Glute Injection Pain: When to Worry and What to Do

Last Updated On April 1, 2025

Are you experiencing discomfort after a recent gluteal injection? You’re not alone. Whether it’s for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), vitamin B12, contraceptives, or other medications, many people experience glute injection pain. Knowing when it’s normal and when to seek help can save you unnecessary worry.

Normal Glute Injection Pain: What to Expect

If you’ve recently received an injection in your gluteal muscles, some discomfort is perfectly normal. Here’s what typical post-injection pain feels like:

• Soreness that begins within 24 hours after injection
• Mild to moderate discomfort when sitting or touching the area
• Slight warmth at the injection site
• Pain that gradually improves over 3-5 days

A recent message from a patient described this common experience: “I did my first glute injection three days ago. There was no pain during the injection, but the next day it became painful and uncomfortable. The injection area is hot to touch, but there’s no swelling or bruising.”

This description matches what thousands of people experience after receiving gluteal injections, particularly those who self-administer medications like testosterone.

When Glute Injection Pain Becomes Concerning

While most post-injection discomfort resolves on its own, certain symptoms warrant medical attention:

• Pain that intensifies rather than improves after 3-4 days
• Significant redness, swelling, or streaking from the injection site
• Fever or chills
• Severe pain that limits normal movement
• Discharge or pus from the injection site

These symptoms could indicate an infection, abscess, or other complications that require professional evaluation.

A Personal Experience With Severe Glute Injection Pain

In my 15 years of TRT, I’ve only had one truly bad glute injection experience, and it’s worth sharing what happened as a reference point:

The pain began about 12 hours after injection and progressively worsened – a warning sign that something wasn’t right. The cause turned out to be expired testosterone, which can become contaminated or chemically altered over time.

At 3AM, I woke up in absolute agony. My entire glute and leg were in such severe pain that I was completely immobilized. I needed painkillers just to numb the pain enough to get out of bed to use the bathroom. It was genuinely brutal.

However, by the end of that day, the pain had already started to subside. By the next morning, I could walk again, and over the following 24 hours, the pain quickly diminished.

Even in this worst-case scenario from my decade-and-a-half of experience, medical intervention wasn’t required – just rest, patience, and pain management. This experience taught me the importance of checking medication expiration dates and proper storage, especially for self-administered injections.

Why Do Glute Injections Cause Pain?

Several factors contribute to post-injection discomfort:

1. Injection volume: Medications like testosterone or vitamin B12 often require larger volume injections
2. Medication base: Oil-based medications (like testosterone) or certain additives in injectable medications can cause temporary irritation
3. Injection technique: Improper depth or location can increase pain
4. Injection speed: Administering the medication too quickly can irritate surrounding tissues
5. Individual factors: Muscle density, body fat percentage, and personal sensitivity can affect pain levels

Minimizing Glute Injection Pain: Expert Tips

Want to make your injection experience more comfortable? Try these proven techniques:

• Warm the medication: Allow medications stored in the refrigerator to reach room temperature before injecting (if permitted by your healthcare provider)
• Try ventro-gluteal injections: This alternative site (upper, outer quadrant of the buttock) typically causes less pain than traditional dorso-gluteal injections
• Rotate injection sites: Don’t use the same spot repeatedly
• Inject slowly: Taking 30-60 seconds to administer the medication reduces tissue trauma
• Use proper needle size: A 25-27G needle with appropriate length for your body composition minimizes discomfort
• Apply ice: A cold pack before injection can help numb the area (though avoid this with certain medications like testosterone that should be warm)
• Relax the muscle: Putting weight on the opposite leg helps relax the gluteal muscle being injected
• Check the expiry date of your medication: expired medication may cause an adverse reaction after your injection, as I learned the hard way

The Bottom Line on Glute Injection Pain

Gluteal injections can sometimes be a literal “pain in the ass,” but most post-injection discomfort is temporary and harmless. This is particularly true for regular injections like testosterone replacement therapy, where patients often develop better technique over time.

Monitor your symptoms, give it a few days to improve, and only seek medical attention if the pain worsens after 3-4 days or if you develop additional concerning symptoms.

Remember: even in rare cases when injections cause complications, they’re rarely life-threatening—though they can cause extended discomfort and may require medical intervention. With proper technique and patience, your body will likely adjust to the injections over time, resulting in less post-injection pain and a smoother experience, especially for those on long-term injection therapies like TRT.

For a full guide on pain-free glute injections, check out my Ventrogluteal Injection Guide and save yourself tons of time and pain.