Needle Gauge myth?

**RoadToRecovery** · 05-01-2010, 11:54 AM

Now I have always heard recommendations of 22g needles for oil based and 25g for water based. But I have been reading on a medical QnA forum about intramuscular injections and it seems that some recommend 18g for glute injections.

I even saw this on yahoo answers:

Here is the irony of using a big needle, in my experience. You think that a smaller needle would be less painful but in actuality it can be more painful. This is because the medication moves much faster and harder through the smaller needle which can cause a burning sensation within the muscle. (You can test this using a 10cc syringe and then using a 21g and an 18g needle to see which one squirts faster.) It is more difficult to inject a viscous medicine through a small needle as well, and it can get tiring. In expert hands, an 18g feels the same as a 21g when it pierces the skin and muscle.

What do you guys think?

**Hazard** · 05-01-2010, 11:58 AM

Try pinning with an 18g and report back to us.....

My father had a test shot from his doc when he 1st went on HRT - doc used an 18g and he never felt it. He tried a 20g himself and went through the roof LOL!

I use 23g and never have issues..... just inject slow and you're good to go.....

~Haz~

**CanYouDigIt** · 05-01-2010, 11:59 AM

I think you should try sticking a harpoon in your glute, then a 23g and you let me know which one feels better....

**RoadToRecovery** · 05-01-2010, 12:00 PM

Im not pinning any time soon. Its just something I came across and was looking to see what others have to say.

**RoadToRecovery** · 05-01-2010, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by CanYouDigIt

I think you should try sticking a harpoon in your glute, then a 23g and you let me know which one feels better....

Ive had painless 18g injections before but never with AAS. Penicillin shot in the glute didnt hurt until day 2

**CanYouDigIt** · 05-01-2010, 12:01 PM

there normaly no pain associated with the liquid coming out, the pain is getting the needle through the skin, then slowly driving into your muscle.. once your at its location, having a needle in you for 5 min while you inject the stuff dosen't hurt a bit.

**j4ever41** · 05-01-2010, 12:02 PM

18g would not be for me

**RoadToRecovery** · 05-01-2010, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by CanYouDigIt

there normaly no pain associated with the liquid coming out, the pain is getting the needle through the skin, then slowly driving into your muscle.. once your at its location, having a needle in you for 5 min while you inject the stuff dosen't hurt a bit.

I disagree. The actual injection is what always bothered me. Not the needle going in.

**taiboxa** · 05-01-2010, 12:04 PM

i will stick w/ my 25g and i will keep on injecting slowly w/o pain and i will leave the 23+sizes for you all

**CanYouDigIt** · 05-01-2010, 12:04 PM

I personnaly like to inject with a 21g rather then a 23g for glutes, just because in your glute you got like 0 nerves/veins that I've hit after like 80 injections,

so you can just take a deep breath and shuve it in, and the pain is like 1 second, then it takes like 5-10 seconds to push liquid in. (but 21g is a pretty big needle, your almost getting at the size of a ballpoint pen..)

**Bloodsaw** · 05-01-2010, 12:05 PM

18g is simply too large for injecting often, cause more damage over he long run, and you aren't going to tell me the diff between an 18g and and 23g isn't a lot...if you wanna go with a larger needle then use a 21g, plenty big enough for quick injection, and looks less intimidating than a 18g

**taiboxa** · 05-01-2010, 12:07 PM

Psh... real men use a 60ml syringe w/ a 12g Pin..

**CanYouDigIt** · 05-01-2010, 12:08 PM

Lol.. I thought you were big & fearless tai, I've lost faith in you! injecting with scrawny 25 g's

**Matt** · 05-01-2010, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by taiboxa

Psh... real men use a 60ml syringe w/ a 12g Pin..

Lmfao....

**RoadToRecovery** · 05-01-2010, 12:11 PM

Has anybody actually used anything larger than a 21g?

And Tai - I heard you injected with something like this

**Hazard** · 05-01-2010, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by taiboxa

i will stick w/ my 25g and i will keep on injecting slowly w/o pain and i will leave the 23+sizes for you all

I used to use a 25g also until I got a batch of test that was thicker than hell..... now it's 23's all the way..... completely painless.....

~Haz~

**Hard.On** · 05-01-2010, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Hazard

Try pinning with an 18g and report back to us.....

~Haz~

Responses like this usually mean that you shouldnt

**taiboxa** · 05-01-2010, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by RoadToRecovery

Has anybody actually used anything larger than a 21g?

And Tai - I heard you injected with something like this

Fvcking right i do! it was a HandMeDown from ol'BDTR

**Hard.On** · 05-01-2010, 12:16 PM

Try a bone marrow Needle

**RoadToRecovery** · 05-01-2010, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by twotimer

Responses like this usually mean that you shouldnt

But it was followed with this

My father had a test shot from his doc when he 1st went on HRT - doc used an 18g and he never felt it.

**awesome1** · 05-01-2010, 12:34 PM

Ive never used anything besides an 18g. The actual injection never hurts.

**Black** · 05-01-2010, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by awesome1

Ive never used anything besides an 18g. The actual injection never hurts.

Damn, how long you been injecting? I'm on TRT and if I would've used 18g for the duration I've been on, my glutes would look like swiss cheese.

**alpenguy** · 05-01-2010, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by awesome1

Ive never used anything besides an 18g. The actual injection never hurts.

You are a man. Although your ass prob looks like a pin cushion

18 to draw / 22 to shoot

**russiandave** · 05-01-2010, 09:03 PM

When u put an 18 gauge next to a 23 gauge ur brain says "****kk stickin that 18 in me".

I like to pin slow. I got two cortisone injections Wednesday by my doctor and he put a two inch needle into my lower back sooooooo quick and I swear it was painless. It's all technique

**stevey_6t9** · 05-01-2010, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by awesome1

Ive never used anything besides an 18g. The actual injection never hurts.

you define the word 'bad ass'

i wud be way to scared

maybe u like big stuff in the ass?

**Epic Ed** · 05-01-2010, 10:22 PM

My first two TRT injections were in the docs office with an 1.5" 18ga needle. I've seen lawn darts that looked smaller and the first one left a bruise in my quad for more than a month. I could have qualified for a handicap permit after the 2nd one.

I've since been self administering at home with a 23ga needle and haven't had any problems. Minimal injection site soreness and you can definitely inject slowly enough with a small needle to minimize the pain. Injecting slowly is the best advice I've read about pinning.

**awesome1** · 05-01-2010, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by stevey_6t9

you define the word 'bad ass'

i wud be way to scared

maybe u like big stuff in the ass?

lol dont give DSM any ideas. I'm on TRT I was scared the first time I saw the needle when my doc pulled it out but it was fine. I am self injecting now though.

**FCVtec** · 05-01-2010, 11:03 PM

I am a 23g fan. I inject as fast as I can without feeling too much pressure on the injection spot, long periods of time with a needle in me makes it bleed once taken out therefore wasting a lil juice that comes back mixed with the blood. Fast shots rarely ever bleed and when they do it's just a drop or two. I do have a lil scar tissue on glutes from previous cycles.

18g must be scary....

**awesome1** · 05-01-2010, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by FCVtec

I am a 23g fan. I inject as fast as I can without feeling too much pressure on the injection spot, long periods of time with a needle in me makes it bleed once taken out therefore wasting a lil juice that comes back mixed with the blood. Fast shots rarely ever bleed and when they do it's just a drop or two. I do have a lil scar tissue on glutes from previous cycles.

18g must be scary....

Ive read that the slower the better because if you inject fast you risk damaging muscle tissue and creating scar tissure. I think injecting way too fast could potentially cause an abscess.

**FunkLord** · 05-02-2010, 05:52 AM

Bigger needles means bigger holes which leads to more scar tissue over time.

However, shooting thick oil through smaller holes usually means you need more pressure which can cause more irritation.

If you have gear that is made with 2/20 BA/BB in CSO it should be plenty thin enough to shoot easily through a 25g.

If you have thicker gear you might find a 23g easier, but there's really no need to be shooting with 21g or 18g needles. Hell with an 18g, you don't even need the syringe. Just stick the needle in and pour! (disclaimer:don't actually do that)