FlexForLife
New member
As someone who’s dealt with severe post-injection pain (PIP) from over-concentrated gear, I wanted to share some insights that helped me manage and reduce the discomfort. I frequently see questions on how to handle PIP, so I thought this information might be useful.
What Causes Post-Injection Pain (Non-Infection Related)?
1. Ester Length
Shorter esters (like testosterone propionate or acetate) typically have higher melting points, which leads to more painful crystals forming at the injection site. In contrast, longer esters generally have lower melting points and are less likely to cause discomfort.
2. Gear Concentration
Higher concentrations of hormones in the gear can contribute to more pain. If you're injecting a high-concentration solution (e.g., 150mg/mL of testosterone propionate in 1mL), the body may absorb the oil and solvents, but leave behind a high concentration of hormone crystals, which causes pain.
For example: It’s better to inject 3mL of 50mg/mL testosterone propionate than 1mL of 150mg/mL. This allows the body to absorb the hormone more evenly, reducing crystallization and discomfort.
3. Solvents Used
The solvents in your gear play a big role in pain. Benzyl alcohol (BA) is a common preservative and antiseptic. Too much BA (over 2%) can cause a burning sensation. The combination of BA with other solvents (like guaiacol or benzyl salicylate) can influence the pain level. A poorly formulated recipe with too much BA and not enough oil or buffer can cause more irritation.
4. Injection Technique
Injecting too quickly can damage the muscle tissue and increase pain. Inject slowly—take around 30 seconds per mL to minimize tissue trauma.
5. Virgin Muscle
If you’re injecting into muscle that hasn’t been exposed to the hormone before, the absorption process will be slower for the hormone, but quicker for the solvents. This leads to more crystallization and pain. Over time, as your muscles become accustomed to the hormone, the pain should decrease.
How to Minimize Pain Before Injecting:
• Dilute Your Gear: Mix your concentrated gear (e.g., testosterone propionate 100mg/mL) with sterile filtered oil to reduce the concentration. For example, mix 0.5mL of testosterone propionate with 0.5mL of sterile oil to create a 50mg/mL solution. This is one of the most effective methods to reduce pain.
• Warm Up Your Gear: Heating your gear can lower its viscosity, making it easier to inject and reducing the chances of pain. You can warm the vial by running hot water over it for a couple of minutes before shaking it well.
• Inject Slowly: Take your time during the injection, ideally about 30 seconds per mL. Using a 25-gauge needle can help force you to inject at a slower pace, which will reduce the trauma to the tissue.
• Avoid B12 Injections: While some recommend using B12 for pain relief, it’s a water-based solution that is absorbed quickly and won’t significantly reduce PIP. Stick to oil-based dilutions.
How to Manage Pain After Injection:
• Avoid Ice: While it’s tempting to ice the injection site, cold can actually cause the crystals to solidify, increasing the pain. Instead, focus on heat to help dissolve the crystals.
• Heat Therapy: A hot bath, jacuzzi, or heating pad can help relax the muscle and promote absorption of the hormone, reducing pain and swelling.
• Pain Relief: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can help reduce swelling and ease the pain associated with PIP.
• Massage: Gently massaging the area after the injection can help distribute the oil and reduce localized discomfort.
When to Be Concerned:
If you’re consistently experiencing severe pain or if the site becomes red, warm, and swollen, it may indicate an infection or contamination in the gear. Make sure you’re using sterile equipment and always check the quality of your gear. If pain persists despite trying the above methods, it may be worth getting the gear tested or switching to a different supplier.
What Causes Post-Injection Pain (Non-Infection Related)?
1. Ester Length
Shorter esters (like testosterone propionate or acetate) typically have higher melting points, which leads to more painful crystals forming at the injection site. In contrast, longer esters generally have lower melting points and are less likely to cause discomfort.
2. Gear Concentration
Higher concentrations of hormones in the gear can contribute to more pain. If you're injecting a high-concentration solution (e.g., 150mg/mL of testosterone propionate in 1mL), the body may absorb the oil and solvents, but leave behind a high concentration of hormone crystals, which causes pain.
For example: It’s better to inject 3mL of 50mg/mL testosterone propionate than 1mL of 150mg/mL. This allows the body to absorb the hormone more evenly, reducing crystallization and discomfort.
3. Solvents Used
The solvents in your gear play a big role in pain. Benzyl alcohol (BA) is a common preservative and antiseptic. Too much BA (over 2%) can cause a burning sensation. The combination of BA with other solvents (like guaiacol or benzyl salicylate) can influence the pain level. A poorly formulated recipe with too much BA and not enough oil or buffer can cause more irritation.
4. Injection Technique
Injecting too quickly can damage the muscle tissue and increase pain. Inject slowly—take around 30 seconds per mL to minimize tissue trauma.
5. Virgin Muscle
If you’re injecting into muscle that hasn’t been exposed to the hormone before, the absorption process will be slower for the hormone, but quicker for the solvents. This leads to more crystallization and pain. Over time, as your muscles become accustomed to the hormone, the pain should decrease.
How to Minimize Pain Before Injecting:
• Dilute Your Gear: Mix your concentrated gear (e.g., testosterone propionate 100mg/mL) with sterile filtered oil to reduce the concentration. For example, mix 0.5mL of testosterone propionate with 0.5mL of sterile oil to create a 50mg/mL solution. This is one of the most effective methods to reduce pain.
• Warm Up Your Gear: Heating your gear can lower its viscosity, making it easier to inject and reducing the chances of pain. You can warm the vial by running hot water over it for a couple of minutes before shaking it well.
• Inject Slowly: Take your time during the injection, ideally about 30 seconds per mL. Using a 25-gauge needle can help force you to inject at a slower pace, which will reduce the trauma to the tissue.
• Avoid B12 Injections: While some recommend using B12 for pain relief, it’s a water-based solution that is absorbed quickly and won’t significantly reduce PIP. Stick to oil-based dilutions.
How to Manage Pain After Injection:
• Avoid Ice: While it’s tempting to ice the injection site, cold can actually cause the crystals to solidify, increasing the pain. Instead, focus on heat to help dissolve the crystals.
• Heat Therapy: A hot bath, jacuzzi, or heating pad can help relax the muscle and promote absorption of the hormone, reducing pain and swelling.
• Pain Relief: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can help reduce swelling and ease the pain associated with PIP.
• Massage: Gently massaging the area after the injection can help distribute the oil and reduce localized discomfort.
When to Be Concerned:
If you’re consistently experiencing severe pain or if the site becomes red, warm, and swollen, it may indicate an infection or contamination in the gear. Make sure you’re using sterile equipment and always check the quality of your gear. If pain persists despite trying the above methods, it may be worth getting the gear tested or switching to a different supplier.
