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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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I too have been having the same problems. I received the shot 10/2/14. Expected the usual disfomfort but then the arm, shoulder and elbow continually lost strength and I was unable to sleep without a heating pad around the arm. I went to the doctor 11/5/14 he put me on prednisone. He saw that my entire left upper side was swollen and that pain was radiating into the left side of my chest and neck. Almost immediately after taking the prednisone I began feeling better, once I had completed the script I felt the best I had in weeks. Then 3 days later the pain returned to the arm, elbow and shoulder. I was put back on prednisone for 5 more days. This helped once again. Now that I have been off the 2nd script for 3 days the discomfort has returned. I am so upset. I reported to VAERS for what that's worth. I don't even want to call my doctor again, but I know the arm and shoulder is still not back to normal. It still is particularly sore at the injection site. I feel silly about all this too but flu shots in the past have never caused this reaction. I just want full use of my arm and shoulder back full strength!
November 25, 2014 - 8:05amThis Comment
It's been two days since my shot and my shoulder is killing me. It's really hard to move my arm and I couldn't hardly sleep last night.
October 24, 2014 - 7:36pmThis Comment
I really did not expect to find so many others that are experiencing this pain the same as mine. I got a free flu shot at my church on Oct. 4. The needle did not hurt going in but I sure felt the medicine. The administer of the shot gave me a large dose because he said my muscle was between a small/large dose and gave it high on my shoulder. I told my husband he had hurt me and of course he laughed. After reading much on the Web I now believe that he truly did injury my shoulder administering this vaccine. It really hurts to lift my arm or rotate my shoulder (left) to any degree. I sure hope it gets better with time.
October 23, 2014 - 12:43pmThis Comment
I'm experiencing the same problem. I had the Fluarix quadrivalent vaccine 2 weeks ago, and my arm still itches/hurts. I've never has this problem in the past with the trivalent version. I think there may be something wrong with this formula.
October 22, 2014 - 12:04pmThis Comment
i got my flu shot yesterday and my arm is sore ! i was asleep for 5 hours yesterday because it hurt so bad !
October 21, 2014 - 2:08pmThis Comment
On Oct. 6th I received a tetanus shot and flu shot in the same part of my left arm and expected it to be sore for a couple of days. It's now two weeks later and my arm is still in constant pain at the injection spot and through my shoulder and down my arm. I called my Dr. and was told to ice it 3 times a day and take 600 mg of Ibuprofen 3 times a day. This does seen to help a little but the pain is still there and when ever I don't take the pain reliever it's really bad. It hurts to sleep, it hurts to raise my arm and really use it for anything. I'm so disappointed that this happened because going in for my check up I was fine.
October 20, 2014 - 11:12amThis Comment
I received my flu shot on October 2nd and my arm is still hurting 17 days later. It's hard for me to sleep and pick up my arm without pain. I'm wishing now that I didn't get but I thought I was doing a good thing for myself. I'm paying the price for it now! I'm amazed on many people are experiencing the same issue. Very scary!
October 20, 2014 - 9:40amThis Comment
I found this when I Googled "Shoulder pain after flu shot". I got a flu shot at a clinic at work nearly 4 weeks ago. The shot was given high in my shoulder with the needle pointing down. As the shot was being given, I got a strange sensation in my arm and made a face noticed by others waiting in line. There was no pain at the actual injection site, but there was discomfort further down my upper arm. I could barely use my arm the rest of that day. And it's just gotten worse since then. I have lost range of motion in my arm. I can't lift it to wash my hair or pull a shirt over my head. I can get just so far before feeling a sharp pain. I am unable to sleep with my arm under my head. I hadn't gotten a flu shot for many years, but though I should since I have developed an auto-immune issue. I have very little meat on my arms, so I don't know if the tech hit a nerve or what, but I've never felt pain like this.
October 20, 2014 - 8:28amThis Comment
Same here - I got a Flu shot October 8th at work - it didn't hurt till 3 or 4 days later and then got worse each day up till now - a week and a half after the shot - insane ! my left shoulder is freaking killing me! What the HECK is going on ?
October 19, 2014 - 6:54pmThis Comment
Maybe we all need to complain to the CDC! So they know this shot just isn't right!
October 19, 2014 - 7:41pmThis Comment