Copaxone and lipoatrophy
 

I haven't seen this addressed here before, but I wanted to know how many Copaxone users have experienced the destruction of fatty tissue in injection sites.

I have indentations on my thighs as big as my hand and similar on the backs of my arms, on my hips and stomach. Unsightly, but not really a problem, until I discovered you cannot continue to inject in the "dead zone." I talked with Shared Solutions and the nurse I spoke to offered to send out a nurse to re-train me. I don't believe that I am doing anything wrong. I rotate the sites. The nurse then suggested I may want to see my neuro. I was going to see her, but do I need to have these areas assessed or at least brought to my drs. attention?

Thanks as always for your support and input.

I have indentations on my stomach. I use my stomach most often though because it hurt a lot less there. I have never really worried about them. I guess it wouldn't hurt to mention them to the neuro.

I stopped doing my thighs because of this, and also because of the gray color my skin was turning.
I have those indentations on my backside, none on my arms or tummy. The indentations on my thighs have largely dissipated since discontinuing using that as a site. It took about 9 mos. for it to fill out...

I am dented in my legs, bum bum, arms, and belly. I have very nice chunks missing of fat. when i showed it to the MD he said "so what?!" I said HEY! im melting! pretty soon there will be no place left to shoot! and he said "you are not a bikini model, and you need the meds, so I say keep shooting." I wanted to slap him!

I have recently stopped taking copaxone, and failed off of all the other meds, so I am bareback in the world of MS. its highly noticable when I wear short sleeves, or shorts. Im sorry I waited as long as I did to quit.

I didn't use copaxone, but I found even with Beta I got some nasty 'hail damage' on the tops of my legs- the dents seemed to be the result of those few injections that hurt like h*ll and stayed painful for weeks.

Lyn

Hey there Catch!

I am actually on Rebif. My neuro was going to put me on Copaxone 6 months ago but decided that wasn't a good idea since I am uninsured.

I have spoke with several women that are on copaxone and only have that as their complaint with the drug. They showed me the 'dead spots' that were like craters in their abdomen and thighs. They said our neuro said it is very common and really one of the only negative side effects with the drug.

I personally would have a huge problem with this as I already have a HUGE problem with Rebif leaving those nasty quarter sized purple/red marks all over my body.

Im thankful that they have been able to discover drugs to help slow the progression of our disease I really am, but I hate the disease modifying drug. They make my insides feel like poop. and the fact that I am injecting myself with human blood amino acid and CHINESE HAMSTER OVARY CELLS is rather disturbing.... eeEEEkkKKKK!:eek:
-Ana D

I will never ask what they make Copaxone out of (LOL) As it seems to be the best thing I've got. At least I'm old enough not to be bothered about the way my arms or thighs look.

This was condition was never discussed with me, as far as I can recall I only noted it as I read through some literature. I certainly never got the idea it was common!

Does anybody know what you do when you run out of injectible areas?:(

I feel a thousand times better since stopping the drugs! it was a horrible choice to make, but I am glad I made it. My skin has cleared up, my hair stopped falling out, and my tummy feels better. I was running out of places to shoot. I have huge dents everywhere.

Destruction of fatty tissue
 

I wondered what you decided to do about the lipoatrophy. I have the same exact problem and worry about what to do if i run out of places to inject. I saw my neuro today and showed her the dents and she suggested switching to Avonex, even though I have had 2 stable MRI's on the Copaxone.