ask: Is it normal for my arm muscle in my shoulder to hurt 2 weeks after flu shot?
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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It is common to have your arm hurt after a flu shot but two weeks afterwards may be an allergic reaction. Are you allergic to eggs? Have you had the flu shot before and had this reaction?
It is common to feel achy but you may want to consult your physician about the persistence of the achy arm to be sure you may not be having a reaction.
December 7, 2008 - 10:47amThis Comment
I am experiencing pain after 2 weeks also, especially if I lay on my left arm. After the shot was given, I bleed a lot, and still have a quarter size black and blue. It seems to be a bit high. Also, when the needle was taken out, I could still feel the pain of the liquid going into my arm.
October 15, 2010 - 5:37pmI have had flu shots for 20 years, and this has never happened for this amount of time. I hope you feel better quickly.
I found out that the reason it is still hurting after all this time, now 3 weeks, and still black and blue, is because a blood vessel in the muscle was punctured. That may be the reason others are hurting so long too.
October 27, 2010 - 8:19pmI am not allergic to the shot or eggs.
Good Morning ALL,
November 4, 2011 - 3:25amOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i HAD A FLU SHOT YESTERRDAY AROUND 3PM AND MY ARM IS KILLING ME ;( THE GUY ENDED UP GIVING ME TO SHOTS BECAUSE THE FIRST SHOT AND THE SURYNGE ENDED UP LEAKING SO HE HAD TO GIVE ME ANOTHER SHOT i WOKE UP EVERY 5 MINS WITH MY ARM. iT IS VERY PAINFUL AND TO TOP IT OFF IM A LEFTY ;( ANY ADVICE THANK YA'LL
when the flu shot is given properly, normally an "IM" shot (intramuscular) is sore/painful for about 3 to 5 days but with each progressive day, the muscle soreness gets better, or it should get better. Taking ibuprofen does help with the muscle achiness.
Additionally, the shot should've been given in the nondominant arm.
mistake on the part of the person who gave you the shot.
If there's continued pain after about 5 days to 7 days, then there maybe a problem?
Katherine
November 4, 2011 - 6:27pmI Am not allergic to eggs.
December 18, 2008 - 12:41pmI had the flu shot in Nov.
This is the end of December, I am still having problems with my
left arm, where the shot was given. Tenderness, Soreness, Can't sleep on that arm. Bothers me to move my arm around. Help. What do I do?
I have the same issue, and I am not allergic to eggs, either. I started wondering if I was "favoring" that arm for awhile after my flu shot, then somehow injured it afterwards?
I think we should both go back to the location where we received the flu shot, and talk with them. If this is an adverse reaction to the flu, then it should be recorded (and, they can tell us if other similar reactions have occurred).
December 18, 2008 - 3:26pmI have the same problem too. very painful arm, cant sleep on it, hurts to move it. I thought it was just me. we need to have this checked
December 8, 2009 - 6:59amI'm also having the same symptoms... I had the flu shot 6 weeks ago and still have pain in my upper arm, deep in the muscle. I spoke to my doctor about it but she brushed it off and said I must have pulled a muscle, but I know that's not the case. I'm not allergic to eggs and have no other symptoms (no redness or swelling, etc).
Any ideas? Has anyone else talked to their doctor, and if so what did they say?
December 29, 2008 - 9:17amI have the same symptoms and reported this thread to my doctor. We don't see any posting about what it was or what doctors are doing about it. I have been in pain since September 23, 2009. I finally had an MRI done on Christmas Eve. Don't know anything about it yet...my FP brushed it off and gave me pain pills and a muscle relaxer and said I was having nasty spasms. I don't have spasms and I have not injured myself, so I sought out an orthopedic doctor who ordered the MRI. I see him again on January 12, 2010. Any one have any answers yet?
January 2, 2010 - 2:47pm