ask: Has anyone had severe low back pain after seasonal flu shot?
I took a mandatory flu shot at work Oct. 19, 2009 on my left arm. I had chills and a fever of 102* along with left arm aching pain, and a bout of severe low back pain within the first 2 weeks after receiving the shot. All other symptoms have since dissipated except for the severe low back pain and a strange wobbliness in my legs. The low back pain is bad enough to where I could not move by myself for a week, and now cannot really sit or bend without a high degree of constant pain.
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Dear jsingh
Thanks so much for your question. Your chills and fever after the flu shot are considered a fairly common side effect. Such severe lower back pain as a side effect to the seasonal flu shot, however, is not common. If it is so debilitating that you have difficulty moving then you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. It may indeed be connected to the shot, or it could be a coincidence. Many of us take these shots and some will have another condition at the same time that is not linked. Talk to your doctor. And if it is found to be connected, you may qualify for compensation.
Hopefully some of our readers may have experienced something similar and can fill you in on their situations. We've had many readers talk about their arm pain due to the flu not, but not lower back pain. You need to see a health care professional, especially if you are not seeing an improvement.
Will you keep us updated?
November 20, 2009 - 1:30pmThis Comment
I am having back pain after my swine flu shot. Not severe, but enough so I am up at 2am reading this post.
December 3, 2009 - 11:39pmHi, I'm sorry to hear that. I actually had severe pain for almost 6 weeks. It's better now, but only after I took 800mg of ibuprofen almost everyday for about two weeks. I didn't go see a doctor, so I am not sure what caused the pain. Hope you feel better soon.
December 4, 2009 - 12:33pmI have back pain and paresthesia in my legs since 12-30-09. I received a shot on 11-26-09. Now I have burning pain in my shoulders and arms.
March 12, 2010 - 8:01pmProbably the lymph nodes in your lower back swelling, which can cause severe lower back pain.
November 1, 2010 - 5:03pmIf the pain is in your lower back it might involve your kidneys. It could be a form of glommerulonephritis - IgA nephropathy. Basically, when you inject an Antigen into your body (which is what vaccinations do) your body produces antibodies. The antibodies combine with the antigens to form large molecules called immune complexes. These can get stuck in the small vessels of your kidney (amongst other places such as joints) and cause an inflammatory reaction. There is a growing body of research on this side effect of vaccinations. I don't mean to frighten anybody - I think vaccinations are very safe for the most part. Certainly, for some individuals the risk benefit equation makes them truly a life saver (the elderly, immune compromised individuals, etc). Also, the anti vaccine brigade is largely uneducated and potentially dangerous. Imbibing the polio antigen, for example, is FAR safer than contracting the disease. The risks of childhood ilnesses also outweight those of the vaccine. However, making flu shots mandatory for healthy individuals presents an interesting ethical debate. Personally, I am against it. (P.S. I am pretty sure it has nothing to do with lymph nodes!)
November 26, 2011 - 7:39pm