Harm Reduction injection angles

[d3cay]

i can only ever find a vein in my elbows and i really need to take a break from using those spots. but i can never hit a vein anywhere else and just bruise myself trying. it’s so weird. i try to go shallow on my hands and rarely do i register. i try to go a little steeper and still nothing. i try to go deep, go shallow, nothing. same on my forearms. try to go shallow and deep and insert all the way and half way with the needle and i can seriously only ever hit veins in my elbow but its obviously horrible for my veins to keep doing these spots. plus the track marks are not ideal for me

i use a 31 gauge 5/16” - what am i doing wrong? i’m desperate for any tips or just what you do personally. i dont want to keep stabbing myself to try to find out

 

[streaM Freak]

@d3cay Here's my advice. And obviously needles are dangerous, you know that. This is so that you don't miss or waste gear which is both dangerous and frustrating. Also, aim it toward the heart, don't share needles, if the drug slows your heart try not to use alone / test how strong it is first, try to clean the injection spot first to lessen likelihood of infection, and check out the needle harm reduction mega thread if you have no idea what you're doing.

Here's my advice:

Stay hydrated. Try to stay as hydrated with water as possible. It's quick easy, and helps pop your veins.

To switch to another vein, find the ones that may pop with hydration by pressing down on common spots, see if you can feel a spot that sort of squishes like a vein. But really, you want to be able to see them, and the best way to see them is by staying hydrated.

You might be able to feel when you're in a vein, actually, if you really pay attention. Usually right when you go in, the pushing becomes very smooth / less resistance against the push.

I'd try to not mess with the angle much.. while it does make sense in a logical way, it's easier to go through and miss. I'd try to stay pretty "shallow" as you say. Think about how a nurse would do it, barely even steep at all right?

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