Is an intramuscular (IM) injection more painful than a subcutaneous (SC) injection?
Some people assume that an intramuscular (IM) injection is more painful than a subcutaneous (SC) injection because an IM injection requires a longer needle. This is not necessarily true. Pain receptors are located mostly in the skin. There are relatively fewer pain receptors in muscle. This means that any pain you feel during injection is likely to be from the needle going through the skin. Because this happens in both IM and SC injection, the discomfort you feel from either type of injection is likely to be similar. It is important to talk to your doctor about ways to manage your therapy. To ensure that your injections and therapy go as smoothly as possible, follow the instructions given by your doctor and those supplied with your therapy.
