REd, first, let me say I am sorry you are having troubles, the early days are the hardest while you get used to the meds, and the routine. I had stinging that would last an hour sometimes. it gets MUCH better. hang in there.

IF you are already pulling the cap off to check the needle (AI OR NOT) pull back on the plunger a bit. This pulls the meds OUT of the needle, and into the syringe. I have found that if any of the meds are sitting in the needle tip, or a tiny lil drip is hanging on the end, the shot is 50x more painful. So, I pull back on the plunger a tiny bit, and then wipe the needle with an alcohol wipe to be sure no residue remains on the needle.

As far as alchol wipes for your skin, unless you live in a bus station, you really dont need them. For those who are having bad skin reactions, one of the first things SS tells them to do is stop using alcohol wipes.

I have TOUGH skin, so sometimes no matter how sharp the needle, it takes some pressure to pop that sucker through the skin. I manually shoot, and find that popping it through the skin, and then pushing slowly till I reach the depth I want it less trauma for my skin. The AI SLAMS it into your skin.

Also if you passed through a capillary bed, or some nerve endings, it can make it ALOT more painful.

My routine.

1. take out needle 30 minutes before
2. hold it against body. (in bra, waistband, whatever)
3. wipe wide area with alcohol, so it dont matter if I miss
4. pull back on plunger, wipe needle
5. let BOTH areas dry.
6. pop through skin, push meds slow
7. withdraw needle
8. push directly into the injection area for 15 to 30 seconds.
HOLD FIRM PRESSURE BUT DONT RUB!
9. slather on benedryl cream
10. ice pack for a few minutes.

Since pushing the lumps/itch/ reactions and stings are way less.

Hope that helps.