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The pain I am experiencing is preventing me from reaaching my arms above my head; putting my jacket on and off; twisting or turning. The pain is wincing at times. I cannot sleep on that arm.
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Ya'll. Too True! The new 2009 regular vaccine has hurt from time of injection. Ten days later... Brutal pains come and go during the day. Must not sleep with the right arm in a position stopping flow. And The right arm needs constant movement/exercise. This vaccine is the latest of many I had. and the first to give discomfort. but some slight injection sensation would have been expected.
November 4, 2009 - 6:40pmthanks
This Comment
Anon,
Yikes! I hate this for all of you. May I ask where in your arm you had your shot? And are you right-handed? Was it lower than three finger-widths below your shoulder?
You may be interested in the links above as well (in the previous question). There is quite a population of people experiencing the same thing you have, and some are reporting it to the CDC.
I hope your symptoms won't last much longer, and that it is not a nerve that was injured.
November 6, 2009 - 8:17amThis Comment
I had a flu shot 6 weeks ago by a drugstore pharmacy tech and have had the same problems. At the time of the shot I said it seemed to hurt more than usual (the actual administration of the shot). I think she did it in the wrong spot on the arm and from everything I've read sounds like she hit a nerve that takes months to heal. It feels slightly less painful all these weeks later, but still can't sleep through the night due to pain and sharp pain comes up when my arm is in certain positions. Next year I go to my doc for the shot!
October 18, 2009 - 6:29pmThis Comment
Anon,
I'm so sorry this happened to you. Where in the arm did the tech give you the shot? One of our moderators said that a nurse or doctor said the shot is best given the width of three fingers down from the shoulder. Was yours much lower than that?
Here are a couple of other threads where EmpowHer readers have had the same experiences:
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/pain-arm-after-flu-shot?page=1
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/it-normal-my-arm-muscle-my-shoulder-hurt-2-weeks-after-flu-shot?page=2
You posted this a couple of weeks ago and we missed it (so sorry). Are you getting any relief now?
November 6, 2009 - 8:12amThis Comment
I have spoken to many, including first responders and medical staff. as they are the first to get the shots. then we, the target group. since then, they and I have come down with arm pain and weakness. to the point we had to seek medical help from our doctors. and now it seems, there is some reason for cover-up ? bad batch, or the live virus, or who knows ? but, now we are really paying the price for being cautious, and believing in the shots !
September 21, 2009 - 11:00amThis Comment
Hi momdi,
Yes, I was the original poster in the link above. It was the strangest thing, as I work in the medical community and receive a shot every year. This year, the (new) nurse did give me the shot in a different location in my arm: higher and more center instead of off-center.
I had my shot in November, and just within the past few weeks my shoulder feels better. I started wondering if something permanently disabling was happening to my arm, but didn't want to be dramatic about it, you know?!
At the worst, I was not able to move my arm/shoulder in certain ways, or would have a sudden, sharp pain. Also felt weaker in that muscle.
So, now that it has been 3 months, I have no pain any longer, and my arm/shoulder is back to normal.
Very strange!! I haven't gathered up the nerve yet to ask the nurse about this, b/c I believe it is important to get a flu shot every year-- but this has definitely made me more timid.
Do you think your shot was given too high up in your arm? Have you had anything like this before?
February 5, 2009 - 1:25pmThis Comment
Never experienced anything like this before. You describe the same results that I have from the flu shot. This is the first time I went to a pharmacy clinic rather than my MD and she(nurse or tech) did administer the shot in the center of my arm versus the rear. I have received allergy shots for years and have always recd them to the rear of my upper arm. The pain occurs in certain positions; I cannot reach up for anything without a sharp pain. It is now two months since the shot. I did not want to be a complainer as well;however, I feel like this has sidelined me. The inability to do certain things because of this has made me gun-shy about a shot next year.
February 6, 2009 - 11:37amThis Comment
Momdi, Thanks so much for your question.
You are not the only one that's experienced this kind of after-effects of the flu shot. I thought I'd refer you to the following thread, where other writers have encountered the same thing. One woman says her doctor believes the flu shot was injected too high in the arm:
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/it-normal-my-arm-muscle-my-shoulder-hurt-2-weeks-after-flu-shot
February 4, 2009 - 9:58amThis Comment
I know this is quite a bit later taht these posts. I received a flu shot in October (I thought it was too high). the next day and just about everyday since I have experienced severe pain whenever I extend my arm. I went to physical therapy and did a home exercise program (no help), an MRI showed synovitis - but no one will say if this is related. they basically do not believe me. I tried to get workmans comp(I receieved the shot at work-I work in a hospital) but was turned down. Now 8 montohs later the pain has gotten much worse to the point that my arm hurts all the time and I cannot move it easily. I don't know what to do. (In addition 2 months ago I fell and have a partial tendon tear in my other arm so now both arms are painful.)
May 11, 2010 - 7:46pmhearsnancy
This Comment
Momdi: I am sorry to hear about your experience with the flu shot. Although not a common occurance with this type of vaccine, it is possible that the neddle may have injured a nerve and it will need time to heal. Are you experiencing other symptoms besides localized pain? I suggest icing the area for 20 minutes for a week to see what happens.
February 3, 2009 - 10:16pmThis Comment