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.
I Am not allergic to eggs.
I 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).
I'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?
I'm having the SAME thing. I received my flu shot at our town pharmacy on December 2, 2008. I've been having severe shoulder pain ever since! I called the pharmacy and was told it's "normal" to experience pain anywhere from 1 - 3 weeks. Well, I couldn't handle being in pain for 3 weeks, so I visited my doctor who promptly prescribed vicodin and an anti-inflammatory drug. Unfortunately these drugs have not helped and I'm still experiencing the same symptoms-pain (especially at night), limited range of motion and strength. Needless to say, I'll be going back to the doc to try a different approach. I have a one year old daughter and I can barely pick her up, change her clothes, etc. It's been an awful experience. I do know that the shot was administered too high on my arm. I'm sure that has everything to do with what I'm experiencing now. I showed my doctor where the shot was given and she said it was definitely given "too high."