I am the biggest baby about shots and I couldn't believe the level of constant pain I was in while doing the progesterone and oil shots. I too couldn't fathom having to do them for weeks on end, but for what it's worth, they miraculously got significantly better for me after about a week and a half, despite the fact that that's when the itchy bug bite like welts appeared.

Hang in there, it should get better!

Do not use ice at all. Start by warming injection site with hot towels, massaging deeply with the hot towel. Next, warm PIO bottle in warm water (put bottle in sealable plastic Baggie first). Once oil is warm, draw up and stretch skin flat with one hand while quickly injecting. Afterwards, massage area deeply with hot towels. Works well to reduce muscle soreness!

Today was my FIRST shot. I can't lay or sit on my left side now. All I keep thinking it how am I going to be able to sit at all after the next shot on the opposite side?! and 69 more shots?! wow! this is insane. I'm taking everyone's advice and picking up a heating pad tomorrow... stat! I lay down on stomach while he injects, so my muscle is relaxed. is that OK? Seems like the only real pain soother is a heating pad. This is tough ladies! Hang in there. We can do this!!

Massage for a few minutes before and after. Don't ICE!

I hate it when my husband smacks my bottom while I'm really sored there. Arghh!!

I am on day 6 of the injections (day 2 post fet) and I too cannot believe the pain that I feel the next day. Heat is the Only thing that soothes it, plus knowing that I'm doing it for a great reason. I've tried massaging, squatting, rotating my legs... Nothing helps the pain except for a hearing pad. Unfortunately that relief is short lived as well. I work a job outside with animals where walking, bending, squatting are all musts and getting in and out if the car is frequent and at times unbearable. Does anyone have success with topicals? This is my first pregnancy and I don't know what I can and cannot use. Ill ask my doctor too but I'd love first hand experience.

Thanks everyone!

I am only 4 days into this and I'm worried I won't be able to do it. The injection typically doesn't hurt but last night wow it hurt. The worst part is the muscle pain the next day. I can barely get in and out of the car. Every morning I start my day on heating pad. I try and stretch frequently but no relief. I'm going to try to do squats after the shot tonight.

It helps to know I'm not the only one going through this.

OP here: the tips are great and I feel much better. Not 100%, but good. I warm up the area beforehand, briefly, using a heating pad. I stand in a twisted position, stretching the butt cheek muscle as much as possible, w/ that foot completely off the ground so there's no stress on the muscle. After the jab and bandaid, massage intensely for at least 3 minutes, then heating pad for 20, then exercise (stairs, squats) for 20 min. I like the stick-on heating pads but they're not a cure-all. Tylenol is good but avoid Aleve and naproxen.

Try taking a really hot shower before the injections, and then use a heating pad and swing your leg and hip around after. It worked for me. Good luck!

I found that a pretty intense 3 minute massage after the injection really helped the soreness the next day. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to do at the moment, but it saved me pain the next day.

I would love to do the suppositories, but because of another health issue, using them is extremely painful. I tried, and gave up. It was even worse than the shots for me, but I know a lot of people tolerate them quite well.

I would sometimes do the same side two nights in a row, if the other side was painful.

The other option is to consider using the suppositories instead. There is no evidence the shots are more successful (though they can be less expensive). I switched to suppositories after my bfp.

I am having the exact same issue. INTENSE muscle soreness and weakness after the injections - for me, much worse than post workout soreness. I've been experimenting - at first I was icing before, and applying heat after. Last night, no icing, just heat after, and that side seems modestly less painful than the other side the previous day. I've also read that some people warm up the oil a little bit to make it inject more quickly. I've also tried injecting my thigh after one of my hips was out of commission - but man, does that hurt the next day, and my limp was so bad that I also ended up with back pain from holding myself in weird positions to try to stave off the quad pain. The hips are definitely better. I'll probably keep throwing in a thigh every third day, because one of my hips just can't seem to handle every other day, but I'm not exactly looking forward to it.

I would put a heating pad on after for about 10-20 mins after and be ok. The one time I didnt I felt MUCH more sore than usual, made sure to always put heat after that time.

Well, yes, you're injecting something into your muscle, so it's not surprising that it would be sore. You shouldn't be icing AFTER though -- heat or movement is better to get the oil absorbed. Some people recommend not icing before either.

Hi - I ice before and after and don't find the injection itself painful, but that night and the next day I'm really sore, having problems getting out of my chair, bending down, climbing stairs. This feels like muscle soreness, like I've overdone it at the gym. Any tips? TIA!