Tell us about your symptoms and treatment experience. Take our survey here.

caret icon Back to all discussions

How do you feel near injection week?

I have noticed the week before injection is the hardest. I start to notice more stiffness, more pain, brain fog, increased fatigue, start to feel more down. I am on Cosentyx. I been taking 2 injections once a month. How do you feel near injection week?

  1. Hello,
    Thanks for this great topic! I have been on same biologics for 7 years (Humira) and it still works. At the beginning, I was experiencing what you describe, symptoms coming back few days before the injection, which is every two weeks.
    But then, after a while, because I responded well to the treatment, I started to miss the injections because I forgot to inject myself! I could not believe it...
    I have done my own little experiment of skipping injections (an article is coming about that actually) and I now inject every three weeks as I can wait more in between injections. I have noticed that sometimes I need it because the symptoms are coming back before the injection, and sometimes like last week I forget because I feel OK.
    As an example, I am achy today and I feel my joints, and just checking my calendar well my injection is overdue by 4 days!!! So it seems I forgot again, and I guess it's not a bad thing in a way. Maybe the way I need the next injection some times more than others might be related to the seasons - I tend to forget to injection in sunny and warm weather, and definitively not in winter!!
    I hope that makes sense what I am explaining here.
    I wish you to find a way to ease those symptoms as you are waiting for your next injection.
    Take care,
    Julie.

    1. Hi ,


      Every week for me is injection week as my injections are weekly, but I do feel my stiffness and pain creeping up a day or 2 before I have mine. Then on the times where I have to skip an injection when I am ill I can really feel my symptoms picking up which makes being sick even more of an intense situation!


      Have you noticed any changes over time with how you feel pre injection?


      All the best,
      James (Community Member)

      1. Hi James,

        I haven't tried skipping yet on my injections, since starting on Cosentyx. I have noticed a little more relief on this biologic and being able to move a little more.
        But like you mention, I have noticed a week before I can feeling the stiffness and the pain increase. I do my injections every month. I am not sure if I can take them more often. I would have to mention this to my rheumatologist, next appointment.

        I still have to be careful on what I do, as I still get flares.

        All the best,

        Nicky

    2. Hi Nicky hope your doing well!
      Injection Day is actually tomorrow for me and last week i was so fatigued i had no energy to do anything and my body was screaming in pain. I've been on taltz now for 6 months but I'm not getting much improvement so my doc is now switching me to infusion therapy hoping it will help some because I've taken a few of the biologics available so he doesn't want me to try anymore. Thanks for sharing that with us.
      Nadine (Team Member)

      1. Hi Nicky thank you and I’m sorry you deal with Similar issues it’s def a balance we have to try and maintain with taking biologics. I’m waiting for my pre authorization now to start my infusion hopefully next month I can start 🙏🏽 Sending you positive vibes also! Nadine (Team Member)

      2. Yes it is a balance we have to try. I am wishing you well on your next treatment and hope it goes well.

        Nicky

    3. I am new to this dx and have been on Cimzia but 4 days before injection day I am achy, painful, have vision blurriness and significant hip/knee pain.

      1. Hi ,


        Welcome. So glad you part of the community. I am thankful for this community for all the support and helpful tips. I am sorry to hear you feel this way every time before you injection. I can relate on this. I get a lot of similar symptoms. How long have you been on Cimzia? Have you discussed with your doctor about how you been feeling before injection? Sending you some warm hugs and hope today was a better day.


        Nicky (Team member)

      2. I sure hope that you've been able to speak with your doctor about this "gap" of pain that you are feeling while using Cimzia. Sometimes the medication stops working sooner than the next treatment. This could possibly mean you are not on the most effective treatment plan for yourself. Have you tried other biologics or considered switching to a more effective treatment plan? Discussing these symptoms with your doctor - he may consider another biologic. How have you been feeling lately? Are you still using Cimzia? Rebecca (Axialspondyloarthritis.net moderator)

    Please read our rules before posting.