Almost everyone has received a vaccine or flu shot at some point in their life. These types of injections are known as intramuscular (IM) injections and are used in a variety of necessary circumstances.
What Are Intramuscular Injections?
IM injections, which stand for intramuscular injections, are medication administration methods that use a fine needle to put medicine directly into the muscle tissue. The nonsurgical treatment is often used to help the medicine absorb quickly into the bloodstream. It may also be necessary for certain medicines that will only work best when put into the muscle.
Types of Intramuscular Injections
Intramuscular injections (or wellness injections) take many forms, but most commonly are used to deliver vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants directly into the body, surpassing the digestive system. If you have a deficiency or specific needs for your micronutrient health, we can provide the right therapeutic injection.
What Are the Benefits of Intramuscular Injections?
Other types of medicinal delivery methods, such as intravenous injections or oral medications, may not be as beneficial as an IM injection in certain situations. For example, an intramuscular shot may be used if a proper vein cannot be located, the digestive system would eliminate the effectiveness of a pill, or a drug may irritate blood vessels. Additionally, the tissue in the deltoid muscle (shoulder muscle, the typical injection point) can hold more medications than other fatty tissue would.
What Are the Risks of Getting An Intramuscular Injection?
While there are usually very few side effects to an intramuscular injection, there are a few risks that you should be aware of. Sometimes, an intramuscular injection can cause bleeding, bruising, numbness, or infection. An injection of any kind may also puncture major blood vessels or cause nerve injection injury (such as sciatic nerve injection injury). Contact your doctor if you begin to experience a lump or swelling at the injection site, or develop a cough or fever. Call 911 or get help immediately if you start experiencing shortness of breath or notice swelling in your mouth, lips, or face.
Before Your Intramuscular Injection Procedure
Dr. Basile and our wellness team will learn more about your nutrient needs and help you develop a treatment plan accordingly. You’ll create a schedule of treatments with an appropriate frequency of repeated injections for your needs. Our wellness team will assess your body for an ideal intramuscular injection site where the medication administered will be most effective.
Your Intramuscular Injection Procedure
There are four main sites on the body where an intramuscular injection is usually administered. The middle thigh, the hip, the upper arm muscle, or the buttocks are common sites of vaccine administration. The use of a specific injection site will be dependent on factors such as age, muscle development, and type of medicine. Your provider will best determine which injection site is appropriate for your situation.
The discomfort or pain felt during vaccinations often depends on the experience of the person administering intramuscular injections, as well as the necessary size of the needle and type of medication being injected. It’s well known that some injections cause more widespread or severe side effects than others, but with a good intramuscular injection technique, they can be almost painless. That’s why we provide vaccine services at Dr. Basile’s practice because we know the proper injection techniques, such as pulling up on the subcutaneous tissue to help prevent bleeding or medicine leakage.
After Your Intramuscular Injection Procedure
Afterward, you may have some slight redness and swelling at your intramuscular injection site. Generally, you can return to your daily activities right away. Gently exercising the muscle can help reduce pain throughout the day, and our injectors can provide specific instructions and exercises. Depending on your treatment plan, you can return regularly for your next intramuscular injection.
Why Basile Plastic Surgery & Wellness?
Whether you’re receiving IM injections, Botox, CoolSculpting, or another nonsurgical treatment, you couldn’t be in better hands than with Dr. Basile and his team. As a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, he has years of experience providing patients with the medical and aesthetic care they need.
Frequently Asked Questions about IM Injections
Which areas of the body can an IM Injection be given?Why are some medications given by IM Injection?Which types of medications are given by IM Injection?Do IM Injections hurt?What are IM Injections? |
Learn More About Intramuscular Injections at Basile Plastic Surgery & Wellness
If you want to know more about vaccinations or the general intramuscular injection procedure and how we can help, schedule a consultation with one of our providers today. Contact our office in Jacksonville, FL by calling 904-701-1927 or filling out an online form.
