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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Interesting that so many people are having this problem. I had a flu shot 2 weeks ago, and it is very difficult to lift my arm past my chest. When the lady gave me the shot it felt like she hit my bone- I remember thinking that. I'm hoping this goes away!
January 28, 2013 - 7:19pmThis Comment
I have had the same experience. An aching pain in the shoulder and arm all the way down to my hand for a week now. Nothing seems to really relieve it and it is not getting better. I am starting to wonder if it is just something in this years vaccine that is causing so many to have the same symptoms.
January 25, 2013 - 11:18amDon't know if this will help or not because I haven't made it through all of the comments but I too, received my flu shot on Sept 5, 2012. So much back and forth with my doctor...steroids, pain pills, finally a referral for an MRI. I have a TORN TENDON in my rotator cuff :( I was then referred to an ortho doctor who said I need surgery or we could try a cortisone shot (WHAT?). I was high anxiety but he talked me into trusting him and I have had relief for a month. I started physical therapy last week, two sessions so far. I can slowly feel the pain coming back, which my ortho doc said would probably happen once the cortisone wore off. I'm 35, female and am now in debt over this and still most likely getting surgery. The contracted agency that gave the flu shot has said they would reimburse me for out of pocket expenses but I haven't seen any money as of today. They obviously have never heard of this and weren't expecting it to go this far. I have a lawyer on standby for if they refuse to reimburse. Let me know if I can help with any questions!
January 24, 2013 - 8:55pmIs it possible to hurt from it over a year?
January 24, 2013 - 4:14pmI still hurt from it and my shot was September 23, 2009. And to the other posters who say their doctors have never heard of this..I have found that in most cases..this simply isn't true. This problem is not as uncommon as some would have you believe.
January 25, 2013 - 10:20pmI am also having severe pain from the flu shot. I received mine on Jan. 5. It is now 2 weeks later and the pain is getting worse! My pain didn't start until 4-5 days after the shot and it is progressively getting worse. It doesn't really hurt if I am not moving it, but I am unable to lift it without severe pain. Getting a shirt on and off is so painful that I feel like I might pass out. I have never experienced anything like this. I am worried about it, but it is helpful to know that others are experiencing this too. Think I will take my chances with the flu next year!
January 18, 2013 - 9:12amI previously posted a similar story: flu shot October 23, 2012, and then a worsening, sharp pain in my shoulder. I am relieved to report my symptoms are improving. It took me 11 weeks to be able to pull a shirt off without bending over and using gravity. It is still slow and ridiculously difficult, but at least I can raise that arm over my head again. Hooray!
I kept moving my arm as much as I could without shrieking. I finally asked my doctor about it. He recommended a different OTC med and encouraged me to yes - keep moving it. As Susan suggested to me, nasal spray flu vaccines sound like a good idea.
Hang in there. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
January 18, 2013 - 10:43amPlease be sure to keep moving that arm or it will "freeze up" according to my doctor. I got my flu shot in early Sept and I'm finally mostly pain free as of this month. Some people experience the same pain for as long as a couple of years. Keep moving it, massage out the area every once in a while and drink lots of water. You want to flush/push out the part that you are having a reaction to. I have a feeling they put the shot in the wrong place, but that has yet to be proven to cause issues. Mine was up too high and too far forward.
January 18, 2013 - 9:49amMy wife and I both got our flue shot about a month ago. For the last week she has complaining about here arm hurting. I have been doing very active things hunting and such that I had plenty of blame to go around for my pains. When I got home she continued to complain about her arm pain, I had lots of pain myself from hiking in the mountians. As all my other ache's and pains slipped away over the next few days at home the only pain left was just like hers. My arm. The pain in my arm, a ache with the slightest lift. From my sholder to the top of my hand. We compared our problems and they were exact. We both got our flu shot the same day. About a month ago. I was thinking it would get better, Although this looks to allot of this going around and it seams to be getting worse not better. (Add us to the list.)
November 18, 2012 - 4:36pmI'm sorry Anon.
You can make a report here: http://vaers.hhs.gov/index
I hope this pain subsides for both you and your wife. I highly recommend the flu mist next year. I got that this year, no side effects, no flu symptoms even though it is a 'live' virus and certainly no issues with arm pain.
Best,
Susan
December 13, 2012 - 2:48pm