I had HUGE lumps, itch and burn after the injection when I started Copaxone, and it was enough that I almost quit.

A wonderful nurse suggested that AFTER the injection, whether AI or not, doesnt matter. Take your Cotton ball, or paper towel, and PUSH straight down INTO the injection area. DONT RUB!!!! Copaxone is a sharp crystal style drug, and rubbing fractures the crystals. JUST FIRM pressure. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. What this does is push the meds from the UPPER layer of fat, into the deeper layer of fat.

This was like a miracle for me. The burning was MUCH less, the lump was all but gone the next day, and the itch really backed off. After 24 hours you can HAND massage the site with lotion or oil. After 48 you can machine massage. it dramatically helps those lumps go away. I pound them into butter.

For the itch I took zyrtec at night for months. I also use benedryl cream after the injection.

Copaxone while touted as being the one with the least side effects was the hardest for me to take. The lumps, the burn, the itch! I still cant use my arms. I kept smacking muscle. So, learning to shoot a bit more shallow and using the push method surely saved me from laying down that needle.

I hope it helps you too. hang in there.