Shoulder Pain after flu shot

I read posts from 2007about this topic.  I recieved flu shot one month ago and experiencing significant shoulder pain that continues to get worse.  I will be seeing my doctor (shot was given in her office by nurse).  Has there been anything written up on this topic that I can share with her?  After doing internet research on this subject and seeing a large amount of people suffering from the same problem starting over last year - I'm dismayed that the health field is still issuing shots incorrectly.  It appears I may possibly have a chronic problem due to something that I was told would be good for me (getting the flu shot.)   I'm curious if this has been an issue prior to 2007 - and if not, is there something within the flu shot itself (not the needle / where it goes in) that is causing the problem?   Thanks for any insight you can provide.  

[Deanna411]

I had a flu shot that was improperly given, and now have a TORN ROTATOR CUFF that needs surgery in the very near future. I am disgusted that the health care professionals can not get this most basic procedure right !! I have been in excruciating pain for almost four months because of a simple flu shot. If it's not repaired, I could suffer from a permanent disability. The only way to truely find out if it is a rotator cuff tear is to have an MRI. I suggest you do some research the web on this type of injury before seeing your doctor. Also, get a referral to an Ortho doc. Do not mention the shot, save it for later. You never know, they might try to cover it up. That's what I am dealing with now.

[shell6444]

I am curious how you are doing now?  I have been in pain for 3 months from a flu shot. The shot was given at an angle upward... and now my arm is painful and weak.  Hard to put my seatbelt on.  or use my arm.
This was done by a nurse at a flu clinic with rite aid.  Makes me wonder how responsible they should be for my medical expenses that are to come.  
I see a doctor on Monday.

[meedle]

I am going thru the same thing but both arms! It has been a month, Each day is finally feeling better. My pain was a 9-10 and now a 3-4. Saw the Dr. yesterday and maybe it is bursitis, The shots were given so high and it was like going into a rock. That had to be it. Keep us all informed with your details, I read another blog on this website that mentioned 3-6 months. Ugh!!

[shell6444]

This morning I was getting frustrated by the inconvenience again.  I have to use my left arm to support my right arm when putting on my bra.  I can't imagine having it in both arms!    The doctor told me that I have a  rotator cuff injury...which could have been from the shot, but he would say for sure.  

I was thinking that I really need to let Rite Aid know that this nurse injured me, so that this does not happen to others!..  I heard the nurse say before she game me the shot,  " I give shots at an angle upwards, so that they do not hurt as much."   .  I am concerned that she may be injurying many others out there.

[dmtaylor89]

I got the flu shot back in September at Walgreens.  I am still hurting.  I went to dr. back in November she gave me an xray.   It did not show anything.   I went to dr. 2 weeks ago and said the pain will not go away.  She sent me to a neurologist.  Found out I have carpal tunnel (that is not from the shot) in both wrist.  The test didn't show any damage to the nerver.  They told me I have bursitis.  They told me to continue doing what my general dr said to do.  Which is take naproxen twice a day.  The Dr. looked like he wanted to laugh at me because he just didn't think the flu shot caused it.  I told him I didn't have this pain until the shot happened.

[popeye20411]

I had pain at night for 3 months, went to physio and he found a "trigger point" that was caused by the shot. He released it with an acupuncture type needle. Wish I had gone sooner. HOpe it cures others.

[nkdrn89]

Flu shots, regardless of how it's given, do not result in torn rotator cuff. Immunizations can sometimes cause a rare adverse reaction called acute brachial plexus neuritis which many doctors will misdiagnose as torn rotator cuff, bursitis, cervical radiculopathy, etc. It's not very common, but it is extremely painful. I have seen it occur in 3 patients in my 15 years of healthcare. If you have this type of reaction or other adverse reaction, report it to the CDC through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). It is important for people to report their reactions so there are enough statistics to provide increased awareness of this condition so more docs are aware and fewer misdiagnose the condition. Treatment is primarily symptomatic, but the condition usually clears up within a few months, but sometimes as long as a few years.

[val1131]

i had a flu shot almost 3 weeks ago also at Rite-Aid and am alot of pain with no sign of it getting better. I was glad to get the feedback from this blog and intend to go to Rite-Aid and make a complaint. I will also contact the CDC as suggested and will go to an Acupuncturist to see if I can get some relief.

[crissml]

Got a flu shot in Oct 2012 and my reaction to it matches what others here have reported.  Has anyone come up with a definitive solution for this?

[crissml]

Got a flu shot in Oct 2012 and my reaction to it matches what others here have reported.  Has anyone come up with a definitive solution for this?

[baybee27]

I had my flu shot given by my physicial, two weeks ago (Jan 28 2013)..It was given in my left upper shoulder. The initial pain was expected. Over the next few days I was in moderate to severe pain in the exact site, to the extent that I could not life my arm and I was being woken in the middle of the night. It has not subsided..although it is not as painful as it was..Two weeks later and I cannot lift my left arm without pain and it is still painful to sleep on my left side..I am going back to the doc on Monday, but what gives??!