Painful Gluteal Injections: What's Your Position?

Anticipation of the discomfort of anintramuscular injection causes anxietyfor many patients. To reduce bothpain and anxiety, ask the patient tolean forward with elbows on the examinationtable (or surface of similarheight), feet slightly wider than shoulderwidth apart, and toes pointed asfar inward as is comfortable. The patientgains some sense of control andfeels less pain during the injection.
-- Katy O'Donald, CRNP
    Altoona, Pa