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severe muscle pain and weakness all over body after flu shot?

By Anonymous October 11, 2009 - 3:46pm
 
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On October 1st, I had a flu shot, not the H1N1, just the regular flu shot. I've had the flu shot many times before with muscle pain and soreness in the arm that the injection was received in that usually subsided within a few days.

This time however, the pain was almost unbearable and seemed to be "spreading" to other parts of my body.

The first night it was just my upper arm. The second night it was my upper arm, pec muscle, muscles of the underarm, and muscles in the upper corner of my back. It was excrutiating and was slightly relieved with 800mg of ibuprofen.

The third night it was also in the muscles on the side of my neck.

The fourth night it was starting to travel down my arm into my hand and wrist. At this point I was also experiencing weakness and difficulty holding or picking up objects.

By the the end of the weak it had radiated to the other side of my body. So basically my entire upper body was painful and weak. Both arms, both upper back, both pec muscles etc... Again I'm taking 800mg ibuprofen around the clock which does slightly relieve the pain. I'm also using heating pads which slightly relieve the pain as well.

It has now been almost two weaks and it has radiated to my lower back, my stomach (as if i just did a hundred situps), my hands, my thighs, my calfs. I feel weak and am having trouble just sitting at the computer typing or picking up a drink.

As far as I know the flu shot can't cause this kind of reaction but, what else could this be??

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I experienced much the same thing so much muscle pain and headache overall ill like something is terribly wrong and yes diagnosed with osteo also terribly depressed. I just pray it goes away or I shall die I'm Not going to get the pnenonia shot, greedy pharma an docs! I'm 67 and am a custodian at a school feel like I cant continue now.

October 13, 2017 - 12:00pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I don't recognize myself. Prior to being given a flu shot during the same visit at dr's office after being diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, and being given a shot for that, as well as being given an nebulizer (and Zpack prescription), I was fine. I also shared with dr that I was experiencing a tender pain on left leg a little under kneecap towards the inside, but not the side of the leg. Naxoproxen was prescribed. After the flu shot was given, a few days later, swollen ankles occurred on both feet that would not go away. A week later, joint pain inside elbow joints that left me weak, and needed to be stretched in the morning due to stiffness joined the swollen ankles issue. The other leg then joined in with pain radiating from right leg, a little under the kneecap towards the inside, but not the side of the leg. Arthritis then started creeping in from elbow down towards wrists. That's when I got really scared, that joints were being added to the list, that arthritis was settling in. Different Doctor's office ran blood work (I had called rheumatoid arthritis dr office and was told which tests to run prior to visit). Rheumatoid factor was abnormal (high). All this began due to the flu shot and its complications. I am still trying my best to get through each day, but I'm not me anymore. The ankles feel like they are sprained, or broken. I can barely walk when it flares (due to weather and humidity). On sunnier days, I get closer to how I used to be, but during these cold winter months, its hard. I take Naxoproxen (that was originally prescribed, only when absolutely necessary for work or a function I will need to attend where I'll be on my feet, but it just numbs the pain, and I'm worried about spraining my ankle. Otherwise I bear the pain, and am waiting for both my ankle/foot dr's office to set up appt, and am waiting to see the rheumatoid arthritis specialist. I am young, & probably had a reaction to flu shot due to already having a compromised immune system due to being sick, and just being an regular stressed adult with a low immune system. Whatever the case, It's painful, but I'm a fighter, and I'm trying to get answers. Symmetrical issues pertaining to joints. Thought I was going crazy, and this website helped. Thank you.

December 26, 2016 - 10:07pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I received the flu shot about 12 days ago. (Right arm.) Felt fine, except that as that day wore on, my right knee started to stiffen up. By the end of the day it had gotten quite stiff and sore...both in the muscles above my knee, and in the knee joint itself. I would declare it acute...to the point that I favor that knee when I walk, I cannot flex my knee fully without pain and stiffness, and my knee joint itself is very painful, right behind and to the inside of my kneecap.
At no time did I wrench my knee, didn't bump it or bruise it...leading me to think this flu shot is responsible for this reaction. I have NEVER had such a reaction before.

October 21, 2016 - 12:09pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Got the flu shot 5 days ago and 3 days ago my knees started getting sore I cant walk on them now the pain is so severe.How long should I expect this to last

October 27, 2016 - 11:50pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I took the flu shot because my husband insisted this is the 2nd time I've had these side effects My hands arms elbows an shoulders, I can't even straighten out my arm now the pain is terrible. Back an also neck pains I will never take another flu shot it's been 6 months now 2 years ago I had pain for over 16 months

June 7, 2016 - 9:37am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Just received a flu shot for the first time. First night my knee was in pain and I couldn't sleep. The next day it's knees, feet, toes arms and neck. I'm not sleeping and feel dragged down; eyes half open. Coffee didn't help bring me out of it. The sleepy head that is..
Anyway, first flu shot and I better not get the flu this year.

November 19, 2015 - 10:38am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I had a flu shot almost two weeks ago. I have had very painful joints. Every day the symptoms would appear somewhere else in my body/muslces/joints and now it's to the point I could barely walk today, but forced myself to walk my dogs a mile thinking that this would surely pass. It has not. My joints are so inflamed I feel like they are burning in my fingers and feet. My hips were both hurting the past several nights to where I could not sleep. My symptoms were very similar to those I read within this commentary. I should've listened to my own inner sensing, which was not to get the vaccine, but I thought it would help prevent being sick this year. Got my vaccine at Walgreen's Fluvirin MDV TIV 0.5 ML Never ever do this again.

November 14, 2015 - 4:09pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Hi I'm curious to if you're still having these symptoms . I'm somewhat having these symptoms and wondering how long do they usually last. Help please

December 16, 2016 - 10:45pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Just joined this page today. Had the flu shot 2 months ago, pain in my neck and sciatica - moving from one side to the other. Yesterday my knee swelled up, today it is gone. Wondered how you are doing now.

April 11, 2018 - 9:02pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I am not the person who got the shot at Walgreens, but I thought I'd reply. I am in Canada and got the flu shot on Oct 30, 2014. My symptoms started the same day I had the shot, exact symptoms that the original poster had.

Since I have written in detail here before I don't wish to write everything again. Suffice to say, it took more than 1 and half years for me to feel completely normal again. I saw 7 different doctors, underwent a lot of tests, x-rays, etc. Each one said that I will get better but it will take a long time until the vaccine goes away completely from my body.

When I visited my mom in Los Angeles, I went to see a Rheumatologist because at that time I couldn't even walk properly due to knee pain, couldn't my lift hands, shoulder pain was becoming unbearable. That doctor asked me to do a genetic testing. Everything was normal. All the doctors I saw said that the symptoms I was having is a reaction to the flu shot and they asked me never to take another again.

Luckily no one in my family suffers from Rheumatoid arthritis, if I had that in my genes, I wouldn't have completely recovered and would crippled with RA for life.

My family, friends and everyone I know have vouched never to take flu shot again.

December 19, 2016 - 4:50am
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