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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thank you for you reply i feel a little better reading that im not the only one in this pain, i have made a doctors appointment for tomorrow am so i hope he will be able to change my medication to something that works and so i can sleep ! thank you again for your reply,love from sunny england xx
April 21, 2009 - 7:43amThis Comment
I had a flu jab last October and still have arm pain. I cannot lift my arm and the pain keetps me awake at night.
My doctor said I have a frozen shoulder and that it is just a coincidence that I had a flu jab. I did not have any pain until after I had the flu jab and the pain has never gone away.
April 16, 2009 - 6:23amThis Comment
Well, I find this whole flu shot problem interesting. I never thought it would be the flu shot. But it makes sense now. I have NEVER had this problem and now I am relating to the flu shot syndrome. I have had problems with my arm for over 2 months now and I feel like the flu shot must have been or must BE the problem. I have trouble with both of my arms. I was convinced to get a tetanus shot in the other arm at the same time I go the flu shot. WOW! what is going on?
April 5, 2009 - 4:24pmThis Comment
This is wild...I have been having bad elbow and forearm pain for the last 3or 4 weeks but I had my flu shot back in the end of Oct. of 08 so I don't htink they are connected but I wonder....This is real pain in my arm and it is a really aching problem...what else could it be????
March 27, 2009 - 1:01pmThis Comment
hi anon,
The pain I experienced with the flu shot was at the site of the injection, in the upper shoulder, and was immediately after getting the shot.
I doubt your recent pain is associated with the flu shot you received 5-6 months ago.
Can you describe your elbow and forearm pain? Is it stabbing or aching pain? Does it come and go, or is it consistent? Does it hurt worse at night, when sleeping, or during the day when you use it? Are there certain movements or activities that cause it to hurt more? Any recent injury or overuse/strain that could be causing it?
Hope to hear back from you soon!
March 27, 2009 - 2:24pmThis Comment
i had a b-12 shot about 4 weeks back . i have been in pain every since . my right arm is handicapped,so my left is basically all i have . i am on antibiotics that my dr. prescribed while ive been out of town . 5 days now and they are not helping . been taking prescription stenghth ib 600 mg 2x day for 3 weeks also . it still hurts terribly . i make my living driving . i cannot drive at the moment . it hurts!!!!!!!!!!!! anyone have any advise ? going to dr. tomorrow and he will start with the easiest digni , first i know ,so i could be in pain for months before actually getting releif . help please
March 25, 2009 - 8:25pmThis Comment
Interesting reading about all the post-flu injections and pain. My pain and limited motion etc has been going on for a year and a half now-prior to the shot I had never had any shoulder problems. I KNOW the injection was given inappropriately (too high up) and this was confirmed by my gp.
Am considering legal action.
March 21, 2009 - 7:51amThis Comment
Wow is this interesting!. I am a 58 year old male and have been getting flu shots for years. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last may. This has really opened up my eyes. I can ditto all the responses, especially the sleeping challenge. I spoke with my doctor about but they wanted to inject me with Prednisone, which would raise my glucose. So I have been living with this for months.
4 weeks ago I decided to see an Acupuncturist. I went for 2 weekly visits which help by 80%. I skipped a few weeks then the pain came back more. I went to day and I feel better. Tomorrow I will be contacting the facility that gave the Flue Shots to see if there were anyhow report of these symptoms.
So maybe this does have a few component.
March 20, 2009 - 6:30pmThis Comment
I was hospitalized 3 weeks ago for heart problem. They gave me a flu shot while I was in there as precaution. Have pain in my elbow and arm. Also, extreme muscle weakness. I have this all the time, when I pick things up with that arm sharp jabbing pain. Told doctor on follow up visit, said I probably just slept on arm wrong. Three weeks later and still having pain is there anything that can be done?
March 15, 2009 - 5:56pmThis Comment
I got a flu shot in my left arm at my doctor's office in December and I've been experiencing the same symptoms as everyone else has described ever since--deep,aching muscle pain at the injection site especially at night and muscle weakness, and sharp pain when I raise my arm that mimics rotator cuff pain. After the flu shot I noticed that there was more injection site pain than I ever had in the past, and then I developed an unusually large amount of bruising that lasted more than 2 weeks. Since I've had rotatator cuff issues in my right shoulder in the past, I knew the pain in my left arm wasn't coming from my rotator cuff--the pain is definitely in the muscle, a little above above the midpoint between the shoulder and elbow--but the pain does radiate into the shoulder with movement. I didn't want to be labled a whiner or complainer either so I haven't called my doctor about it--I've just been waiting for it to go away, but it's been 3 months and it hasn't improved. After reading everyone's postings I realized it's definitely not "just me" and I scheduled a doctor's appointment.
March 15, 2009 - 8:23amThis Comment