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Pain in arm after flu shot

By September 16, 2009 - 8:00pm
 
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I had a flu shot Sept. 2008 and remember it hurt when given. Since then I have pain in my upper arm and shoulder (it's now been a year). I believe it is nerve damage from the needle going to deep. I have had an MRI. meds and now going to Chiro with no relief. I cant't put my arm behind my back or lift it over my head and forget about putting weight on it. Does anyone know of relief for this condition?

Thanks

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Eleanor55)

Thanks so much for the information. I had my shot 5 months ago, and am running up some sizable medical bills. I start physical therapy tomorrow. My job requires typing and it has been very hard for me to do every since I had the shot. I am glad there may be some recourse that I can take.

December 20, 2009 - 10:55am
Expert HERWriter Guide Blogger

Hi Everyone - I'm sorry to see that we continue to get new people who are writing about arm pain following a flu injection. There's a lot of helpful information that's being shared, so for those who are reading this thread I would also recommend reading this one:

https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/it-normal-my-arm-muscle-my-shoulder-hurt-2-weeks-after-flu-shot?page=40

There are some suggestions in the other thread that are not in this one, including one woman who's found relief through massage therapy.

Thanks for all of your contributions, and I hope you will keep us posted on new developments and what you're learning.

Take good care,
Pat

December 14, 2009 - 5:17pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I posted anonymously here the other day about my extreme pain more than a month after my seasonal flu shot. It still hurts me to put on a coat, but I've found that Tylenol Arthritis cuts the pain at least by 50%; and it seems like since I started taking it once a day, the arm is slowly getting better. Maybe that's because with the pain reduced, I use the arm more. I'll come back and post again if and when the pain is gone. I'm not sure I will ever get a flu shot again, although I've gotten them for years with no problems till this time.

December 14, 2009 - 2:57pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have exactly the same problem. I got a H1N1 shot on Nov 14, 2009, And since then I have been unable to raise from left arm. It feels better after light exercise and stretching but the pain has been constant and not getting worse or any better. Please help.

December 14, 2009 - 1:26pm

Hi there!
Two months now since my vaccine, and still with the same issues; I have downloaded the adverse reaction form, and will obtain the needed information from my doctor. I had two vaccines on the same day, one for pneumonia, and one for seasonal flu, each given in a different arm and I need to ascertain which went in which. My right arm was the one most affected for the first two weeks, and then that subsided, and the left one increased in decreased ability to move it without pain and cramping. Now there are times, and angles that are including extreme weakness in movement as if my arm is five times heavier than it used to be. I am starting to fear loss of the use of my arm on a permanent basis.

I will keep you posted on the progress.

December 14, 2009 - 11:13am

If the problem stems from how the vaccine was injected, does anyone know is the pain coming from the vaccine actually remaining in the muscle or just damage done to the muscle? From what I understood from the nurses administering the vaccines - the vaccine is effective for six months. I think what I am hearing, it is damage to the muscle. It has been a full 7 weeks for me now, and I would say I am about 10% better, but I also know to be more careful in using my arm. Great time of the year to be debilitated!

December 12, 2009 - 6:30am
(reply to Canadian)

Canadian,

As I understand it, what people are responding to is possible damage to the muscle, or in some people, to a nerve that was accidentally involved in the injection. I am glad that you are having some improvement, but you're right, it's a very difficult time of year to not have full use of one of your arms. Take care, and as you improve more, please come back and let us know more. Are you doing anything special to try to get better?

December 14, 2009 - 8:04am
(reply to Diane Porter)

Thanks for your reply Diane. As my pain is pretty much constant 24 hours a day and extreme when I move my arm too high or in a slight backwards direction, I don't want to be taking pain medications in my body all the time. I have taken Extra Strength Tylenol Rapid Release when I am having a very bad day. I have also been rubbing Voltaren Emulgel on my upper arm - it says on the tube "clinically proven medicinal gel for the relief of muscle, joint and back pain". I am not sure if this has contributed to my improvement but I am going to continue using it just in case as I am now making very small steps forward.

December 14, 2009 - 9:47am

I was so pleased to find all your postings and discover I am not losing my mind and suffering alone. I had my seasonal flu shot on Oct. 19 and H1N1 on Oct. 26. The morning after the H1N1 I had neck stiffness....but then my life has become insufferable. My H1N1 was given in my right arm which I refrain from using as much as I can. The upper arm hurts 24/7 and I can not raise and move it back hardly at all. Undressing or putting on a coat is done cautiously and often brings tears to my eyes if I accidentally move my right arm the wrong way. I have not had a decent sleep since the H1N1 vaccine. I have talked to our Health Line here in Canada and they deny any connection to the vaccine. Have also been to my doctor whom I believe gave me a misdiagnosis of an injured ulnar nerve. I hope that time does heal this eventually - it has been 7 weeks now. My empathy is with all my fellow sufferers.

December 11, 2009 - 9:42am
Expert HERWriter Guide Blogger (reply to Canadian)

Welcome, Canadian. No, you're not going crazy or alone. We actually have a couple of threads going about this topic. Most are finding that it was the way the vaccine was injected that created the problem. Some have found it resolved in a couple of weeks, others have required quite a bit of follow up care. It's awful to go in for a simple vaccination and then end up in pain for weeks or months. Hopefully by sharing information with each other we can help each other. You may also want to read the comments here:

https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/it-normal-my-arm-muscle-my-shoulder-hurt-2-weeks-after-flu-shot#comments

Please keep us posted on your progress, and thanks for sharing with us.
Pat

December 11, 2009 - 5:15pm
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