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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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My arm pain after the flu shot still hurts close to 3 months now. Not even relieved with Ibuprofen. It's been recommended that i see a neurologist. has anyone else been there?
January 20, 2010 - 6:20pmThis Comment
I am having the same problem...first time I ever got a flu shot & it was centered and high (what did I know?)....it's over 2 months & I still am having difficulty with my seat belt & I've woken in the middle of the night with a lot of pain & had to take 4 advil....I think we all need to get to the bottom of what happened???
January 16, 2010 - 5:28pmThis Comment
Have you spoken with the nurse who gave you the shot, or to another trusted nurse/doctor (if you do not want a "confrontation")? I spoke to my GYN nurse, showed her where the injection was given, and she told me that it was too high in my arm. Granted, there was nothing she could do about it after-the-fact (and, I did not talk with her for 12 months after the troublesome flu shot...it took 6 months for my shoulder/arm to feel back to normal without pain).
It is difficult, but what we all need to do is advocate for ourselves first, and speak with the person/clinic where we received the flu shot, so that it does not keep happening to other people.
Then, I believe, we can look into our next steps, and I'm open to suggestions!
January 17, 2010 - 1:21pmThis Comment
I have been experiencing the same pain from arm movement and continued muscle aches. I have pain when I try to reach up or around my body with my left arm. I have had a flu shot every year due to my son's doctor's advice. This is the first time I have ever experienced these strong symptoms. I believe my past flu shots were given in my right (dominate) arm where this year it was given in my left arm. I received the shot in Nov at my husband's office and I did not see the location of the shot. My husband had a shot that day also but he has not experienced any pain. I work with some one who experienced this last year and she said that her doctor eventually prescribed a steriod patch for her which helped. She said that the patch was expensive, though. Any thoughts on the steriod patch idea?
January 2, 2010 - 8:18amThis Comment
You described my exact symptoms.
December 23, 2009 - 3:41pmThis Comment
Hi, I had my flu shot on 10/8 and immediately felt pain. LVN said maybe it's because she had to use a larger needle than normally used in the arm (the buttocks size - whatever that is). Since this was my first flu shot I thought..well ok then. I didn't know anything about where it should be injected, etc. It was injected 1 finger below the top of the shoulder. I have all the symptoms the other posters are stating. Fatigue when lifting (try folding clothes...Ouch), can't sleep on it, most pain at night, and of course, when lifting it in certain ways. I've been back and forth to drs. Finally had an MRI - result is I have a Partial Rotator Cuff Tear. Asked Dr. if injection did it...he said just a coincidence. Yeah Right!!! I have never before experienced any pain of any sort in that arm... and suddenly after I get a shot I have a coincidence of a tear in my rotator cuff....right where the injection was done ...with an oversized needle!!! So, this may be what some of you have. The only way to know is with the MRI. Haven't been back yet to start phys. therapy. Scared to get the cortisone injection he is recommending. Initiated a grievance so atleast don't have to pay the past and future copays. Still don't know how long it will last either. AAGGHH!!!
December 11, 2009 - 1:59pmThis Comment
Anon,
Don't hesitate to start the physical therapy; with a torn rotator cuff, whatever the cause, you need some help getting it back to normal. The cortisone injection is your choice, of course, but it might indeed bring some relief. You might tell your doctor that frankly you're scared of an injection because of the pain the last one caused, and ask whether the cortisone injection would happen in the exact same place with the same size needle.
Physical therapists are wonderful people who will work with you gently and surely to help get that pain alleviated and to get you back to a full range of motion, or the best possible range of motion. They will listen to you carefully and respond to your questions. Make that appointment before too much time goes past; we don't want you to have permanent damage in that arm, OK?
December 14, 2009 - 7:52amThis Comment
Thanks for the encouragement. I am waiting for the referral to go thru to start phys. therapy. I'm probably not going to go for the cortisone injection. The pain, by the way, is getting more bearable. Mornings are the worst and sometimes during the night it just aches. I'll update later. GG
December 14, 2009 - 10:25amThis Comment
Hello,
I already post my issue few weeks ago, a good new i hope for everybody is that the pain IS GONE!
In my case it has gone in a period or 5-7 days. The pain was not absolutely gone in the first days but then one day it's gone. I hope that will help the others to hope it will not last forever as i thought
thanks!!
December 7, 2009 - 10:47amThis Comment
Hello,
I already post my issue few weeks ago, a good new i hope for everybody is that the pain IS GONE!
In my case it has gone in a period or 5-7 days. The pain was not absolutely gone in the first days but then one day it's gone. I hope that will help the others to hope it will not last forever as i thought
thanks!!
December 7, 2009 - 10:46amThis Comment