Is it normal for my arm muscle in my shoulder to hurt 2 weeks after flu shot?

I am having the exact same symptoms and was beginning to think I was crazy. I have been to my primary care physician and she tells me it is a bruised muscle! I received the shot four weeks ago and nothing seems to give me relief!!!!

I got the flu shot this year as I do every year. That was almost 3 weeks ago and my arm/shoulder still hurts. It was so bad that last week I went to the doc after reading threads like this online. He said we could spend a lot of money on tests (which may come back inconclusive) and physical therapy (which may not really speed up the healing process) but in the end it is probably just a matter of time. He DID give me a steriod pack which I finished yesterday morning...the last pill. The steriods helped immediately, however today when I woke up the stiffness is back in the shoulder and I am hoping it doesn't get worse.

At its worst, the pain was so bad that when I tried to remove my gown over my head I doubled over...unable to the complete the task. I had tingling and numbness in my arm and fingers, and down into my shoulder blade. I have never had anything from past flu shots other than a little arm soreness that lasted a couple of days. This is different. Like the others we believed that the shot was a little high and also towards the back of the shoulder.

Because of a lowered kidney function my doc has told me to limit NSAID intake. This is bad news since that is the only thing that actually helped the pain. Since I can't afford expensive tests or PT right now (and from reading the blog they don't really seem to help much in the diagnosis or recovery) I'm gonna give it a little time...unless it gets worse and becomes unbearable again. I plan to keep checking back here and reporting the progress. I DID feel better after reading the posts because I realized this was apparently not just some funky anomaly that only I was experiencing.

Anyone else out there who has been dealing with this for one year or more? Please let us know. Pat

I'm also at about the one-year point since I was stabbed with a flu shot, and I still have some lingering pain and problems reaching certain ways, but it is much better. I still take Naproxen or Aleve every day - and I'm worse when I stop the meds. Every couple of months I've stopped the meds to see how I was doing, and it's better than it was, but still bad enough that I go back to the drugs. I think that exercise, some weight-lifting, has helped (but who knows if it would have progressed the same if I didn't use it at all). I haven't been able to get any in depth evaluation (I've been in Iraq all this time), but when I get home soon I hope to get scanned or something and maybe start some other treatment.
Bottom line - time seems to help. (And I'm still furious with that careless, thoughtless, downright dangerous nurse...)

Well, I would like to say that I am finally over my flu shot fiasco, but sadly...it lingers on. September 23rd will be 1 year since my seasonal flu vaccine and I am still in pain. I am tempted to take another cortisone injection, but the orthopedic doctor says that isn't going to help much..in the long run. He says that he feels lost as to giving me help or advice because he hasn't seen this level of problem before. PT taught me how to avoid overtaxing my shoulder, but it didn't heal me. I can sleep on my left side, but when I turn over..the pain is awful and I can't even dream about reaching for the covers, it hurts too much. On the other hand..overall, I rarely have pain when I am up and active unless I move suddenly or unexpectedly. Is there anyone else out there who has had a problem this long?

Well I got my MRI results back. Looks like I must have imagined the Flu shot as the MRI showed my problems related to some Arthritis in my shoulder. Ortho doc hit me up with my 2nd cortisone shot and told me 2 more weeks of PT should do me good then continue with the exercises at home.

I will still keep up on the page...I guess I should be glad it was not the shot...it probably would have meant more problems. But you never like to think your imagining things :)

I have posted multiple times since last year. It has been 10 months since my flu shot last September. I have done everything mentioned here, meds, PT, tests..etc, with the exception of resorting to surgery. I have an Ortho doc as well. MRI results were posted in the past, nothing new to add for that. The cortisone shot did not last long, but my level of pain is better. I give the credit to PT and my therapist. He specializes in shoulders and he has told me that this isn't the 1st time he has seen my type of problem...and that for this very reason, he will not allow members of his family to take vaccines. My store will never offer them to employees again.

PT is the ONLY thing that has helped me. I can live with the pain which is mildly annoying at times, but tolerable. Much like a post earlier, I can move a certain way or move suddenly and the pain will be excruciating. PT has helped me to keep a decent range of motion and while I have been released from PT, I continue to do at home what I have been taught....and I avoid sudden movements as much as possible. I am sorry that I don't have more encouraging news to post...about all that I can add is that I am not as bad off as I was when I first came here seeking information, but I am not healed either. It's just more tolerable. My doctors do not offer any answers..and only the Ortho has agreed that it was indeed the FLUVIRIN vaccine that caused all of this. I am not the only one at my store who was injured by it..I have a co-worker in the same boat. :-( We just continue to try to have a positive attitude and the hope that eventually, this will heal.