Is there anything i can do to reduce or eliminate the pain induced from shots? hi, i recently enlisted in the navy and i was reading about how at boot camp recruits receive many shots in the arm and butt. the last time i received a shot in the arm it was

Thank : Thank you for choosing to serve in the navy and congratulations. The best way to minimize the discomfort from injections is to be as relaxed as possible. Tense muscles tend to cause more discomfort. Take several deep breaths and when the injection is being made, exhale as forcibly as possible. Afterwards use a little ice and motrin. Good luck in boot camp g. Joel funari, capt USN ret.

Hello, : Hello, really the majority of your vaccines will be via your arms. Normally, you will be given written information about each vaccine you receive that will list common side effects etc. Sometimes, people take tylenol (acetaminophen) before they even get vaccines. With some vaccines, it can help to do a few pushups right afterward. Ask the corpsman administering your vaccines what he or she recommends. One of the shots people really complain about is an injection of pencillin in the butt especially if it hasn't been warmed up. That is definately not what you will get as part of your vaccine. One thing you can do that may help is to employ deep breathing when you get your shots. Breath in deeply through your nostrils and hold for a count of five, then exhale slowly through your mouth. By doing this, you will be focused on your breathing and not the shots. It will keep you centered. If you go to ground (faint) at the sight of a needle or blood - let the medical staff know before hand. Thank you for your decision to enlist. We need good men and women to keep our navy the strongest in the world. Take care.