Choosing Injection Sites and Pins - First Cycle

[mesophyte]

Hi everyone!

I am about to begin my first cycle and have been spending a lot of time reading about the injections themselves and I have some doubts about the ideal injection sites, slin pin method, ideal needle guage if not doing the slin pin method, and so on.

Ventrogluteal seems to be the best injection site but the hardest to pinpoint for self injection.

I was almost settling on pinning quads with the slin pin method since they are so lean and I really can't imagine needing more than a 1/2" pin to reach the muscle but I could be wrong. Should I opt for a longer needle but of an equally high guage like a 29g 1" or 1 1/2"? Also, I read that pinning quads can cause a lot of pain and keep you away from leg workouts for a couple of days. Since I'll be pinning 3 times per week, I'd rather avoid pinning somewhere that will prevent me from working out properly.

I realize I may be overthinking this but it is my first cycle and I'm sure many other newbies will have similar concerns so I thought creating a thread about it would be a good idea.

Any suggestions for ideal injection sites, needle guage and length?

[MuscleInk]

Hi everyone!

I am about to begin my first cycle and have been spending a lot of time reading about the injections themselves and I have some doubts about the ideal injection sites, slin pin method, ideal needle guage if not doing the slin pin method, and so on.

Ventrogluteal seems to be the best injection site but the hardest to pinpoint for self injection.

I was almost settling on pinning quads with the slin pin method since they are so lean and I really can't imagine needing more than a 1/2" pin to reach the muscle but I could be wrong. Should I opt for a longer needle but of an equally high guage like a 29g 1" or 1 1/2"? Also, I read that pinning quads can cause a lot of pain and keep you away from leg workouts for a couple of days. Since I'll be pinning 3 times per week, I'd rather avoid pinning somewhere that will prevent me from working out properly.

I realize I may be overthinking this but it is my first cycle and I'm sure many other newbies will have similar concerns so I thought creating a thread about it would be a good idea.

Any suggestions for ideal injection sites, needle guage and length?

You won't get anywhere near the muscle with 1/2 inch. You'll be injecting subQ. Use at least 1 inch, 25g. The deeper, the better.

You should have at least 4-6 sites to pin and rotate between each every 14 days to minimize scar tissue formation. I use glutes, rear and lateral delts, triceps, biceps, pecs, quads, and traps.

[kelkel]

If it's your first cycle and (I assume) a long ester why do you need to pin three times per week?

[mesophyte]

If it's your first cycle and (I assume) a long ester why do you need to pin three times per week?

Short ester, test prop.

[kelkel]

Short ester, test prop.

Why prop for a first cycle out of curiosity?

[austinite]

Why prop for a first cycle out of curiosity?

Yeah. If it's your first cycle and you're concerned with injection sites, a longer ester may have been a better choice here.

[< <Samson> >]

Stick the spike in & enjoy

Experiment with spots, you'll learn which ones suck more than others

My top in order:

Delts
Tri's
Ass
Pecs

I don't hit quads

[hankdiesel]

Get a longer acting test and hit each delt once a week.....done.

[qscgugcsq]

I did a test prop as a first cycle...

Now that im more ezperienced I shouldve done long ester. Pinning tht much for a first cycle is not enjoyable...

It was a successful cycle. But I think it could have been better with a long ester.

Just my .02.

Agreed with above
Each Delt once a week would be my choice.

[< <Samson> >]

Get a longer acting test and hit each delt once a week.....done.

That's too easy, lol

[mesophyte]

Thanks guys. I prefer (based on profiles and not experience of course) test prop and I'm willing to pin EOD for the length of my cycle. It's fine.

I was just unsure of which spots to choose and the ideal pins.

I was thinking of using a 1cc syringe with changeable needles, a higher guage like a 23 to draw the test and a higher guage like a 27 maybe to inject. I was also considering the slin pin method, backloading the syringe with the test prop and the HCG on the days they coincide (in Austinite's HCG thread, the mixing of test + HCGH was deemed okay). But these syringes (at least the ones I've seen) are only 1/2".

I'll suck it up and do whatever the ideal is. Should I opt for 1 1/2" or is a shorter pin like 1" ok? How high of a guage can I use to inject if the syringe barrel is 1cc?

[BigBernese]

Hey man, I am on my first cycle as well so I have some of the same concerns you did.

25g needles are basically painless for me, maybe less than a mosquito bite when you first puncture but other than that it is basically mind over matter. I don't think you would need a 27g needle, might just get too frustrating how long it would take to inject. I have 23g needles as well and the difference isn't significant, if I sucked up the gear with a 23g I would just inject with that.

For hCG I just use an insulin pin and go in at my belly fat - easy, fast... I feel like mixing could lead to a host of other problems and I don't see the point when you are inexperienced like me.


I think it depends on how lean you are and the muscle for needle depth, you will hear different things from different people around here so I guess the best advice is to just test it out for yourself. I personally wouldn't be sticking 1 1/2 into the smaller muscle groups though.

[DontTaseMeBro]

1.5" for glutes. 1" for quads and delts. Glutes are pretty easy. I do them myself if necessary and get someone with experience to do it if convenient. Quads can be tricky. Always do these myself. Stick with the outside of the upper 1/3 and (maybe) you'll miss the nerve and blood vessels. I can do my left delt; but can't aspirate properly without significant pip on the right so I get help on that one. Switch it up. Enjoy.

[mesophyte]

A few minutes ago, after reading your posts, I went to the medical supply store. When I asked for syringes with removable pins 23g and 25g both x 1" and 1 1/2" he handed me slin pins 30g x 1/2"
Long story short, he says he has only the insulin syringes with non-removable pins and the ones with removable pins he has in 30g x 1/2", 26G x 1/2", and 22G x 1 1/4". He said the IM needle is the 22G x 1 1/4".

I think that is insane, does anyone here pin with a 22G needle? Sounds like a nightmare. Would you settle for one of these or keep looking?

[tectime]

22ga isn't too bad. I've even used an 18ga once! Only once was drawing up my shot and forgot to swap needles before injecting so 18 ga. after piercing three rubber stoppers ! Won't forget again hahaha! 23 ga. 1" 3 ml barrel is my standard for oils 27 or 31 ga. 1 ml for hcg or hgh. Like someone said it's alittle mind over matter at first.

[Mp859]

A few minutes ago, after reading your posts, I went to the medical supply store. When I asked for syringes with removable pins 23g and 25g both x 1" and 1 1/2" he handed me slin pins 30g x 1/2" Long story short, he says he has only the insulin syringes with non-removable pins and the ones with removable pins he has in 30g x 1/2", 26G x 1/2", and 22G x 1 1/4". He said the IM needle is the 22G x 1 1/4". I think that is insane, does anyone here pin with a 22G needle? Sounds like a nightmare. Would you settle for one of these or keep looking?

I use 22g for all oils.

[tectime]

Yes not too bad. In glutes really hard to tell any difference. Good flow when injecting also. I never cared much for 25ga. anywhere even when I used some glucosamine to help with a shoulder injury. Of course that shit has an awful pip anyways so that alone probly turned me off to them. Wicked pip but very effective.

[qscgugcsq]

I personnally do glute with 1inch 25g
Delt with 25g 5/8

And it goes fine. The longer the needle the harder it is for me...

So I go with the minimum effective...
I know the deeper the better but mentally it helps me.

25g I feel the pinch. But not painful.

I find glute to be hard to do, I can twist myself that much XD

I truly advice test-e but I was stubborn too and did it with prop.
I survived and it werent that bad.(except for the damn pip of the product I had...)

Good luck

[mesophyte]

Well if I can't figure this out today, I'm going to just suck it up and buy the 22G tomorrow and some slin pins for the hcg .

I am looking to stock up on 25G x 1 1/2" (for glutes), 25G x 1" (for delts), 22G x 1 1/2" (for drawing up), 30G x 1/2" (for sub-q, hcg)

In my country the medical supply stores don't understand me when I ask for these. They mark their boxes with measurements like 8 x 0,30 (slin pin example). I think that 25G x 1 1/2" would be 38 x 0,25 but I'm not sure. The clerks also don't seem too bright or helpful.

[mesophyte]

I was wrong about the local measurement. On a local forum the guys there said they use 25x7 or 30x7 so I checked with a manufacturer and apparently that works out to:

25x7 = 22G x 1"
30x7 = 22G x 1 1/4"

I'm really surprised. I thought the norm was to inject with 23G to 25G and certainly not with 22G. But this seems to be how it is done here.

[< <Samson> >]

Ok

23ga is alright, but there is no need to go with a fatter spike than a 25ga. Just warm the oil & flows well


23ga doesn't feel too bad either

Just buy your spikes online from a medical supply wholesaler

[mesophyte]

Ok

23ga is alright, but there is no need to go with a fatter spike than a 25ga. Just warm the oil & flows well


23ga doesn't feel too bad either

Just buy your spikes online from a medical supply wholesaler

Thanks Samson!
I prefer to just buy from one of these physical stores nearby, it will be quicker and I can buy a smaller amount to try out before purchasing the full amount needed for the cycle. I'm going to try and find 25G x 1 1/4" or 25G x 1" now that I know that it goes by "30x5" or "25x5". If not, I guess I'll just go with these 22G needles the guys here seem to use...

[< <Samson> >]

Shit, do every day shots - You'll want the cheapest you can find


I always had to order, no one here locally will sell them without a script - which is just total BS

[Mr.BB]

Nurses always use 21g for adults and 23g for kids when injecting in glutes, at least in my country.

22g or 23g is fine, you will feel almost nothing... unless you a nerve. In glutes you will have the least probablility of hitting nerves, specially in the ventrogluteal site. Quads can have a lot of nerves compared to delts.

The longer the needle the better, minimum 1 inch.

[David LoPan]

Nurses always use 21g for adults and 23g for kids when injecting in glutes, at least in my country.

22g or 23g is fine, you will feel almost nothing... unless you a nerve. In glutes you will have the least probablility of hitting nerves, specially in the ventrogluteal site. Quads can have a lot of nerves compared to delts.

The longer the needle the better, minimum 1 inch.

I dont. It all depends on WHAT I am injecting into a pt and what the size of the pt. It also depends on is the pt attitude, if they are a jerk well . . .

[qscgugcsq]

I dont. It all depends on WHAT I am injecting into a pt and what the size of the pt. It also depends on is the pt attitude, if they are a jerk well . . .

If they are a jerk then a 18g in the quad XD

[David LoPan]

If they are a jerk then a 18g in the quad XD

And they might not get the Novocaine mixture but the 0.9 NS instead.

[DontTaseMeBro]

you can get the pins you need from the sponsor here. There are inexpensive and it takes all of about 5 days.

[< <Samson> >]

Shit, hit my tri yesterday & blood shot out about a 6"

Fvcking vein

[Mr.BB]

brachial artery

[< <Samson> >]

brachial artery

That's what I said, LoL

[mesophyte]

I used a 22g 1 1/4" for my first injection. hit a delt as the other areas seemed to complicated and I just wanted to get on with it. the needle is quite a mindjob but I was quite surprised at how painless it was even while going slow (I couldn't bring myself to just jab it in).

[MuscleInk]

I used a 22g 1 1/4" for my first injection. hit a delt as the other areas seemed to complicated and I just wanted to get on with it. the needle is quite a mindjob but I was quite surprised at how painless it was even while going slow (I couldn't bring myself to just jab it in).

Wow, 22g. Most guys would freak out with that. 25g-27g is where many are comfortable. I've used 14-22 on patients but no way I'm drilling that harpoon into myself. Lol

[RigPig]

Wow, 22g. Most guys would freak out with that. 25g-27g is where many are comfortable. I've used 14-22 on patients but no way I'm drilling that harpoon into myself. Lol

hahahahaha...f**kin dick hahaha..

[mesophyte]

Thanks for your feedback everyone!

I already bought all the needles I need for the cycle. Looks like I'll be sticking with 22g 1 1/4" unless you think it would be unwise for some reason (scarring maybe?). Since some of you regularly use 22g I figured it would be ok.
I really thought the first injection was quite painless. Maybe the adrenaline helped, like I said, it was quite a mindjob for me. There is some soreness for sure, felt worse this morning when I woke up but quickly eased a bit after a while. Actually it reminds me of the last time I had a vaccine.

I'm going to get some help in locating the ventrogluteal injection site (going to get someone to use that palm method) but other than the ventroglutes and delts I'm really not sure where else I'd be comfortable injecting. The glutes seem really difficult for self injection, it is what I had planned to start with but the angle is really awkward. I'd be okay with glutes too if I could find the right way of doing it. Any of the other injection sites make me a bit nervous. Would it be okay to just cycle between these or would that leave too little time between injections in the same site?

Do I really need to find 1" and 1 1/2" pins or is my 1 1/4" an acceptable substitute for all sites? I don't want to buy from the site sponsor because I am certain I'll have a hard time receiving thise kind of thing in my country. At the local med supply store the only suitable IM pins they have are 22g 1 1/4".

I worry a bit that 1 1/4" in my thigh would go super deep, I'm scared of hitting something I shouldn't but maybe that is just my lack of knowledge of anatomy. (I also imagine the soreness post injection would keep me from the gym if I hit the quads)

1 1/4" in my glutes, I'm not sure it would reach deep in the muscle, but again I really have no idea.

I went all the way in with 1 1/4" in one or my delts and it was fine so maybe I'm overthinking this?

Need some guidance / reassurance guys!

By the way, does PIP stand for post injection pain?

[tectime]

your 1"1/4 are good to go if you took that in the delt you will have no problem taking it in the VG or in the glutes.

[mesophyte]

your 1"1/4 are good to go if you took that in the delt you will have no problem taking it in the VG or in the glutes.

Thanks! I'm going to try the glutes today. I was going to do the other delt but the soreness is starting to bother me. Do you think the soreness is due to the needle gauge or the test?

[RigPig]

Thanks! I'm going to try the glutes today. I was going to do the other delt but the soreness is starting to bother me. Do you think the soreness is due to the needle gauge or the test?

really hard to say at this point, probably just virgin muscle pain. Try heating your test before you pin it. I usually hold it under the hot water tap for a good minute or so to get it good and warm. I find it goes in more smooth and no pip at all, not the day of not the day after, nothing.

[mesophyte]

really hard to say at this point, probably just virgin muscle pain. Try heating your test before you pin it. I usually hold it under the hot water tap for a good minute or so to get it good and warm. I find it goes in more smooth and no pip at all, not the day of not the day after, nothing.

Does PIP stand for post injection pain?

I ended up warming the oil in the syringe (grasping it for a minute).

Today was a mess, I felt like a complete clutz. First, I ended up with slightly less test in the syringe than I had planned and only noticed after the new needle was in, had to switch and draw more. In the process, I somehow managed to get it on my hands, partially rubbing off the markings on the syringe. Then my hand started trembling as I tried to push the needle into my glute to the point where I had to take it out and start over otherwise I'd have done some damage. When I finally got it in and started injecting I noticed mid way that I had pulled the needle up slightly so it was only about an inch in so I pushed it back in and continued. A bit worried about that.

I noticed today that I have a slightly red and tender patch on the biceps of the arm where I hit delts on wednesday (few inches away from the injection site). The injection site itself is normal looking and less tender than that spot on my biceps. It is only very slightly red and only very slightly tender but it got me a bit worried, do think it is normal? (My armband for my phone was a bit tight for a good hour around there but that was several hours ago and it is still like this)