TheTruthHurts
New member
Hey everyone, I wanted to take a moment to talk about PIP, or "post-injection pain," which is something many new users are concerned about when starting their journey with intramuscular (IM) injections. I remember being in the same position when I first started. I was really worried about the pain that came with it, but I got lucky in my first few years since I only used different combinations of Test-E and EQ—never blends—so I didn’t experience much PIP. But that changed when I tried Test-450.
At the gym, everyone was using the same source for their gear, and soon enough, people started walking funny from swollen injection sites. The gear quickly earned the nickname “450-Strut” because it made you walk with a noticeable limp from the pain. At first, I thought it was just a bad batch of gear, but what I learned was that the high concentration of hormones in Test-450 was causing the oil to fall out of solution inside our muscles. Let me break it down for you...
Why Does PIP Happen?
PIP is caused when the hormone or ester solidifies within your muscle tissue after you inject it. The chemicals that underground labs (UGLs) use to make their oils, such as Benzyl Benzoate (BB) and Benzyl Alcohol (BA), can only dissolve a certain amount of raw powder into the carrier oil. When there’s too much raw powder, the solution can "crash," meaning the hormones/esters re-crystallize because they exceed the dissolving capacity of the carrier chemicals. This is often why people hear about “crashing” gear.
Once injected, the interstitial fluid in the muscle dilutes the oil, causing the hormones/esters to crystallize. Different compounds have different solubility limits, meaning they re-solidify in different ways. For example, EQ is a liquid at room temperature and requires little to no carrier chemicals to remain dissolved. But compounds like Test-Prop, which in raw form looks like tiny grains of sand, easily crystalize at higher temperatures, making them notorious for causing soreness and pain at the injection site.
How to Avoid or Minimize PIP
1. Pin Smaller Volumes: Avoid injecting more than 2-3cc’s (500mg) of gear at once. The body can only metabolize a certain amount at a time, and injecting larger amounts increases the chances of PIP.
2. Injection Technique Matters: Always inject after a hot shower or bath to help improve blood flow to the muscle and prepare the site for the injection. This also helps ensure a cleaner injection.
3. Use a Fresh Needle: Never reuse a needle, whether for drawing or injecting. Reusing needles increases your risk of infection and can cause more trauma at the injection site, leading to additional discomfort.
4. Know Your Dosing: When using high-concentration gear (e.g., Test-Prop 100mg/ml), it's essential to understand how the oil behaves and adjust your dose accordingly. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for advice.
By following these rules and educating yourself, you can significantly reduce your chances of experiencing severe PIP.
If you’ve dealt with PIP before, feel free to share your own experiences and any tips you’ve found helpful in managing it. Everyone’s body responds differently, and hearing different perspectives can be really beneficial.
At the gym, everyone was using the same source for their gear, and soon enough, people started walking funny from swollen injection sites. The gear quickly earned the nickname “450-Strut” because it made you walk with a noticeable limp from the pain. At first, I thought it was just a bad batch of gear, but what I learned was that the high concentration of hormones in Test-450 was causing the oil to fall out of solution inside our muscles. Let me break it down for you...
Why Does PIP Happen?
PIP is caused when the hormone or ester solidifies within your muscle tissue after you inject it. The chemicals that underground labs (UGLs) use to make their oils, such as Benzyl Benzoate (BB) and Benzyl Alcohol (BA), can only dissolve a certain amount of raw powder into the carrier oil. When there’s too much raw powder, the solution can "crash," meaning the hormones/esters re-crystallize because they exceed the dissolving capacity of the carrier chemicals. This is often why people hear about “crashing” gear.
Once injected, the interstitial fluid in the muscle dilutes the oil, causing the hormones/esters to crystallize. Different compounds have different solubility limits, meaning they re-solidify in different ways. For example, EQ is a liquid at room temperature and requires little to no carrier chemicals to remain dissolved. But compounds like Test-Prop, which in raw form looks like tiny grains of sand, easily crystalize at higher temperatures, making them notorious for causing soreness and pain at the injection site.
How to Avoid or Minimize PIP
1. Pin Smaller Volumes: Avoid injecting more than 2-3cc’s (500mg) of gear at once. The body can only metabolize a certain amount at a time, and injecting larger amounts increases the chances of PIP.
2. Injection Technique Matters: Always inject after a hot shower or bath to help improve blood flow to the muscle and prepare the site for the injection. This also helps ensure a cleaner injection.
3. Use a Fresh Needle: Never reuse a needle, whether for drawing or injecting. Reusing needles increases your risk of infection and can cause more trauma at the injection site, leading to additional discomfort.
4. Know Your Dosing: When using high-concentration gear (e.g., Test-Prop 100mg/ml), it's essential to understand how the oil behaves and adjust your dose accordingly. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for advice.
By following these rules and educating yourself, you can significantly reduce your chances of experiencing severe PIP.
If you’ve dealt with PIP before, feel free to share your own experiences and any tips you’ve found helpful in managing it. Everyone’s body responds differently, and hearing different perspectives can be really beneficial.
