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

I have ben having the same arm pain for several weeks following my annual flu shot. I don't believe there is any problem with the vaccination itself, I think we got someone improperly injecting us. If it were the vaccine itself, there would be MAJOR reports of this issue. This small number is indicative that it's bad "form," where we got the shot, how deep, where in the muscle. Unfortunately, not every health care provider is going to get it just right. But it seems we got it just wrong. I'm looking for the FluMist next year. I also have no egg allergies or other symptoms, just muscle soreness and weakness in the exact spot where the injection was given. Good luck!

I have ben having the same arm pain for several weeks following my annual flu shot. I don't believe there is any problem with the vaccination itself, I think we got someone improperly injecting us. If it were the vaccine itself, there would be MAJOR reports of this issue. This small number is indicative that it's bad "form," where we got the shot, how deep, where in the muscle. Unfortunately, not every health care provider is going to get it just right. But it seems we got it just wrong. I'm looking for the FluMist next year. I also have no egg allergies or other symptoms, just muscle soreness and weakness in the exact spot where the injection was given. Good luck!

Hi everyone - I'm so sorry that we continue to hear from people experiencing arm pain after getting a flu shot. I'm also glad you're taking the time to write in and let us know how long it's lasting, what's providing relief and other information that helps other EmpowHer members.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does acknowledge that the most common side effect of a flu vaccine in adults is soreness at the spot where the shot was given. The CDC states that the soreness "usually lasts less than two days" and is often caused by a person’s immune system making protective antibodies to the killed viruses in the vaccine. These antibodies are what allow the body to fight against flu. CDC also acknowledges that an improper needle stick can cause soreness at the injection site.

The CDC has an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) which has determined that "rare symptoms" include fever, muscle pain, and feelings of discomfort or weakness. ACIP states that If these problems occur, they are very uncommon and usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.

Several of you have reported symptoms and problems that don't match the official information from CDC. You might therefore be interested in knowing that patients and physicians can report possible side effects and reactions from flu shots to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a safety program maintained by the FDA and CDC.

http://vaers.hhs.gov/about/index

Thanks everyone for providing information to support each other. It's truly helpful.
Take good care,
Pat

For recent post. Yes, the pain will go away. I had the same experience and was convinced it would never go away. I took about 2 months, but finally I am back to normal. Just hang in there....

I have been posting on this forum. My last post was 11-24-09 @ 8:46 pm. To catch anyone up who may not know my situation I was given the flu shot on 10-2-09 in my right arm. Since that time I have had continual arm pain that has radiated to my neck and shoulder area. I had an x-ray that showed nothing and my dr. presribled pain medication. At one point in time the pain was severe but it is very slowly getting better. The pain I have now is at the injection site and goes deep. It feels like it is to the bone. At this point in time I have opted to not have an MRI done because that was the next plan of action. I decided this because I do have a very slow improvement going on. So, basically its a wait and see thing with me right now. I am still not happy at all that this happened to me and I will not be getting any further flu shots. I can't speak for others in this situation its a personal choice. I wish you all the best and I sincerely hope someone out there can figure just what can be done. From all that I am reading time is the best healer. Thanks to all of you for your posts and advice. I will post again soon to update my progress. ML

My arm is killing me! I had a flu shot in November and ever since my arm just kills. I can't lift it or get dressed without severe pain. It hurts to sleep on it or move it in a certain direction. I have experienced this pain before, and just now I am linking it to past flu shots. I thought it was rotator cuff, but then it just went away, so now I believe it was due to the flu shot. I am NOT going to get another shot, this is terrible and messing up my life daily, with normal things hurting so much. Will it go away again? I sure hope so!!

I told my sister about my arm pain 4 weeks after the shot. Not sure if this is true, but the nurse who get her the shot said if she completely relaxes the muscle while the needle goes in, there won't be pain after. She didn't have any pain at any point after. I know my muscle was tense because I was really nervous about the needle going in. Worth a try in the future.

my mother is going thru the same thing... her nurse practitioner went thru it the year before. apparently its serious, to the point where they need to put you under general anesthesia in order to massage the seized up muscle (it's too painful w/o the anesthesia). if you do nothing about it, it can render your arm fairly well useless/sounds a bit like paralysis. hope you get the help you need.