Shoulder & Arm Pain long after Flu Shot / Vaccine

[Myarmhurtstoo]

got the flu shot this year as I do every year. That was over 3 weeks ago and my arm/shoulder still hurts. It was so bad that last week I went to the doc after reading threads online. He said we could spend a lot of money on tests (which may come back inconclusive) and physical therapy (which may not really speed up the healing process) but in the end it is probably just a matter of time. He DID give me a steriod pack which I finished yesterday morning...the last pill. The steriods helped immediately, however yesterday when I woke up the stiffness is back in the shoulder and has gotten worse. Today I could barely get dressed.

At its worst, the pain was so bad that when I tried to remove my gown over my head I doubled over...unable to the complete the task. I had tingling and numbness in my arm and fingers, and down into my shoulder blade. At times the pain travels down into my pec muscles and into my arm pit. I have never had anything like this from past flu shots other than a little arm soreness that lasted a couple of days. This is different. We believe (at my office) that the shot was a little high and also a bit further towards the back of the shoulder than in past years.

Right now I can apply pressure to the spot where the shot was given and feel a dull pain all the way down into my shoulder muscle and arm. Cannot sleep on my left side and simple things like carrying a purse or pulling the covers up cause intense, shooting pain. Had to get groceries last nite and was able to do it (even though it REALLY hurt) so there doesn't appear to be a lot of weakness right now. The pain seems to be worse while in bed trying to sleep and in the morning. Esp in the morning...

Because of a lowered kidney function my doc has told me to limit NSAID intake. This is bad news since that is the only thing that actually helped the pain. Since I can't afford expensive tests or PT right now (and from reading the blogs they don't really seem to help much in the diagnosis or recovery) I'm gonna give it a little time...unless it gets worse and becomes unbearable again. I plan to keep checking back here and reporting the progress. I DID feel better after reading the posts because I realized this was apparently not just some funky anomaly that only I was experiencing.

I am probably going back in to see my doc to let him know about the result of the steroids (immediate relief) as well as the sudden return of the pain as bad as (or worse) than before when the steriods were stopped. This is very depressing...I try to do what I can to be healthy and I actually wind up causing a problem. I have read that it could be needle placement (i.e. nerve, punctured bursa, muscle hematoma) or a reaction to the vaccine itself (preservatives, etc.). I am a 51 yr old female always received a flu shot never more than soreness for a couple of days. Guess I'm hoping for a miracle...everyone else reporting these symptoms indicates that recovery is VERY slow and takes many months up to a year. However, I have yet to see where someone pinpointed EXACTLY what the problem was...

[sandsdune]

Got a flu shot 5 weeks ago.  Have the same symptoms as above. The pain is so bad can't lift my arm, sleep on my left side, hard to take shirt off, wash my hair.I have never had a flu shot until this year.   I was sick for 4 days following the flu shot now this.   I am going to doctor this week and hope to get some results.   Has anyone had any luck filing a claim?  Any good treatment plans?

[Poofywoofy]

You describe the exact symptoms I have starting right after a flu shot in my left arm.  I had a massage which helped tremendously, however, the pain is back with a vengeance.  It comes and goes with no apparent reason.  I thought I was nuts to think it was the flu shot as I am a nurse and get them every year whether I want to or not.  Today is unbearable and NSAIDs don't help much.  It is horrible pain and I hope it goes away soon.  I am no cry baby but it never stops and it wears you down.  I am an otherwise healthy active 55 year old.  My shoulder, deltoid, and sometimes hand hurts.  More with activity and snap crackle pop with movement.

[allmymarbles]

The government always denies its medical and chemical blunders. No doubt they will tell you your problems have nothing to do with the flu shot. Because your problems (and mine) don't exist, how can there possibly be a diagnosis or a treatment?

[SandyBlock]

I had a flu shot on 9/28/2013 - four hours later my thumb, 1st and 2nd finger were numb.  It is now about 45 days later (month and a half) and the numbness has not changed.  I have experienced such arm pain (like many of the posts) that I could not put on a shirt, can't hold anything with that hand - along with a lot of other limitations.  I was told to see a hand specialist by the primary - and then took a neuro-stimulator test ... so far...no diagnosis; no helpful data, treatment, nothing.  I did take a course of prednisone which was no help at all.  Now what?

[allmymarbles]

There are all kinds of problems with flu shots. Given that they are only 20 per cent effective it seems a high price to pay. A home aide I know gets sick for three weeks (every year) after her shot. She needs to take it to keep her job. I got a shot for the first time and was sick for more than two weeks. No more flu shots for me. I will take the advice of my alternative doctor and keep up my vitamin D. Unlike the shot, D is effective.

[skyler77]

I had the flu shot on 10/16/2013
I notice when she gave me the shot it hurt right away and I have had shots for the last 3 years and it did not hurt like that. like everyone has said I have had the same systems and want to thank everyone that I'm not alone and Doctors should let people know what all the risk are before giving the shot. There is I sight called HRSA that I'm looking into on how to file a claim on flu shots.