No, this isn't a post about any internal sickness related to receiving the flu shot... this is about the physical effects.
I got my flu shot last Thursday in the right shoulder. The needle went in at the top of my shoulder, just below the acromion. The shot itself did not hurt at all, but within about 4 hours, DANG! My shoulder was incredibly sore, slightly swollen, and hurt like heck to raise my arm above my head. I tried to swim the next day and only managed 200 yards before resorting to an all-kick workout. By yesterday (Tuesday) the shoulder was feeling pretty much back to normal.
Yes, it's possible I'm the wimpiest whiniest patient ever to grace the earth (my poor 2 year old typically gets 4 immunization shots all at once when she visits the doctor and might roll her eyes at this post could she read), but still. Has this ever happened to anyone?
So... Just wanted to send out a warning that anyone getting the flu shot might want to get it AFTER their big fall meet (if you're planning on a SCM meet) or when you're in a training lull or maybe ask to get the shot in the leg/somewhere other than the shoulder.
My wife had the same thing--her arm was very sore/tender for a couple of days. I held off on getting mine until after SCM championships this weekend. :D
I've had my arm hurt afterwards, too. But thanks for the reminder since I'm getting mine soon and I have a meet on the 28th. I'll wait until after then.
Alison
Ouch! I had the same problem with a tetanus shot in high school. I had it done a few days before my summer league divisional meet and I could barely lift my arm. :shakeshead:
Yikes
The girls and I are getting ours next Wednesday. I really think it depends on what is in the vaccine and how it affects us.
I will certainly let you know next week after I get mine. OUCH.
Katie
As Forrest Gump would say: "don't they give shots in the buttocks any more?" There is a technique (Rochester?)in the ventro-gluteo region which is less painfull. It is in the triangle formed by you femur and iliac, the protusions on the side of your thighs...But then, when I need a shot I get my own wife to do me...hehehe..she is a RN. If it were I.V. I would probably do myself...seems I am missing something here, using funny language. billy fanstone
Ooops, my wife just corrected me. There are no vaccinations done other than in the deltoid region. It is a question of public health and pattern teaching. Sorry for the mess, billy fanstone
Forget everything I wrote. The vaccine can be given anywhere. In France they give it in the shoulder region, the trapezius muscle, forget what the name is in English. So, you might ask the person giving the vaccine to give in the buttocks, or thigh or wherever...depending on the liabilities and so forth...billy fanstone
P.S. I got the information from an infectiologist with whom I swim.
That's happened to me almost every time I've had a flu shot. When it didn't happen last year, I was wondering if the shot didn't take (but I didn't get the flu, so I guess it did). Anyway, a sore shoulder for a couple of days is better than the flu for a week or two. :groovy:
