Pain in arm after flu shot

I have the same problem but it has only been 3 weeks?

I'm the person who posted on the 20th and the 26th, thought since I'm still seeing responses pop up here, I'd update my situation. You all might be happy to hear that the pain, for me, is finally fading, and fading fairly fast now. I'm pretty certain you all should begin to feel the relief I'm feeling now before long. At least I hope so, for all of you. It sure wasn't fun while it lasted. Felt you all might be happy to hear it does fade, and I certainly hope the same happens for all of you, and soon. :)

Good luck to you all, and thanks for the ears, and support. A burden shared is a burden lightened. :)

I got my shot over a month ago and it was very high (near my shoulder). The pain has gotten worse and now I can not extend my arm above my shoulder. It hurts to get dressed and even turning the steering wheel is painful. . . I'm a teacher and it's hard during the day to work with my students and the pain is making me edgy. Another teacher received her shot at the same place and is having similar problems . . . do they not train on how to give the flu shot? I am going to the Dr. Monday and will hopefully get some relief.

I too received the flu shot in my arm about a month and a half ago; there was no pain with the injecton itself but a few days later my arm was stiff and ached; I finally went to the doctors ( I am an RN and I hate going!) this past Monday and they took an Xray of my arm, put me on muscle relaxers 3 times a day, 800 mg ibuprofen every 6-8 hours, and a timely and expensive trip to the chiropractor 2 times a week for the next 2 months; they seem to think that if a nerve was hit I would have felt the pain at the time of the injection and that it has nothing to do with the flu shot; about 2 weeks ago I could not lift my arm much less take my shirt off or any daily activities. I also was told to apply ice 2-3 times a day. The pain is constant and nothing takes it away; it hurts and there seems to be no end in sight; I wish there were an answer or something to take the pain away;

I am the one who posted on October 20. My understanding now is that the pain should fade over the months to follow the shot. it could take 3 to 5 months or so before the symptoms finally go away, but it will eventually fade. You might want to talk to your doctor though next time to see they wish you to refrain from getting them in the future. (Mine feels as one of the other posters here that the shot was given too close to the shoulder joint, and told me I should point out to the next worker who gives me a flu shot that this happened to me so they can take greater care with the injection next time). Hope this helps.

My experience is identical to the others described above. If the shot was administered wrong, and the needle damaged nerves or muscle tissue, I hope that there is some treatment. I received the shot in September and it has been getting worse, not better. Tonight it hurts even when still; when I try to put on a shirt, jacket, or backpack, it is excruciating. Does anyone know how long it takes for damaged muscle or vessels to heal? How long are we going to be up against this pain?

I received a flu shot, about a month ago (9/21/09), and am having a lot of shoulder pain, over and above the expected soreness at the injection site. I'm a nurse and I noticed, after I received the shot, that the site of the injection was very high on my arm, just at my shoulder joint (seemed way too high). I suspect the needle went in the joint. I have given flu shots before and never did I administer them this high on the arm! Since then I have had pain in my shoulder joint and upper arm. I have problems dressing and lifting even my purse to my shoulder. It is especially uncomfortable at night. The first few weeks I would wake up with pain and stiffness just from how my arm was positioned. Advil has helped as well as supporting my shoulder so that the arm doesn't hang and pull on the shoulder joint. I am doing light stretches and isometric exercises, to keep it from getting stiff. The exercises hurt, but afterwards, I feel a little less stiff and have more range of motion. I figure I will give it a couple more weeks then I will see my doctor about it, if I have no further improvement.

Add ME to the list too. It's been just two weeks, and the pain, while not to the point of taking meds daily (once or twice is all so far) it is PERSISTENT and annoying, to say the least. Feels just STIFF AS HELL. Massage feels a little better............. What gives?