Why do b12 injections hurt?

Have you ever found yourself dreading your next vitamin B12 injection? Not because of the needle itself (although that’s certainly a valid fear), but because of the burning, stinging sensation that seems to linger for hours afterward.

Fear not, my fellow needle-phobes. Today we’re going to dive into why exactly those pesky B12 shots hurt so darn much. And who knows – maybe after reading this article, getting jabbed with a needle won’t seem like such a terrifying ordeal anymore.

First Things First: What Is Vitamin B12 and Why Do We Need It?

Before we can understand why its injections are so unpleasant, let’s do a quick refresher on what vitamin B12 actually is.

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin (because it contains the element cobalt in its chemical structure), is an essential nutrient that our bodies use for all sorts of important processes. For example:

• Helping produce red blood cells
• Regulating cell metabolism
• Supporting brain and nervous system function

And those are just a few examples! Suffice it to say that without enough vitamin B12 in your system, things would start to go downhill pretty quickly.

So…Why Do You Have To Get It via Injection?

Good question! After all, if something is so essential to our bodies’ functioning, why can’t we just get it from our diets or through supplements? Well…

Oral Supplements Are Hit-or-Miss

Here’s the problem with trying to take oral tablets or capsules containing vitamin B12: most people don’t absorb it very well this way. That’s because the body needs adequate amounts of stomach acid and certain enzymes in order to break down and absorb the vitamin properly.

So even if you’re taking 1000 micrograms (mcg) per day – which might seem like a lot – your body might only be able to absorb a fraction of that.

Diet Isn’t Always Enough

In theory, you could try to obtain all the B12 you need from food sources. However, there are a couple problems with this:

• Many common dietary sources of vitamin B12 are animal-derived (e.g. meat, dairy products). That means vegans and vegetarians might struggle to meet their daily needs.
• Even if you do eat plenty of foods rich in B12, studies have shown that older adults (aged 50+) have more trouble absorbing it from their diets than younger folks do.

Why Do B12 Shots Hurt So Much?

Okay, now we’re getting into the juicy stuff. Here’s what’s actually going on when you feel that awful burning sensation after getting a vitamin B12 injection:

It’s Not The Vitamin itself…

First things first: in most cases, the pain caused by a vitamin B12 injection has nothing to do with the chemical makeup of the actual nutrient.

That’s because methylcobalamin – one type of active form of vitamin b12 often used in injections – is thought not to be particularly irritating to tissues or nerves around an injection site (source needed).

Instead…

It’s The Solution Used To Transport The Vitamin

Yep! This is where things get interesting (ahem, painful). When you receive a shot containing vitamin B12 (often as part of larger solution)…you’re also receiving other substances along with it.

One common substance mixed into injection solutions is benzyl alcohol. And THAT’S where much of the irritation comes from. Benzyl alcohol is useful as an antibacterial agent which can help prevent contamination during injections; however at high concentrations it can cause destruction or desquamation(removal through shedding) off some tissue(source needed).

It causes an inflammatory response at and around the site of the injection when it comes into contact with your body tissues.

But There’s More…

Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story. Even if you don’t have an adverse reaction to benzyl alcohol specifically, there are a few other reasons why B12 injections can be ouchy.

One factor is simply psychological – because we associate needles with pain and discomfort (source needed), our brains may ramp up our perception of any sensation at the injection site, leading us to interpret normal sensations like pressure as more painful than they actually are.

Another potential culprit is needle size: a bigger needle gauge (the measure of the diameter) means more tissue damage which leads to inflammation(source needed). Which let’s face it, isn’t all that comforting either.

Is There Anything You Can Do To Make It Hurt Less?

All this talk about irritation and inflammation might be starting to make you feel anxious about your next B12 shot…but never fear! There are some strategies you can try out in order to minimize pain:

Use A Smaller Needle Gauge

While an exact consensus doesn’t exist on best practice for administering vitamin B12 injections one of simple ways appears using smaller needles(25-27 gauge) , especially along with an insulin syringe technique. The reasoning being these smaller gauges cause less tissue trauma so there will likely be less causing less nerve stimulation resulting in decreased muscle complications also (source needed).

Numb The Skin With A Topical Anesthetic

You might’ve heard recently about over-the-counter products like Emla or LMX4; both cream formulations containing lidocaine and prilocaine – two powerful local anaesthetics – which numb skin before insertion within minutes(source needed)

Of course, now we’re getting into “now THIS hurts” territory, because who among us hasn’t had fun trying to wrestle a slippery piece of plastic wrap over a leg or arm?

Ask Your Doctor About Alternatives

Finally, if the thought of getting poked with a needle still fills you with dread (and who could blame you?), it’s worth asking your doctor about alternative ways to get enough vitamin B12. For example:

• Prescription nasal sprays containing B12
• Injectable forms of other vitamins needed for proper metabolism(such as Vitamin C and D ).
• Supplements such as sublingual tablets (which dissolve under your tongue), liquids and gummies.

The Bottom Line: Yes, They Can Hurt – But It’s Worth It!

Let’s face it – no matter what helpful tips we give out, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to injections. Some people will experience painful side effects no matter what they do, while others might not feel anything beyond a mild pinch.

But all that being said…it’s still important to make sure we’re getting enough vitamin B12 in our diets. And for many people, injections are simply the most effective way to do that.

So next time you’re bracing yourself for an upcoming shot…remind yourself that yes, this might hurt like heck for a little while. But ultimately, feeling healthy is always worth putting up with some temporary discomfort!