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

I have had the same reaction. I got my flu shot at my local grocery store (mistake!) by a nurse practitioner. That was 2 weeks ago. My left arm is so sore it wakes me up at night and I have lost my range of motion - especially to reach straight out and up. My shot, too, was given too high. Also it bruised which I have never had with a flu shot. My doctor just said to let it heal, but I'm afraid its going to be a long time. I wish I had never had the shot - next time? It will be in my butt!

I had a flu and pneumonia shot a week and a half ago. The flu shot went well, little soreness, but the left arm with the pneumonia shot has left me in pain when raising my arm and pain in the muscles of my shoulder. I even have pain just resting the arm. I've read the blogs and I don't see any quick fixes. The doc did the shots and they were also high up, the nurse usually does it but there was a temporary ban on them doing it so she did. I've been using the heating pad a lot, but it's there yet. I think the nurses know more than the doc's when it comes to shots.

Any advise?

I RECEIVED THE FLU SHOT 9 DAYS AGO AND MY LEFT SHOULDER IS KILLING ME IN SEVERE PAIN! THE HEAD PHARMICIST AT WALGREENS GAVE IT TO ME IN THE UPPER SHOULDER WHICH WAS TOO HIGH!!!!
GOD, PLEASE LET THIS PAIN GO AWAY!!!!

THANKS for your support....bless you, hope we're all feeling better soon!

I am sorry to hear that you don't have insurance as of yet. We were without it for over a year. The doctor did tell me with out the predisone, it would eventually work its way out of my system. i hope that gives you some encouragement

Thanks for your post...and so glad to hear you were finally given Prednisone for your pain and inflammation.
I've found some relief in ice, heat, Ben-Gay....but tomorrow will be one month since the shot and one month of pain.
Will Prednisone be the only thing that can take away the inflammation? Does anyone think it will eventually go away on it's own?
I ask because I'm currently without medical insurance!! Not a good time for this to happen!
Also, was wondering if anyone's given thought to the fact that many flu shots are available now at chain stores, etc... and the people giving the shots may be less experienced to handle the volume of people or the shot itself?
Thanks everyone!

Thanks for your post...and so glad to hear you were finally given Prednisone for your pain and inflammation.
I've found some relief in ice, heat, Ben-Gay....but tomorrow will be one month since the shot and one month of pain.
Will Prednisone be the only thing that can take away the inflammation? Does anyone think it will eventually go away on it's own?
I ask because I'm currently without medical insurance!! Not a good time for this to happen!
Also, was wondering if anyone's given thought to the fact that many flu shots are available now at chain stores, etc... and the people giving the shots may be less experienced to handle the volume of people or the shot itself?
Thanks everyone!

Dear Arm sufferers,
I am really glad I had a place to vent. I think i shared before I got a oral steriod, predizone, and it is the only thing that helped. So that must be it for me! I had, have a very inflamed muscle after the shot. I too have always questioned the nurse who gave me the shot, and I will leave it at that. I think I had just better switch doctors, I had to keep persisting to get the right treatment. This was my third try before I finally got help. I will never get a shot in the arm again. Finally, by some miracle on the third office visit I did manage to find a doctor who just listened and replied, "I am looking at your chart, you don't have a record as a whiner, I believe you, and something is wrong. Now that was a miracle. So what have I learned in all this? 1) Keep being persistent, if your in pain, your in pain. somewhere there is relief. 2) Half the cure is being acknowledged, we are worth listening too! 3) It really does make a difference where you get the shot and who gives it to you. 4) Doctors like all people are different, and it really helps to find one you can feel comfortable with and relate too. If you found different answers or even the same please let me know, as I never had the constant pain as with this shot, so i am curious as to what others are learning or are doing....Thanks again,, all of you and I hope your arms get better!!!

I just want to vent. I am an RN. I have been going to this MD office for 3 years, never had a problem until this visit. Thats when everything went wrong (thats another story). She suggested I get the flu shot at her office that day, I told her no because I get it through my work. She said "oh its free for all my patients, and you are here already so you might as well". So I said fine. But in walks in the medical assistant STUDENT. Long story short, against my better judgement, I allowed him to inject me. I felt "oh i was a student once, I should help with their learning process". But no one came to supervise. I was still upset with my MD about something prior in the visit so I kind of overlooked it. As soon as he injected I wanted to hit the roof!!! I knew it wasnt right. I have been giving IM injections for a long time and knew right away! I left there so upset over so many things. I wanted to call his school and complain. I was fine for about a week. Now I have all the symptoms all prior posters are experiencing. Pain in the arm, almost a heavy feeling. I am nervous to go back to my MD office because I have so many complaints!!! HELP!