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1465913 tn?1318971452

Shoulder & Arm Pain long after Flu Shot / Vaccine

got the flu shot this year as I do every year. That was over 3 weeks ago and my arm/shoulder still hurts. It was so bad that last week I went to the doc after reading threads online. He said we could spend a lot of money on tests (which may come back inconclusive) and physical therapy (which may not really speed up the healing process) but in the end it is probably just a matter of time. He DID give me a steriod pack which I finished yesterday morning...the last pill. The steriods helped immediately, however yesterday when I woke up the stiffness is back in the shoulder and has gotten worse. Today I could barely get dressed.

At its worst, the pain was so bad that when I tried to remove my gown over my head I doubled over...unable to the complete the task. I had tingling and numbness in my arm and fingers, and down into my shoulder blade. At times the pain travels down into my pec muscles and into my arm pit. I have never had anything like this from past flu shots other than a little arm soreness that lasted a couple of days. This is different. We believe (at my office) that the shot was a little high and also a bit further towards the back of the shoulder than in past years.

Right now I can apply pressure to the spot where the shot was given and feel a dull pain all the way down into my shoulder muscle and arm. Cannot sleep on my left side and simple things like carrying a purse or pulling the covers up cause intense, shooting pain. Had to get groceries last nite and was able to do it (even though it REALLY hurt) so there doesn't appear to be a lot of weakness right now. The pain seems to be worse while in bed trying to sleep and in the morning. Esp in the morning...

Because of a lowered kidney function my doc has told me to limit NSAID intake. This is bad news since that is the only thing that actually helped the pain. Since I can't afford expensive tests or PT right now (and from reading the blogs they don't really seem to help much in the diagnosis or recovery) I'm gonna give it a little time...unless it gets worse and becomes unbearable again. I plan to keep checking back here and reporting the progress. I DID feel better after reading the posts because I realized this was apparently not just some funky anomaly that only I was experiencing.

I am probably going back in to see my doc to let him know about the result of the steroids (immediate relief) as well as the sudden return of the pain as bad as (or worse) than before when the steriods were stopped. This is very depressing...I try to do what I can to be healthy and I actually wind up causing a problem. I have read that it could be needle placement (i.e. nerve, punctured bursa, muscle hematoma) or a reaction to the vaccine itself (preservatives, etc.). I am a 51 yr old female always received a flu shot never more than soreness for a couple of days. Guess I'm hoping for a miracle...everyone else reporting these symptoms indicates that recovery is VERY slow and takes many months up to a year. However, I have yet to see where someone pinpointed EXACTLY what the problem was...
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Avatar universal
Wow , so many different people say the same thing , and now you can add me too that list. A week or so after my flu shot i finally called my doctors office to get an appointment because my arm hurt so bad i was not sure why ..so when i called was told that "your arm can hurt up to  a month after flu shot or maybe longer so keep my next appointment  in 3 months and if it still bothers you make sure to mention it when you come in". I am working on 3rd visit with doctors but my husband googled up my symptoms and came up with " SIRVA ". I suggest others to do the same.
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Avatar universal
Oh my goodness. I’m experiencing the exact same thing. Every since they administered the flu shot my deltoid and shoulder has been in pain. I can’t even brush my hair or put on my bra without assistance. And it hurts worse when I’m laying in bed. I went to the doc and she prescribed some meds that’s ease the pain temporarily, My job requires me to take an annual flu shot and this is the first time this has EVER happened
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2 Comments
I had a flu shot six days ago, and just about two hours ago, I started to fee sore in the area of the shot.  The pain and stiffness is increasing. Now, I'm having a bit of difficulty raising my arm over my head. The upsetting thing is that in two weeks, I have to do some puppet shows which require I hold both hands over my head for extended periods.  How did your situation play out? Was there anything that helped? I heard that icing helps. I'm going to try that.
My arm got better! The next day, it was still stiff  and I couldn't put my arm behind back, but I could raise it over my head. It's two days later now, and except for some soreness at the injection site, my range of motion is back to normal, and there's no pain. I don't know what to make of it.  
Avatar universal
I have the exact same issue right now. How did it resolve?
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Avatar universal
I am sorry to hear of your discomfort but it sounds like the needle caused a subcutaneous melanoma. This is intentional to increase the efficacy of the vaccine and there are also pain killers and fever reducers in the flu shot - if there wasn't you would spike a fever of over 104!
But it sounds like the damage is done.  I would ask your dr to see if you now have Arthritis in the shoulder and you might opt for a shoulder replacement surgery.

Also, ask for your dr's files to see if there was a problem with the batch of vaccine you received.  You can not sue the manufacture for any wrong doing - thanks to  congress passing a law making it illegal to sue the bug pharms but you can find out if there were others with the same problems and then contact them to find out how they resolved their issues.

  
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Avatar universal
Your symptoms sound like mine and from my research it is called S.I.R.V.A and it happens when the vaccine us done improperly into your shoulder and damages nerves and the bursa... continue to monitor your symptoms if they last longer than 6 months you should getbxrays and me us to see what damages may have occurred...  a lawsuit is likely
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1 Comments
Nope no lawsuit.  cant sue the pharma or the practitioner who administered the vaccine.
Avatar universal
please note, I have known and spoken to several individuals who are much older than I and have never experienced pain in the arm; I will never authorize another flu and or PCV13 shot at this facility .... lessons learned .... this occurred 3 times already ......
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Avatar universal
I got a flu shot and pneumococcall PCV13 shot approx. 2 years ago and I could not sleep on either side of my arm; the pain was excruciating ... please note I have never experienced pain from any previous flu shots I have received; but I believe it was the way she jabbed it into my bone from behind cause I had a shirt  on and stuck it firmly and deeply into the bone.  Thereafter I got my flu shots at the pharmacy I go to and never experienced this again.  However, I had a doctor's appt. and she said it was time for my other PCV13 shot so here it is again .... I fell asleep when I got home; woke up to a painful shoulder and then the pain radiated my entire arm and I lost my mobility and had difficulty washing my face; etc.  I put ice on it and took 2 alleve and still the pain was there and I had difficulty sleeping last night where the shot was placed in the right arm; and I woke up today and it is still there so I called my doctor's office and the nurse informed me to ice it and it will take a couple of days .... I read the shot should be placed at a 90 degree angle and not directly jabbed into the bone mass. and she said the placement was high on the arm near the shoulder .... never again am I going to get another vaccine shot if staff members do not know how to inject same ...... very frustrated .....
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Avatar universal
I got a flu shot and pneumococcall PCV13 shot approx. 2 years ago and I could not sleep on either side of my arm; the pain was excruciating ... please note I have never experienced pain from any previous flu shots I have received; but I believe it was the way she jabbed it into my bone from behind cause I had a shirt  on and stuck it firmly and deeply into the bone.  Thereafter I got my flu shots at the pharmacy I go to and never experienced this again.  However, I had a doctor's appt. and she said it was time for my other PCV13 shot so here it is again .... I fell asleep when I got home; woke up to a painful shoulder and then the pain radiated my entire arm and I lost my mobility and had difficulty washing my face; etc.  I put ice on it and took 2 alleve and still the pain was there and I had difficulty sleeping last night where the shot was placed in the right arm; and I woke up today and it is still there so I called my doctor's office and the nurse informed me to ice it and it will take a couple of days .... I read the shot should be placed at a 90 degree angle and not directly jabbed into the bone mass. and she said the placement was high on the arm near the shoulder .... never again am I going to get another vaccine shot if staff members do not know how to inject same ...... very frustrated .....
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1 Comments
I has a B shot 7mo ago. And still my right arm hurts so bad that I can't pick up or hold anything! I can't even take off my shirts. Even just sitting around its a constant stabbing.  I've went to my Dr they tell me it's normal & will take time to heal. Please I'm not stupid something is not right & everyone thinks I'm crazy or making it up. I use essential oils for the pain, hot packs & NOTHING TAKES IT AWAY.  I still feel the bump were in got it. I just wish someone would believe me. I wish I could find out what the heck going on. buglynn69
Avatar universal
I bad got a flu shot and another vaccine in the other arm  on December 4 ,2015 my arms are killing me to this day there are stiff and hurt bad , I got mine done at Metro ,never bad a prob before with the shots
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Avatar universal
Hi I'm knew here.
I had a flu jab in Oct 2015 now January 2016 and I'm off work with a lowered immune system. My arm is in so much pain where I had the flu jab. I've also got arthritis in my joints and fingers, I am seing a Rhumatoligist who is mind blown. I too am a nurse and can't function properly let alone look after my patients. I will never again have the flu jab even though I am asthmatic. The aftermath is too much I think I would have sooner just have  had the flu!
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Avatar universal
I took a flu shot and a whooping shot for the first time in my life. Is been 5 weeks since i had the shots. I been sick since then, i have the flu symptoms and still runny nose, the worst of all last week my middle finger start swelling and hurting bad,  and today January 17th 2016 i woke up with a pain so bad,  my left little finger it hurts so bad,, it makes me cry from pain. I will wait to see what is going to happen, all tho i will start taking  lots of vitamin C because i see my immune system is shutting down. I have autoimmune problems. I don't trust doctors they never do anything to help you except  give you drugs.I will try to get my immune system up. As i did 12 years ago.  Litsa 01-17-16
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1 Comments
I also just had the flu and whooping shot the other day and now my arm that they have me the flu shot in is extremely sore to where I can't move it
Avatar universal
I had the FLU shot on November 10th 2015 all of the stories above echo the same conditions I am experiencing. The shot felt surprisingly more "FORCEFUL" than all those I'd had in the past. My arm was sore for days and days but that is to be expected. BUT the soreness and fatigue and weakness persist it's now over 2 months. I saw a nurse practitioner who ordered an echocardiogram stress test which I passed with flying colors. I saw my real doctor today and she said she had a patient just last week with the same symptoms. She has referred me on to a muscular skeletal expert to have an EMG test performed. I'll update this post when I find anything positive  to report.
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Avatar universal
My flu shot was on 9/29/2015. Today is 1/2/2016 and still haven't been able to tie my bra. Yes I can lift it up a little bit more than before but that's it
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Avatar universal
Myarmhurtstoo... You wrote this post 5 years ago. I would love to hear how are you feeling right now. I hope you found a solution for your pain. That would give us a lot of hope.
I'm looking forward to hear from you.
Best regards.
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Avatar universal
So 13 months months post flu shot I am STILL in pain. I did go to an orthopedic surgeon in January. He did X-rays and said the bones are fine, which I already knew. He gave me an option of a cortisone injection, an MRI, or surgery. I chose the cortisone injection and yes it gave me relief for about 2 months, for the first time I could lift my arm over my head without pain. It almost seems as if it "wore off" in about March. I started getting throbbing pain in my arm intermittently and it's almost constant now. I can lift it over my head though. I have not been back, mostly because I start the LPN-RN program in January and do not want to find out something is wrong with it and not be able to start school. So for now, I will continue to endure and eventually get an MRI and see what is really going on. I am required to get another flu shot for school, I am afraid to do so, but it is mandatory.
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Avatar universal
See my previous posts as your complaint is identical to mine. I too received my annual flu shot last Sept 2014 and after physical therapy 2-3 times per week since October 2014!!! I've had x rays, 2 MRI's, and 3 steroid shots!!! I was told by the orthopedic surgeon (who happens to practice at the same hospital that gave me my flu shot!!!), he rolled his eyes at me and said I just have a lot of swelling in my bursa because that's where the shot went and that i basically needed to just wait for it to go away!  I finally asked my family dr if he'd refer me somewhere else and he thankfully did because they found out that my bursa had a tear and needed debriedment and repair. All from a flu shot that was given too high!  It has nothing to do with the concoction of the shot either! it has everything to do with the placement. Just yesterday I had my surgery and it's too soon to tell, but the dr that did my surgery feels that my motion will be restored. He also did tell me that he has seen this before from a flu shot so don't let anyone make you feel like it cannot happen because it CAN!  Keep talking with doctors until you find one that'll listen to you.
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Avatar universal
#Update-  4/27/15
Here I am 7 months later, shoulder x-rays, MRI, 6 1/2 straight months of physical therapy 2-3 times per week, 3 shoulder steroid shots and a diagnosis of chemical bursitis!  Next week I see the specialists again and am getting another MRI to determine if I will now benefit from arthroscopic debriedment of the bursa or if maybe another steroid shot is needed. I am still in a lot of pain, however NOT as much as when I first got the flu shot. I have had improvements but internal rotation is a huge problem. After my last steroid injection (under sonogram guidance!) I can lift my arm straight up with minimal discomfort, but straight up and reaching toward the 1 o'clock position it starts to really hurt .  On the steering wheel 3 o'clock - 5 o'clock position hurts so bad I could vomit!  I might add that in the few weeks after my 3rd shot these movements didn't hurt me, but now I feel the steroid is wearing off and pain is returning.  
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Avatar universal
I received my flu shot in Sept 2014 and I noticed then that my arm was unusually sore with limited movement from the shot but thought it would go away in a few days. Today,  I am in horrible pain!  I cannot lift my arm to my side, above my head, sleep on my side and if I make certain movements, I feel like I have just broke my arm in to! It will bring me to my knees in pain! Tramadol, lortab, mobic, nor muscle relaxer have given me relief. Anybody with any suggestions, it would be so greatly appreciated.
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Avatar universal
I've been seeing a orthopedic doctor and just completed six weeks of Therapy. I'm still in pain with limited movement. I got my flu shot September 29th 2014. The pain is worse at night and I can't put my arm behind my back. I've read so many cases like this. My doctor doesn't believe it's from the flu shot. I guess they all stick together . CBS news had a news article about this. These are real cases. I don't think this pain will ever go away. I've gotten a cortisone shot and it helped a little but only for about two weeks.
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Avatar universal
I got the flu shot in sept also and my left arm  has been bothering me for the last couple months went to the dr's said I had bursitis then went back two week later arm swollen , was sent to pt and this is my second week been doing stretching excise and they put a patch on before I leave with some medicine have to leave on for two hours. have to go back on Tuesday and going to ask for the ultra sound that is for deep down in the skin for inflammation if that does not help going back to dr's for shot . i'm tired of this pain
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Avatar universal
I got my Flu shot in the Doctor's office on Sept. 2014. Today 3/15/2015. I am still in pain. I've had a Xray, MRI and was told my shoulder was inflamed. The doctor gave me a cortisone shot and told me start therapy which I did for six weeks. It hasn't helped. I can't sleep at night because the pain is worse at night and morning. I went back to the Doctor but he doesn't believe it's from the flu shot. Now he want's to do a Platelet rich plasma test. He told me to go back to Therapy again. I'm getting fed up. The therapy gave me a little better range of motion but I still can't put my arm behind my back without pain. I don't know if I need to see another Doctor and what kind of Doctor. I've been seeing a Orthopedic specialist.    
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Avatar universal
I have received flu shots for the past 6 years and have not had one single problem until this year. We may not know the exact issue with the strain this year but I do believe there is an issue or perhaps it could be the way it was administered. My shots have always come directly from hospital administration until this year. I was unemployed at the time but receiving a flu shot is important to me so I had it done at the local neighborhood drug store. I received my shot the first week in November, it has now been nearly 8 weeks later and I still feel the discomfort of lying on my arm. The constant pain has gone but there is definitely discomfort when lying on that arm at night.  All of this is very disturbing but if I had it to do over again, I do believe I would get the shot. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't. It's a risk worth taking for me. I think it was the way my shot was administered so I am just going to ride this one out cause I do believe that I'm on the home stretch.
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Avatar universal
I received a flu shot because it became a mandatory thing for my job. I would usually never go for one. I do not believe in them. I held out for one month at work, wearing a mask, honestly I was bullied into getting a flu shot, being treated like crap by certain individuals there, because I did not comply with their system.  So any way, got the flu shot. Almost immediately I had numbness down my entire arm to my hand, felt increased pressure down to my thumb.Within 20 minutes I had horrible pain, medially thru my bicep.  It got so bad the pain, muscle spasm, radiated into my chest for 4 hours
I have had unceasing pain in my shoulder ever since.
Finally saw MD, was put on NSAID for two weeks. She had never heard of such a thing, and is reluctant to say it is related to the flu shot.   I cannot getdressed, undressed, sleep, adjust myself in bed without pain.....I am so very upset about this, I didn't want this shot to start with, now this crap....
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Avatar universal
Tomorrow will be 7 weeks of pain for me. I would feel stupid going to an orthopedist over a flu shot but I'm getting worried it did some sort of damage. It no longer throbs all day, but certain motions feel like my arm is being ripped off. It also pops way more than normal, even small motions like running my hand through my hair.
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