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

update- 10am next day; arm is feeling much better but there is a dull pain. There is a medical website that explains the superficial normal pain after an initial innoculation/vaccine. The patient is innoculated - given/ the bacteria in the system- so the auto immune system of the human starts attacking the bacteria at the initial entry site- the upper arm. The tissues swell around the muscle and the veins and capillairies start flowing more blood to this area- thus why we experience pain and it feels like the muscle. The injection is subcutaneous- less than 2 mm/4 inches-- so no way does it go directly into any muscle and if it broke any vein- then you would have massive bleeding or a huge black and blue mark post injection. I felt like I had to put my arm in a sling last night; but found the more I forced myself to use my arm-- lift it , reach with it, type with it, carry the children and the 15 lb cat around -- painful it was, but the MORE I used it , the faster it felt better. I did take Tylenol I did not have any anti inflamms- but those are only for bone/joint inflammation anyway-- this is just swollen tissue- just as if I had cut my skin and it hurts for awhile awaiting for it to scab; then the scab itches for awhile until it naturally falls off (or someone picks it:-) The same thing is happening right under my skin of the injections site-- it was given in proper location- 3 finger widths down; the thing that made a difference was it was FIRST time receiving the pneumo vaccine and a new bacteria introduced to my body- thus the immune system in my body went on 4 alarm attack at the site of the injection- just internal tissue swelling causes the pain-- if it was something more severe or bad reaction for weeks/months as other patients have described- check to see if there is any lymph node innoculation- you would see your blood veins lift to the surface- looking like a snake inside your arm-- this is a blood poisoning- but the pain would be so excrutiating you pass out after a few hours and also you would be dead in about 3 days-- but perhaps airborne microbes entered the skin-- it happens all the time in hospitals i-- and now you have a bacterial infection and the initial site feels the worst- but you should also have elevated body temps and dehydration and high BG (blood glucose ) levels. And just as one has a muscle cramp- the WORST THING TO DO IS DO NOTHING-- one must EXERCISE AND RUB the area immediately and for a length of time. So I suggest those with the consistent pain to USE that extremity often and to the point of feeling great discomfort. This breaks down the swollen tissue- by waiting so long- then it will feel painful for weeks and months. Use the arm ASAP and take Tylenol for pain NOT anti inflamms and NOT cold compresses- this would give temp numbing but actually stiffen the extremity. If you can go swimming or swing arm in a swimming motion-while lifting a liter of waterbottle or such weight- the pain will subside in hours. Hope that helps all.

Next I get the shingles vaccine!

I received my 12th annual flu shot at 2pm today and I woke up in pain now at 2am. The pain started about 2 hours after the shot and I just reassured myself- well this is the onsite arm pain... I still have bandaid on my arm and the injection site IS 3 1/2 fingers down from the tip of my shoulder-- so it seems that the nurse did the correct injection site. I had a seasonal flu shot in my right arm--- it is fine and dandy. This is the first year for a pneumonia shot though. This is the left arm that is very painful. Not joint, but the muscle in the arm. I am 36 yrs old with a chronic disease- so why the suggested I get the pneumo vaccine this year in addition to flu shot. I wish they gave them both in same arm now that I think about it. I am right handed and it concerns me that my right arm may be out of commission for up to 3 months??? I am a scuba instructor/swim instructor- use of both arms is imperative out in ocean...Well just posting my 2 cents, so to speak. So far it is 12 hours later and in pain from pneumo shot; but I do recall that the first time I received a seasonal flu shot - 12 years ago; I did get arm pain AND flu like symptoms that lasted 3 days. So perhaps, and the nurse did NOT mention this when she was aware this is my first ever pneumo shot..., it is this painful due to first time of this vaccine? I rarely take any over the counter pain meds; but I will try tylenol to sleep and will report back how it goes in another 24 hours. I googled- arm pain how long flu shot- so I was hoping someone would update their original posting and free2bme is the only one it seems-- so 3 days it seems is normal time range?
Nov 8, 2009 Palos Verdes, CA

Mine has been at least a month now, still have problems. I went on a Pred pack that helped some. It was worse on the pneumonia side originally, now it's still hard to raise my right arm from the flu shot on the right side, this sure is a dumb thing to have to suffer from.

I just want to thank Pat Elliott for answering my post on Nov. 3, 2009. This is Gloria and thank you again.

Same pain as everyone else, going on 4 weeks after the seasonal flu shot. Just talked with the doctor today and will be getting an X-ray and Naproxen (Aleve) prescription. Hopefully it remedies the situation. My doc mentioned a possible calcification in the shot area as the source of the pain.

Hello, Its me again. I sent a post in Oct. 2009. I got my flu shot on Oct. 2, 2009. Today is Nov. 3, 2009 and my arm is just getting better after a full month. It still hurts in bed and can't sleep on that side but during the day it seems a little better and I can raise my arm a little higher now (oh boy) its still not 100% better. would sure like to know what happened after 10 years of flu shots being fine but this one was bad. This will be my last flu shot. I'll have to take my chances because there are no answers out there. Thanks for reading this. Gloria from Brentwood, Ca.

Hi everyone - Wanted you to know that the woman who posted the original question has written to us again, this time about having a vaccination without pain. She also provides a lot of helpful information she learned while working to resolve her situation. You can find that post here:

https://www.empowher.com/community/share/no-pain-arm-or-shoulder-after-flu-shot-year

Best,
Pat