Are B12 injections painful? Not if you ask our readers, who self-inject our methyl B12 on a daily basis. In contrast, we occasionally hear from others who experience pain with B12 shots. So, why do B12 injections hurt so much for some, while our customers barely feel them? Several factors affect pain levels, and we’ll explain them one by one.
Why Do B12 Injections Hurt?
Your B12 injection pain level (or the lack of pain) depends on the following factors:
Method of Administration
If you’ve ever had muscle pain after a B12 injection, it’s probably, well… because you injected into muscle tissue! Intramuscular (IM) B12 shots do have quite a sting, which is unfortunate, because it discourages many people from self-injecting.
However, IM delivery isn’t necessary. B12 has a long history of effective subcutaneous delivery (SQ), with minimal to no muscle pain after B12 injections. If you have some body fat, you’ll barely feel anything. Just ask our readers who self-inject SQ daily.
SQ delivery is also extremely safe and easy to self-administer. Unlike IM delivery, there’s no risk of nerve injury. Remember, diabetes patients around the world self-inject insulin daily using SQ delivery. It’s our recommended method of B12 delivery, especially if you self-inject. And again — there’s no muscle pain after B12 shots when done this way.
The Solvent
Another cause of painful B12 injections could be the solvent used to dissolve the B12 powder in the vial. Numerous studies, such as this one, have found severe levels of pain with water-based injections, and little to no pain with saline-based shots.
But, why do B12 shots hurt so much when dissolved in water?
Our body is saltier than water. When you inject anything less salty, the body has to equalize the salinity. That’s where the pain associated with water-dissolved shots comes from. Also, if you read the research, you’ll see that B12 absorbs best when dissolved in an isotonic solution (saline). For these reasons, nobody should ever use water.
Unfortunately, most brands selling B12 shots are using water. If you can’t find saline-based B12 shots, order injectable B12 from us and mix it with saline yourself.
The Injection Site
As we said, when people complain about their arm or leg pain after B12 injections, it’s often because of IM delivery. Penetrating muscle tissue is painful, and you may also hit a nerve by accident. In contrast, SQ injections are painless, because it’s mostly just fat tissue you’re penetrating. However, the specific SQ injection site also matters:
For our readers who self-inject B12, we typically recommend to inject around the belly button. This is where most people have the most fat, and the area is easily accessible. SQ injections in areas with abundant fat tissue are painless. Avoid low-fat areas.
So, Are B12 Injections Painful?
Let’s wrap this up. Are B12 shots painful? As you’ve just seen, they shouldn’t be. Here’s what you can do to minimize any pain or discomfort associated with them:
- Dissolve the B12 in saline rather than water. This way, the body won’t have to equalize the salinity to match its own levels, causing a sting of pain.
- Inject subcutaneously rather than intramuscularly. The latter is painful and may put you off self-injecting, while injecting B12 into fat is painless and effective.
- Inject into an easily accessible site with enough fat tissue. For most people, the area around the belly button is a very good spot.
Follow these guidelines and you won’t feel any pain during or after B12 injections. If you want to ensure your B12 shots are saline-based (and without additives, which could cause side effects), then buy our injectable B12 powder and dissolve it in injectable saline. You’ll get full instructions on how to self-inject at home painlessly.
If you rely on B12 shots prescribed by a doctor, make sure they’re not water-based. But even if they are, or if they give them to you intramuscularly, do keep injecting. Yes, the shots may sting and you’ll wonder — why do B12 shots hurt so bad? But remember, this pain is nothing compared to a lifetime of neurological damage and suffering.
B12 deficiency is no joke.