Tetanus shot made my Arthritis Pain UNBEARABLE. Is this normal?

[meubanks09]

I have had moderate to severe joint pain since April, and was recently diagnosed with Parvovirus B19. Apparently the virus can cause severe Arthralgia that lasts upto 9 months.

On good days my pain level is at a 3. On bad days it will go upto a 6/7. Yesterday I stepped on a metal wire and it got stuck in my foot. The urgent care center recommended I get a tetanus shot, since I have not had one in over 10 years. I asked what the side effects were, and they said my arm would be a little sore.

Well, " a little sore" does not quite describe it. My arm was in excruciating pain all night and still really bad today. I can't even lift it more that a couple inches. Also,  all my joints on my left side ( side I got the shot) were in excruiating pain 8-9. I just sat in bed and cried last night. I took 3 tylenol arthritis's and an extra Meloxicam that I have for joint pain and it did nothing, My arthritis continues to be really bad today. I called the urgent care and asked if I could come back in to get some medication to help until the pain stops. They said they could not do that, and that the tetanus shot would not aggrivate arthritis.

Let me know if anyone else has experienced worsened arthritis symptoms after a vaccination or shot. I wanted to get the flu shot soon, but I am scared now. Can the Flu shot make me hurt this bad as well? Let me know If I should tell the doctor and ask for additional pain medication. Or if the doctor will just tell me " No". Thanks

[RAnow]

I'm so happy that there are others like me that had a severe reaction to Tetnus!  I "suddenly" got hit with a severe case of RA which none of the doctors at the time could figure out what was wrong with me for the first 3 months. The pain was unbearable!! My RA test which should have been under 15, came out 647!.  I racked my brains for the past two years to figure out what the heck did I did different because I was so active and healthy before.  The only thing I did was have a Tetanus shot because I cut my hand washing dishes and had 10 stitches. When it started I thought, how did I sprain my ankle, and the clutch is hurting my foot etc, then hit HARD about 2 months after the shot in every joint in my body. The meds the RA doctor gives me is killing me slowly because they stop cell growth, off and on on Prednisone and so depressed can't handle it sometimes. So now what?  Will we ever get this under control?  

[Amesxx007]

This is happening to me now!!! Oh my god I can't believe the severe pain I feel, it's exactly how you said UNBEARABLE. I went to a new doctor yesterday because my insurance changed and she recommended I get a tetnus shot because it had been a long time. I should have said no, since last night I have been in excruciating pain all over especially my hips for some reason, and It feels like the bones are on fire. Or broken, either way it's becoming unbearable and I'm obviously going to have to get checked out. I have had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 5 (im 26 now) but this is one of the most painful expiriences I've ever had. I wish there was a cure for this painful and never ending disease. I'll pray for you all, and please pray for me. I'm Amy..

[premed400]

Hello,

A very similar thing happened to my mom and she was diagnosed with MCTD (mixed connective tissue disease) have they tested for that?

[4jcobb]

the same thing happened to me..I had a tetanus shot and three weeks later starting twitching and have systemic muscle loss..I have muscle loss in every single Part of my body including face..I have lost all my cartilage in body and have unbearable joint pain..my neck is getting smaller..I know it was a reaction to the tetanus shot..did this happen to anyone else and if some what was done about it...I can't function hardly no more .im 28 and was 100 percent heathy now I feel like a old man .....in two months..please help....contact me at ***@****

[ckb8080]

Hello cindy82548,
I would like to share by story with you because mine is similar.  I received a Tetanus shot on 1/2/13 and had no immediate reaction.  Late Feb I begin having numbing and tingling sensation in my left forearm and hand.  Went to GP and order a EMG and MRI of neck and brain.  EMG Doc diagnosed me with Carpal Tunnel in both wrist (never had any issue before this).  MRI came back normal of Brain and abnormal of neck (degenerative disease).  During this time I’ve had about 20% muscle loss in arms, back, chest, and some in legs.  I have joint pain and am stiff as rock when I wake up in the morning.  My GP said it would take a couple of months to get a Neurologist appointment and recommended that I go to Cleveland Clinic to get more immediate attention.  Went to Cleveland Clinic and they are doing all kinds of testing on me.  They did a full body EMG and found weakness in my left triceps (same muscle they gave me the Tetanus shot!!!).  I meet with Rheumatologist in a couple of weeks.  I went from running in ½ marathons, playing in bball leagues and super-activity with family and kids to now feeling like I’m 80 years old (I’m 35)!  Before that Tetanus shot I was healthy as could be and now I’m getting by day-to-day!!

[cindy82548]

On January 28,2013 I got the tetanus shot as part of my yearly physical.  On Jan.29 I woke up with severe neck pain.  I was told I had Arthus reaction and it would eventually go away.   Pain on the left side spread and lasted almost 6 weeks.  The pain then spread to the muscles,joints, and nerves all over my body.  I am seeing a rheumatologist now and she is stumped.  Meanwhile I can hardly walk today and my neck and shoulers hurt terribly.  This is going on for 9 weeks.  Lupus and rheumatoid arthritus have been ruled out.  I have a normal sed rate and a elevated CRP.  I don''t show many signs of fibromyalgia.  Anyone who might know what s going on please reply.  I want to feel normal again