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I was happy to receive the flu shot this year, as I feel like it's "doing my part" to stop the spread of the influenza virus. Plus, any inoculation that can either prevent, or lessen the symptoms, of flu is motivation to me!
I've received the flu shot annually, for the past 10 years. I have the typical soreness at site, possibly a little tired that evening. But that's it.
This year...my shoulder muscle (at the site of the injection) is still painful, so much that I can't move my arm forward at shoulder-level, or lift my arm up over my head, without a sharp pain in that one muscle. If my arm is still, it does not hurt. It is affecting my sleep, as I am confined to sleeping on only my right side (it is my left arm that hurts).
Are there any other reports of this flu shot symptom? Did I just not move my arm enough after the shot (kind of "favored it"), or is there something else wrong??
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I have had flu shots for 20 yrs & this was the 1st time I went outside doctors office & 1st time the shot was given so high up the arm. It has been a week & I am still in severe pain (something I never had). I have a doctors appointment tomorrow because I don't know what else to do about this pain. Only thing I can see in
September 20, 2011 - 3:02amcommon with other people having this pain is the shot being done higher up the arm. To be safe people should request the shot not be given in that location.
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Same issues as everyone except mine stems from a tetanus shot. I got it last Wednesday, given by a doctor who in my view was being careful, it was quite high though, I recall thinking that at the time but since he seemed to be taking care I never thought twice of it. Then about 3 hours later, pain started, it began as stiffness then when I went to bed, lying down was agony, the next morning i was actually in tears it was so sore. I could not even tie up my hair. It got looser during the day but every night and morning since it has been same. I really hope this isn't going to last. I see different things seem to work for everyone and everyone seems to have been diagnosed with a variety of things, all damage from the needle though so at least I have that to go on. has anyone any more news on this since March? So far it seems Steroids and ART are the favourites along with pain meds. Also just to ask, my flat mate has also been experience bad back pains and her pain sounds similar to mine (like nerve/muscle pain) and it got into my head that a muscle infection could be the cause and could be something we picked up in the flat? Would that be a possibility? I do think it is just a coincidence to be fair but no harm in checking if anyone else had something like that. My flat mate has not had any injections or the like but the pain she describes sounds like mine. On reading all the posts though i know that is def the injection now but still felt like asking. So basically, horrible pain for the next while then unless I can get some good pain meds! How is everyone now, still sore?
June 20, 2011 - 2:23amThis Comment
Also, just want to point out, my doctor was being careful and made point of telling me to be very still while he injected me, which I did. It was usual dull pain on injection then my real pain did not kick in until 3 hours later. I think that when something like this happens, it is not always careless people, sometimes just unlucky.
June 20, 2011 - 2:38amThis Comment
Lauren, your situation sounds very similar to mine, except it was a flu shot. I got my shot in October of 2009 and was in agony within three or four hours. For months my arm hurt and because it hurt I didn't use it hardly at all so eventually my shoulder froze and my movement became very limited. Once I figured out what was happening (thanks to the help of this board) I started forcing my arm. I would stretch and hold as often as I could stand it. The goal... was to be able to reach behind my back and undo my bra (which I could do before the shot). When I started, I could not even take a blouse off with my left arm. Believe it or not, I was finally able to undo my bra (with a little difficulty) last week. Yes that is June 2011. Almost 2 years (shot was October 14, 2009). Just do what ever you can to keep your arm from freezing up.
June 20, 2011 - 10:32amThis Comment
Thanks, I have been actually, again, thanks to this board. I am on ibuprofen and paracetamol until I can see my friend who is an amazing osteopath and luckily he has dealt with this before so knows how to fix it. Can't get over how common this is! I have had 5 tetanus shots and never pain like this. The combination of the ibuprofen and paracetamol is working well, this morning was first morning that I could move my arm without too much pain, so it was obviously swollen before even though I could not feel it, I do need to keep taking tabs though, i was late taking them yesterday and pain came back quick enough! Two years, you poor thing, I am hoping my osteo friends usually magic hands will work. I really don't want to have to get used to this. I started to get sharp pin like pains (very short) in arm yesterday as well, went quickly enough but was something new, hopefully just a side affect of not using my arm as much. thanks
June 21, 2011 - 1:50amThis Comment
I, too, experienced arm pain, then shoulder pain after my first ever flu shot. The pain started as a dull ache at the site of injection which worsened over the next few weeks. It then spread to my shoulder and after eight weeks, I was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendonitis. I did not injure my shoulder, nor have I ever had this type of problem before. I saw a physician at a Sports Medicine Clinic who informed me that he was surprised at the number of similar injuries he has seen after receiving the flu shot.
March 30, 2011 - 11:25amThis Comment
What did the Sports Medicine Clinician do to treat, or what did he/she suggest? How has it worked for you? We'd love to hear your feedback on treatment in case it could help someone else. Thanks for your post.
March 31, 2011 - 7:24amThis Comment
My "too high flu shot" was way back on 10/8/09. It was very painful for 7 months. I did PT and finally got the nerve up to get a cortisone shot from my Orthopedist. It relieved the pain within 2 or 3 days. It does still linger and seems will NEVER be the same. It had seemed to get way better until I irritated it by vacuuming in too much of a hurry. I jerked my shoulder and it's been hurting since. It is just a tolerable pain now. I don't like to take the NSAIDS so I just tolerate it. It is worst when I try to pull my top off over my head (you know with the arms criscrossing)... that is just too painful, but it's such a normal way to do it that you forget and then,...ouch. Sleeping on that side is still hard. I have not bothered to go back to the ortho with the pain as it is, like I said, tolerable. I am afraid that the damage has been done to us all and we will NEVER be the same as we were. I have grandkids and it's really frustrating that I have to be so careful to pick them up. I still do it and then pay for it later. No Doctor that I have dealt with seems to believe that it is due to the shot. I tried a grievance for my copays to be paid for since it was their fault and I was denied. So, Good luck to you all.. Oh, since it is so spread out....all of us are all over the place with shots at clinics, stores and HMO's and PPO's.... no attorney will take this. Don't believe the FDA cares either. What are they going to do? Send a letter to all the "caregivers" reminding them to give the shot correctly? There will always be some duffas doing it wrong. The majority of the damage has been from incorrect placement of the needle. With the occasional reaction to the actual flu medicine in the needle. Again, good luck to you all.
March 22, 2011 - 10:36amThis Comment
Sad to say..but daisygirl is absolutely right. My problem was not caused by a careless person administering the injection..as it was properely given. It was the flu vaccine itself. It has been nearly 2 years for me (September 23, 2009) The pain eventually goes away for the most part, but the problem always remains. The least little thing can bring on pain again..so you do tend to favor the arm/shoulder and protect it from injury. The final answer on my injury is permanant nerve damage. Each must do as one will do..but as for me and my loved ones..no flu vaccines. Good luck to all and seek help for your problem..
August 30, 2011 - 5:29amThis Comment
quick followup... my flu shot in Sep2009 apparently hit a nerve (very careless nurse obviously in a hurry basically just stabbed me with the needle), I had pain immediately and continually afterward, for about a year. It slowly started to get better about 9 months later and as of about Jan2011 (when I reluctantly got my next flu shot) it's all better.
March 22, 2011 - 9:01amI think passing of time and exercise is all it took. I did take NSAIDs (like Aleve) every day much of that year for the pain, I don't know if that may have helped, other than to ease the discomfort.
Good luck to everyone. (I made sure to clearly explain to the person giving my shot this year what happened last time, so he would be extra careful, and he was, and no problems.)
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