the arm and provide access to the patient's shoulder blade.
The elbow joint is bent, the patient is as relaxed as possible.
The injection area is 5 cm below the acromion process of the scapula.
Lubricate the manipulation area with alcohol or an aseptic solution and palpate for the presence of subcutaneous formations.
Draw the substance into the syringe and insert the needle at an angle of 45°.
After completing the procedure, apply a napkin or cotton wool to the needle exit site.
Give a massage to better distribute the medicine.

Performing a subcutaneous injection

This type of manipulation involves getting the drug into the fat layer, which is located under the skin.

Places for the procedure:

outer surface of the shoulder in the middle third;
belly in the navel area;
thigh at the top.

Technique:

Wash your hands well and treat them with antiseptic.
Feel and disinfect the injection site.
Draw up the medicine and deflate.
Make a fold of leather, gathering about 2-3 cm.
The needle is inserted into the base of the skin fold at an angle of 45°.
After the procedure, the injection area should be treated.

How to inject yourself?

You can give yourself intramuscular injections in the thigh as follows:

Before performing the manipulation, determine the injection area in front of the mirror; you can mark it with iodine.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap, dry with a clean towel, and if desired, wear sterile rubber gloves.
Wipe the ampoule with alcohol and take the medicine.

For convenience, you should take imported syringes with thin needles and a sharp cut.

Sit on a chair lower limb bent at the knee joint. The part of the thigh that hangs slightly over the edge of the seat is the injection area.
Treat the injection area with alcohol or vodka.
Before inserting the needle, try to relax the muscles.
The syringe must be inserted into the skin at a right angle.
The drug should be administered slowly to avoid sudden pain.

The oil preparation should be held in your hand for a while so that it warms up: this will make it easier to move under the skin and reduce pain during manipulation.

After removing the needle, apply a cotton swab soaked in alcohol to the wound. If desired, you can secure it with a bandage for a short time.
Gently massage the muscle on the thighs that has been manipulated.

Safety rules

To know how to properly give yourself injections in the thigh, you should consider some points:

To reduce pain, it is necessary to change the injection area and body parts.
Carefully check the syringe packaging for tears or expiration.
Do not perform manipulation if there are abrasions, hematomas, skin diseases or large moles on the skin.
When allergic reaction– stop the administration of the medicine, take an antihistamine tablet, and observe how you feel further. In cases of Quincke's edema, call an ambulance.
Do not use the same syringe twice. After the injection, the needle should be placed in a cone and discarded.

Complications after an incorrect injection

Consequences from incorrect injection occur in the following cases:

Carrying out the procedure with a small needle and getting the medicine into the skin.
Penetration of bacteria into the body due to poor sterility of hands, syringe or injection area.
Introducing too quickly.
Long-term use of the medicine.
Allergic reaction of the body.

The main complications after the injection:

An abscess is an accumulation of pus in muscle tissue.
Infiltrate is a dense formation.
Hyperemia, burning sensation, hematoma and skin rashes.

If the patient begins to show signs of intoxication of the body (lethargy, fever, convulsions), then it is necessary to provide him with emergency assistance.

Treatment of post-injection consequences:

Treatment of an abscess should be carried out under the supervision of specialists in order to prevent purulent lesions and infection from entering the blood. The patient is prescribed physiotherapy and antibiotics. In case of complications, it is indicated surgery with opening of the capsule with pus and a course of dressings and antibacterial therapy.

After removing the purulent discharge, ointments (Bepanten, Solcoseryl) are used to heal the wound.

You can get rid of infiltration using alternative medicine methods (compresses with cabbage leaf and honey, baked onions), as well as using pharmaceutical preparations. Bandages with Dimexide, magnesium sulfate, and camphor oil heal well. Applying an iodine grid to the area where the injection is given is effective.

If hyperemia occurs and the condition worsens, you should consult a surgeon.

Hematoma is bleeding under the skin due to damage to small vessels. This is one of frequent manifestations side effects after injections. A bruise does not cause harm to human health, but causes inconvenience for aesthetic reasons. To get rid of the hematoma, you can apply heparin ointment or Troxerutin.

Making an intramuscular injection is quite simple, but performing the procedure yourself is not recommended due to insufficient sterility and high risk occurrence of side effects.

Intramuscular injections are easy to do yourself if you have a certain level of courage. The most common injection sites are the thigh, shoulder, or buttock. With intramuscular vaccination, the drug enters the bloodstream not as quickly as with intravenous injection, but much faster than with subcutaneous administration. An injection in the thigh should be considered separately, since this procedure can be done by yourself, not only without the help of qualified doctors, but without an assistant at all. There are few nerve endings in this place and a fairly impressive amount of muscle tissue, which makes the procedure easier for people without experience and skill.

Subtleties of the procedure

In order to give an injection in the thigh according to all the rules you will need:

Three-component disposable syringe with a needle of the required length. Typically, an injection needle up to 60 mm long is used, but if there is a significant fat layer at the injection site, a needle 80 mm long is allowed.
96% alcohol solution to disinfect the injection area. You can’t use antiseptic solution with iodine or brilliant green.
Sterile cotton wool or special medical antiseptic wipes. Despite the availability of the latter, it is still advisable to use alcohol, since it has a drying and tanning effect. This reduces the risk of a post-injection papule.
Directly the drug solution. If the medicine is produced in ampoules, it must be opened with a special file, otherwise cuts and the presence of glass chips in the solution are possible.

It is extremely important to comply with the storage conditions of the drugs, e.g. temperature regime. However, before you vaccinate, warm the ampoule or the syringe itself with your hands, at least until room temperature. This will reduce discomfort from the procedure.

First of all, it is necessary to give the person a comfortable position for the injection. When the injection is done on your own, this is the most comfortable sitting position. It is advisable to bend the leg that will be vaccinated. If the procedure is performed by another person, it is better to lay the patient down, placing him under knee joint a small pillow or cushion. For better absorption of the medicine, it is recommended to move your leg before vaccination, give a light massage, or even sit down several times.

Step by step instructions

How to give the injection correctly:

Make sure that the syringe and the packaging of the drug are sealed, check the expiration date of the drug;
Take a comfortable position for vaccination;
Disinfect the injection site and hands. Or wear sterile gloves;
Bare your leg, lightly stretch the outer surface of the thigh;
Draw the required amount of medicine into the syringe, check for air, and, if necessary, warm the syringe with the medicine in your hands;
Visually measure 10–15 cm above the kneecap, slightly stretch the skin there with two fingers, marking the injection site;
Confidently insert the needle about two centimeters;
Gently pressing the syringe plunger, inject the product into the muscle;
Lightly pressing with alcohol-preserved cotton wool, pull out the needle and wipe the injection site;
Massage the area where the medicine was injected with your fingers for better distribution.

A large fat layer can make intramuscular injections difficult. In order to inject the product precisely into the muscle, and not into the fatty tissue, you should rely on your sensations - the muscle density is much greater and the needle moves harder.

Once the thigh injection is given, it will be helpful to stretch or walk around a bit. If vaccinations have to be done frequently, it is permissible to apply a cool compress for a few minutes. This will reduce pain after the injection and speed up the resorption of the papule. In addition, it is important to change the injection site; it is forbidden to give intramuscular vaccinations in the same place for more than a week. Carefully follow the injection rules so as not to cause unnecessary inconvenience to yourself and your loved ones!

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