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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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if you do too much you feel bad like body feels weak and powerful fatigue like you just could sleep?
January 11, 2020 - 11:58pmThis Comment
The same thing has happened to me. I got my flu shot almost 6 weeks ago now. Within 3 days my arm started to really hurt and then I started getting pain in my lymph nodes in the corner of my chest, and underarms. Pain in my back and in between my shoulder blades. I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to the doctor and they said it was stress and couldn't be from the flu shot. I insisted on tests and they sent me for a routine blood test, EMR(lymphatic blood test) and an EKG on my heart. To my surprise for the way I was feeling everything turned out normal. The symptoms seemed to subside for 3 weeks and then came back full force again. Pain in my lymph nodes, it feels like someone is punching not one but both of my arms, and pain in my back. I thought I was going crazy till I saw these posts. Other than a cold or the flu I was in perfect health before this stupid shot. My IBS after I don't know how many years had even cleared up, and now I feel like I am falling apart. I am walking around scared I am dieing because of all these pains I am getting everywhere but yet all tests say I am okay. If you have had any of these symptoms please let me know so I know I am not alone in this, because this is absolutely crazy. Oh by the way for the girl who posted above I had the same thing with the pain going up my neck and into my head, with pain radiating down my back, moving from my spleen to my kidneys to wherever it felt like going at the time. NUTS!
December 4, 2009 - 2:44amThis Comment
Yes I have similar things happening and was fine beforehand. I did have Lyme dis ease in 2007 and hope it is not being reactivated by this shot . Thus weirdest thing is the back of my legs so sore . Behind my thighs and hit to touch. I had a hot throat first but no fever before this pain
November 29, 2014 - 12:30amThis Comment
Can you tell me how are you doing rigth now? did your symptoms improve with time ?
November 2, 2010 - 5:51amPlease I having the same problems , please can you help me out here!
This Comment
i have had the same problems
November 26, 2009 - 12:25pmThis Comment
Thanks, well it is somewhat reassuring to know that others have had this problem. It is just strange that it goes to muscles beyond the arm. I know that is common within 48 hrs of the shot, but it is a cause for worry when it lasts longer. Nonetheless I will keep checking back here for updates.
November 15, 2009 - 10:42amThis Comment
Thank you for your share. It is very common to have sore muscles from the flu shot as it depends on how far the needle was put in your arm and so forth. It most certainly will just go away with time. Last year, my shot was injected too close to my shoulder and I was sore for about 3 weeks but of course, it just went away with time.
Good luck!
November 15, 2009 - 10:34amThis Comment
I had the same problem. I got my seasonal shot last week and tensed up when she put it in. My arm was sore for 3 days and then it when into my calf and thigh muscle. I was tired and feeling sick as well. Now my muscles just ache and are worse when I stand or sit... I am hoping this will clear up soon. I have never had problems with flu shots or any vaccines in the past. When I asked the nurse she said it could last up to 7 days, so I am at day 6 now..
November 15, 2009 - 9:42amThis Comment
ME TOOOOOO. HADTHE NEW 2009 FLU SHOT 23 DAYS AGO. MY SYMPTOMS ARE SEVERE ARM PAIN; LIKE SOMEONE HAS DRIVEN A RAILROAD TIE INTO MY ARM, PAIN AND TIGHNESS UP MY NECK AND SHOULDER. THE PAIN IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO SUPPORT MY ARM WITH MY OTHER ARM FOR MOBILITY. I'VE MISSED TIME OFF FROM WORK AND WORK MADE IT MANDATORY THAT WE ALL GET THE VACCINE THIS YEAR. IVE BEEN LIVING ON THE COUCH WITH ICE PACKS, ITS THE ONLY THING THAT REALY TAKES ALL THE PAIN AWAY. IVE BEEN USING PERCOCET, TORDAL BOTH INJ AND BY MOUTH, ADVIL LIDOCAINE PATCHES AND LYRICA AND THE PAIN IS STILL 12/10 ON THE PAIN SCALE. IVE SEEN AN ER, PRIMARY MD, EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND O.T. THE ONLY ONES THAT BELIEVE ITS FROM THE INJECTION ARE MY PRIMARY MD, WHO THANK GOD GAVE ME THE MEDICATIONS AND THE O.T WHO SAID IT WAS MYOFACIA INFLAMMATION. WHAT EVER IT ITS I WANT IT GONE FOR GOOD AND I WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER VACCINE AGAIN. EVEN THOUGH I AM AN RN IN A CCU. NEVER AGAIN. THANKS FOR TNE FOURM ITHOUGHT IT WAS ONLY ME. I AM GOING TO PRINT OFF THIS INFORMATION AND GIVE IT TO MY EMPL HEALTH DEPT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO TRACK THIS ITS JUST TO PAINFULL FOR OTHERS TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH
November 12, 2009 - 1:50pmThis Comment
To E. and to Anon, above:
I am so sorry that you both are experiencing this kind of discomfort. I have a question for you: where in your arm were you given the shot?
Some readers are saying that the shot should be given just three finger-widths down from the top of the shoulder. In other words, for others reading this, if you take the first three fingers of your hand and line the forefinger up with the top of your shoulder, the shot should be given about where the ring finger ends.
I want to get both of you in touch with other threads in which people have had symptoms after a flu shot:
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/it-normal-my-arm-muscle-my-shoulder-hurt-2-weeks-after-flu-shot
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/pain-arm-after-flu-shot
E., please do come back and update us after your doctor's appointment yesterday, we're very interested.
November 4, 2009 - 8:07amThis Comment