Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
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
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment327 Comments
Well I am glad I am not the only one. Everywhere I read it says a sore arm is normal but my arm has been sore for over two months. I had a regular flu shot in one arm (no pain) and H1N1 in the other. The H1N1 hurts from the shoulder to the elbow and who ever said it feels like joint pain is right. Its deep. I sleep with a heating pad on my arm everynight and its still sore the nest day.
February 11, 2010 - 3:44pmThis Comment
I'm in the same boat; I received my flu shot on October 13th (of this year) and of course my arm was sore where they administered the shot but then the next day my shoulder and upper arm became sore late in the evening. This soreness has continued and has gotten worse; my arm and shoulder do not hurt as bad in the morning but in the late evening (6pm and later) the pain worsens. Last night the pain was so bad that I couldn't sleep; when I try to move my right arm (the arm where I received the shot) the pain is sharp, it feels like someone has stabbed my shoulder. It even hurts to move the lower part of my arm, bending and straightening at the elbow. This is my first year to receive the flu shot and I can say I won't get it again. What should I do, I can't afford an MRI; I'm going to try taking some advil or aleve tonight. Oh yeah one last thing; I agree with the person above - When I try to dress, pulling my pants up is a very hard task now.
October 23, 2009 - 10:07amThis Comment
I just wanted to add, that I originally posted this exact same question back in December 2008 (Is it normal for my arm muscle in my shoulder to hurt 2 weeks after flu shot?, and my pain actually lasted for about 3-5 months.
I just got my flu shot this season (2009), and had no pain after flu shot...you can read about the experience (and how I spoke with the nurse about my previous bad experience; the needle was up too high...): NO PAIN in my arm or shoulder after flu shot this year!
October 22, 2009 - 2:40pmThis Comment
I have the same problem. I got the flu vaccine coupled with the H1N1...as the pharmacist injected it in my arm, it hurt like no other injection I ever had. That was in the middle of September and ever since my arm has been very painfu and very limited movement without me wincing in pain. I had an MRI, 2 ultra sounds, x-rays, dopplers 3 doctors visits, to a neurologist and no one knows nothing. Doctor said he cannot put his finger on what the problem is, it could be the way it was administred or the serum itself. He gave me steroids..lots of side effects.I'd rather have the flu than THIS.
November 2, 2010 - 4:42amThis Comment
I have the same problem. I got the flu vaccine coupled with the H1N1...as the pharmacist injected it in my arm, it hurt like no other injection I ever had. That was in the middle of September and ever since my arm has been very painfu and very limited movement without me wincing in pain. I had an MRI, 2 ultra sounds, x-rays, dopplers 3 doctors visits, to a neurologist and no one knows nothing. Doctor said he cannot put his finger on what the problem is, it could be the way it was administred or the serum itself. He gave me steroids..lots of side effects.I'd rather have the flu than THIS.
November 2, 2010 - 4:42amThis Comment
I have the same problem. I got the flu vaccine coupled with the H1N1...as the pharmacist injected it in my arm, it hurt like no other injection I ever had. That was in the middle of September and ever since my arm has been very painfu and very limited movement without me wincing in pain. I had an MRI, 2 ultra sounds, x-rays, dopplers 3 doctors visits, to a neurologist and no one knows nothing. Doctor said he cannot put his finger on what the problem is, it could be the way it was administred or the serum itself. He gave me steroids..lots of side effects.I'd rather have the flu than THIS.
November 2, 2010 - 4:42amThis Comment
Add me to the list of people with this issue, I got my flu shot about two weeks ago, and have had quite strong joint pain, throbbing, sometimes radiating from the area of my shoulders. Oddly, though the shot was given in the left arm just a few inches below the shoulder, I have had this pain in both shoulders, and typically the right shoulder is more painful for me. My knees, too, began to ache about 4 days ago (this would be nearly 11 days after getting the shot), though not as badly as the shoulders. As a side note, all these sites are old 'friends' to me, sites of old injuries, both shoulders and both knees. It has been some years since I've had more than occasional morning shoulder pain though, and even longer since the knees hurt. The whole thing began the night I got the shot, minor left shoulder pain, but the next day both shoulders got involved, and the right shoulder's old injury was the worst and most troublesome, so it seems to be the more painful joint for me.
October 20, 2009 - 4:35amMentioning the link to old injuries just on the off chance perhaps this shot may be re-inflaming old injuries or something? Not even sure how that'd work, but there could be some relation there. Or not.
This Comment
Oh my Gosh..i had the h1n1 shot oct 2009 and have the same symptoms as the above..almost identical I thought I was writting it. Dont know what to do.
December 20, 2009 - 10:48amThis Comment
I had the seasonal flu shot yesterday. The nurse gave me the shot very high up on my shoulder. When she gave me the shot it was a pain unlike anything I have ever felt. It felt like the needle was going into my shoulder joint. My whole upper arm was sore yesterday and today the only pain is in my shoulder joint. The joint pain is worse today than it was yesterday. I had to wash my hair with one hand and had a hard time getting dressed. I can not lift my arm or reach behind my back. Any movement of my shoulder hurts like the needle is still in there deep in the joint. It is a blinding pain that makes me loose focus on what I am looking at. I called the urgent care clinic where I got the shot, and the nurse told me it is normal for it to hurt. I understand that pain in the arm is normal. I had the H1N1 shot at the same clinic two weeks ago and had a lot of pain in my whole arm for three days. That was muscle pain, and I expected that. This is joint pain that I am having now, and it is terrible and isn't getting any better. The nurse I talked to today asked me if I fell or injured my shoulder in any way. I was fine when I went into the clinic for the shot and I came out with joint pain and can not use my left arm anymore. I am a mother of four children ages 1 to 7, and I babysit a two month old durring the day. I need to be able to use my arm to fuction, but because of a bad flu shot, I can't. My husband had to stay home from work today to help me with the babies, because I can't use my left arm. I don't know if the problem was the shot, or the nurse, but I hope it gets better soon.
November 6, 2009 - 12:01pmThis Comment
I also received the flu shot in September 2009, the pain is getting worse instead of better. I have the same symptoms as the previous post. Can't lift my arm high enough to dress without pain, comb my hair etc. Sleeping is also a problem. I take advil pm at night sometimes to help with the discomfort. When the shot was given it didn't hurt, but several hours later it had stiffen up and began to hurt to lift it. I just googled pain in the arm and found this thread, it made me feel better that I am not alone, thought it was just a fluke, but knew I hadn't hurt it doing any other activity. I hate to go to the Dr. for this, I am going to try the ice and put on bio-freeze and see if that helps. Another gentleman that received his shot the same time as I did but by a different nurse also has the same symptoms, he was going to contact his Dr., if I find out the results of that I will update.
October 19, 2009 - 5:39pmThis Comment