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I was happy to receive the flu shot this year, as I feel like it's "doing my part" to stop the spread of the influenza virus. Plus, any inoculation that can either prevent, or lessen the symptoms, of flu is motivation to me!
I've received the flu shot annually, for the past 10 years. I have the typical soreness at site, possibly a little tired that evening. But that's it.
This year...my shoulder muscle (at the site of the injection) is still painful, so much that I can't move my arm forward at shoulder-level, or lift my arm up over my head, without a sharp pain in that one muscle. If my arm is still, it does not hurt. It is affecting my sleep, as I am confined to sleeping on only my right side (it is my left arm that hurts).
Are there any other reports of this flu shot symptom? Did I just not move my arm enough after the shot (kind of "favored it"), or is there something else wrong??
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This thread makes me feel so much better but so bad because you all are suffering the same pains. :( I just noticed about 2 nights ago my right arm was feeling achy. I received the seasonal flu shot 3 weeks ago come this Friday. I think the nurse at the pharmacy administered the shot too high as well and hit a nerve. It's not as bad as some of you have described but I'll wake up in the morning feeling like my arm is kind of heavy and achy. It's worse at night. My arm is still functional during the day. I hope this goes away for all of us.
October 27, 2009 - 10:47pmThis Comment
I got the flu shot 2 weeks ago and knew while she was giving it to me that something was wrong. It was so painful and it also felt like it was too high, near my shoulder. It has hurt ever since and is progressively getting worse. Now it radiates down my arm and toward my neck. I cannot raise my arm or lift it away from my body more than about 2 inches. I would really like to know what is going on and how long this will last. I have a 3 month old baby to take care of and can barely pick her up! I guess i'll go to an ortho doctor to see if she hit a tendon or something. I just want the pain to go away!!
October 25, 2009 - 4:33pmThis Comment
So many people have shared this exact same problem (including me!), and no one has been able to pin-point what part of the arm/shoulder was injured from the injection. My nurse said that it was most likely the shot given too high in the arm...but this is an educated guess only.
If you do go to the ortho, please let us know what the results are...it will help so many people! If it truly is as simple as individuals knowing to tell the nurse "3 fingers below the shoulder" and drawing a bull's eye/target on ourselves, I believe many of us would gladly do it.
I hope your pain gets better soon. I can tell you my pain did not radiate toward my neck, so this is definitely something you would want to have checked out.
Congrats on your 3 month old baby, too.
October 25, 2009 - 5:21pmThis Comment
Yes, I can realate to the pain. I have never had deltoid pain last this lang after an IM vaccine. I am going straight to my NP and demand an MRI. I cant do anything anymore without severe pain. Pain was normal at first then came back and is progrssively getting worse and it has been over 3 weeks ago. I dont want to live the rest of my life like this.
October 25, 2009 - 2:47pmThis Comment
I think that sounds like a great idea, as the pain I experienced from my flu shot (that lasted 3+ months last year, and was so painful it disrupted my sleep and prohibited me from using my arm) would still not be described as "severe" or "progressively worse". My pain did get progressively better, and is now 100% completely gone, although not forgotten.
You may not have to live the rest of your life like this, if it's only been 3 weeks, but taking control of your pain by seeing a doctor who can evaluate your arm/shoulder is a good idea. Please let us know what you discover, in case it helps the many other people struggling with this as well.
October 25, 2009 - 3:08pmThis Comment
I know I'll never get the shot again by a doctor, and normally she doesn't give them anyways. I always got flu shots at cVS Pharmacy with no problem....but it's the pneumonia shot that was the worst. Again I'm with most of you it was too high up....what it exactly did I'm not sure. I'm finally going back to my CURVES exercise group and I think that might help. Good luck!
October 23, 2009 - 9:02amThis Comment
I thought I was the only one with this arm pain after my flu shot. I cannot lift my arm above my head without pain. Does it finally go away?
October 23, 2009 - 8:39amThis Comment
Mine went away after about 10 months. I know that seems like a long time, but at least it went away.
October 28, 2009 - 5:31pmThis Comment
That's what I'd like to know. Exactly what is causing this pain that I've had for 3 weeks now. Is it a damaged nerve? Trauma to the muscle? Also in response to the last writer. My nurse was distracted - on her cell phone with personal business right up to the time she gave me the shot - she was definitely distracted. GRRRR if I could do this over, I would buy only groceries at Kroger - not get my shot there.
October 23, 2009 - 1:06amThis Comment
I am having the exact same symptoms as all of you. I had my flu shot 3 weeks ago. My DR. said the same thing, the shot was given too high on the shoulder. What is that, their pat answer. Does anybody out there know what really happened? I will never get another flu shot, not worth it.
October 22, 2009 - 5:25pmThis Comment