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

I received a flu shot at Walgreens Pharmacy on Sept 11, 2009. The nurse gave the shot and let me know that my shoulder muscle was "thick"...I've always gotten flu shots, and had no problems.
This shot, has caused such pain...I can't sleep at night, it is stiff, sore, I can't drive with that arm, can't do much of anything because it's so sore.
I'm not sure how long this will take to go away, if it will even go away, or what to do....
any advice on how long to expect something like this??
I'm really scared.

Hi All - I appreciate the time each of you took to report your experiences. Like many of you, I am experiencing severe arm pain beyond anything I have experienced previously with vaccinations. I just had a pneumonia shot from a well known chain/their pharmacist and the common factor with many of your reports is that it was given very high in the arm. I have regularly had annual flu shots, and had the pneunonia shot once before about 7 years ago. Never have I had an adverse reaction. I cannot lift my arm up, having the limited shoulder mobility that so many of you describe. Have to say I was more than a little bummed to hear how long these symptoms have lasted for you! I plan to report the adverse reaction to the site, noting the possibility of the injection site factor. Though I don't want to be critical ofthe pharmacist, believe it may be even more important to repot to the drugsre chain referencing this chain of comments. I do not wish this on anyone if it can be avoided by better training those giving the injection. Again, thanks! Hope that my experience was with a different type of vaccination - with the common factor of very high injection site might be helpful data to assist any of you working with your healthcare providers.

I'm a week post flu shot and the pain and stiffness that has gotten progressively worse is now accompanied by a respiratory illness that feels like mild pneumonia (I've had that before so know what it feels and presents like.) I've had flu shots in the past as well and never had more than a day or two of mild discomfort at the injection site but this is persisting a full 7 days post injection. THere must be more G2 on this from authorities, I'd really like to know what I'm dealing with here so I can treat appropriately. If there was a problem with the vaccine, they'd better tell us and not cover it up...

I also have severe pain in my arm since I received my flu shot 2 weeks ago. The pain is exactly as you describe, hurting at night to the point that I cannot sleep. During the day, I have weakness and some minor pain but most of the time it doesn't hurt. I believe the shot was given too high on my arm. I am trying heat and an analgesic cream but it doesn't seem to help significantly. At times, I feel it is resolving than it seems to get worse. Has anyone found anything to help?

Hi everyone, I have read all of your comments. I received my first flu shot on Thursday, September 10th, by Saturday September 12th I had a two inch swolen red circle around my injection site that did not go away until Monday. My arm hurts so bad that it feels as if it is broken, I figured having my arm hurt the first day or even the next day might be okay but I am sure it shouldn't still hurt and not this bad. I am afraid to go to the doctor because I dont want her to look at me and brush it off like I have heard some of the people on here say have happened to them. It even hurts to type this right now!

I had a tetanus shot in my arm in July of 2008. Here it is September 2009 and my arm has never gotten better. I have limited range of motion where I used to be extremely flexible in both arm joints. I have a soreness in the back of my arm that never goes away. My shoulder joint aches all the time and I have problems with strength and bearing weight in my left arm. I teach dance and gymnastics! This won't work!

I was in the hospital in January and have gotten the pain shots in my left arm, to date I cannot lift my arm or turn it a certain way ( I also received my flu shot in the same arm).. I started to get atrophy in the muscle and used my Tens unit on it to wake up the muscle and it helped. In order for me to get some relief, I need to knead the muscle very hard for a few minutes then I can move it, but it only lasts for a few minutes, then it stiffens up again. I looked up this condition and it's call Myopathy..The pain radiates up to the shoulder and down to the forearm when turned a certain way I have an appointment with a Physiatrist (Pain Management) on Sept 15th..I will keep you all posted...

Hi,

I am the previous poster who had the Tetanus shot that last posted on June 3, 2009 - 6:47pm . Just a follow up. Dr. prescribed it as tendinitis with an impingement and prescribed anti-inflammatory meds and physical therapy. He agreed that the shot was given too high up in the arm and most likely caused the inflammation. The pain is gone unless I manipulate it a lot, and I still don't have full range of motion. Doc said these things usually clear up in a year or less with repeated physical therapy and use of anti-inflammatory, or else cortisone shots are next on the list.....so we'll see!

To the anon that posted on July 27, I suggest getting an MRI to see what is really going on if you haven't already. Good luck and good health everyone!

I received my flu vaccine on Nov 1, 2008. This was my 6 or 7 year of getting one, and I never experienced any issues other than a little soreness at the injection site until last fall. The afternoon after the injection, I felt sick to my stomach, so I took a nap and then felt better. But pain hat extends from the shoulder to the elbow when I move my arm has been persistent. I don't remember how high up on the arm the injection site was. I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder, but xrays did not show any calcification. I did receive 2 cortisone shots that gave very temporary relief. Physical therapy gave me some additional range of motion, but I still either have to have help putting on a bra or use a back scratcher to tug it into place. Was 2008's vaccine different from other years? Both doctor's I saw - the referring physician and the orthopedist - say the flu vaccine was coincidental, but if so, it's a heck of a coincidence that I'm not the only one that has experienced this.