Facebook Pixel
Q: 

Is it normal for my arm muscle in my shoulder to hurt 2 weeks after flu shot?

By December 7, 2008 - 7:32am
 
Rate This
Pain from flu shot

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??

Add a Comment735 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

OMG, I am just the same, I had my first ever flu jab about 3 weeks ago. My left arm feels very heavy, as if some one has punched me. But the worst bit is if I try and lift my arm, then I get a sharp pain. I can,t use my hair dryer because I can't lift my arm above shoulder level. It is worse at night in bed. How long does this last?

December 16, 2014 - 2:41pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have posted several times, but wanted to update. It has now been 3 months since my flu shot. I have now had x-rays, blood work, MRI, visited the neurologist, antibiotics, several rounds of prednisone and now physical therapy. My MRI showed intense inflammation surrounding my rotator cuff tendons and that is the reason for the pain. The physical therapist said I need to get the inflammation down before really starting exercises. I had my first of 6 treatments of iontophoresis as well as doing ice massages. Once I talk to my PCM, I should also start Meloxicam as well. Hopefully, I will finally start to see some improvement.

December 15, 2014 - 3:30pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

2 months now. still in tons of pain. been to doctor a number of times. was put on naproxen . that minimally helped. since going off I'm in the same amount of pain as I was before! I have to lift my painful arm with my ok arm to change sleep positions! not that I'm sleeping with this pain anyway. never getting the flu shot again! like ever.

December 15, 2014 - 2:40pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Wow, just searched this and am surprised to see this forum. My shoulder feels fine, but the pain I get is in my forearm ever since my flu shot about 2 months ago now. I guess it's time to see the doctor.

December 15, 2014 - 8:45am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I was in the hospital recently for a SCS spinal cord stimulatorimplant and I mentioned to one of the doctors that my shoulder has gotten worse over the last 4-5 months. He said he's herd a lot of patients complain about this years 2014 flushot . more than he's ever herd of.

Apparently there is something wrong with this years batch.

I hope permanent damage is not occuring .

It feels much like a syst has formed and or damage to a nerve or nerves occurred. My shoulder socket feels as if 100 pounds is hanging from my arm each day and will likely feel like 150 pounds may be next months example. It simply gets worse by the week to month.

Its becoming worse than the back pain and radculopathy that I recently had the implant for

I wonderr if a class action case could result or if vaccines are some way excluded from case action.

They are great and far better than the flu but this shoulder pain is not what I expected.

December 14, 2014 - 10:33am
(reply to Anonymous)

Hello, I wanted to tell you that this year's flu shot may becausing shoulder pain to a number of people, however I received a flu shot three yrs ago and developed the same excruciating pain that most of the writers on this blog discuss. My doctor and I tried a number of treatment modalities however nothing worked.

Finally I found a website : http://vaers.hhs.gov/index

The Dept of Health and Human Services have set up a program, for vaccine suffers who have had symptoms for more then 6months. A claim has to be filed and with verifiable symptoms, (i.e. doctors medical records,diagnostics etc...) for over 6 months, there can be a monetary awarded. There is NOTHING that is going to work for this pain. No one knows how long the pain will last.

My shoulder pain 3yrs later has improved probably by 50% but there are good days and bad.

Every year there are at least 10,000 people that have this same pain from the flu shot. I hope this helps.

and I happen to be a physician (internist) and I have thoroughly researched the flu shot, which I will never get again.

December 18, 2014 - 3:45am
(reply to Anonymous)

Hello, I wanted to tell you that this year's flu shot may becausing shoulder pain to a number of people, however I received a flu shot three yrs ago and developed the same excruciating pain that most of the writers on this blog discuss. My doctor and I tried a number of treatment modalities however nothing worked.

Finally I found a website : http://vaers.hhs.gov/index

The Dept of Health and Human Services have set up a program, for vaccine suffers who have had symptoms for more then 6months. A claim has to be filed and with verifiable symptoms, (i.e. doctors medical records,diagnostics etc...) for over 6 months, there can be a monetary awarded. There is NOTHING that is going to work for this pain. No one knows how long the pain will last.

My shoulder pain 3yrs later has improved probably by 50% but there are good days and bad.

Every year there are at least 10,000 people that have this same pain from the flu shot. I hope this helps.

and I happen to be a physician (internist) and I have thoroughly researched the flu shot, which I will never get again.

December 18, 2014 - 3:45am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

When does the pain go away? Mine has hurt for 7 weeks now.

December 14, 2014 - 7:19am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I'm going on 4 months. I waiting to see something from the CDC or a new station expose this. Just look at the hundreds of folks responding to this topic. This is only one site. Imagine how many more sites there are like this on the net!

December 14, 2014 - 10:40am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I'm going on 4 months. I waiting to see something from the CDC or a new station expose this. Just look at the hundreds of folks responding to this topic. This is only one site. Imagine how many more sites there are like this on the net!

December 14, 2014 - 10:40am
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.

Tags:

Flu

Get Email Updates

Flu Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!