Chemical Tendotitis From The H1N1 Flu Shot

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Chemical Tendotitis From The H1N1 Flu Shot

by Rebecca
(Chattanooga, TN)

Recently I received the H1N1 vaccine, and the nurse inserted the needle in my shoulder not my muscle. For the first week I could not lift my shoulder above my head. My husband had to help me put on my sweater. I could not pick up anything heavy at all.

I have pain ever since November 12, 2009. The doctor gave me steroids for 6 days. It stopped the pain but then the pain came back two days later.

They gave my Tylenol with Codein to take once every 8 hours or as needed. I take it at night only. I heard you can become dependant on it.

Also, he prescribed Nexoprin I think is an antiflamatory medication. I'm taking that twice a day with food.

I don't see any improvement. I don't want to live like this. I think she really mess up my shoulder and I believe there is permanent damage there because there is no improvement. From a pain scale from 1 to 10 my pain is always 5 or 6.

I don't know what else to do. Is there anything I could do? Is there hope for my shoulder for improvement or complete healing?

Cordially,

Rebecca H.

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Joshua Answers:

Hmmmm. Tell me a little more.

1. What exactly do you mean when you say 'in the shoulder but not the muscle'?

2. What kind of health care professional gave you the shot?

3. Did getting the shot feel extraordinarily painful, like the needle hit something it wasn't supposed to hit?

4. Where you hurting right away? OR did it start to hurt later?

5. What did the doctor say when s/he gave you steroids?

6. How is your overall health other than this? Diabetes, etc?

7. How do you normally respond to pain and injury?

I'm curious about your responses. I'm inclined to think that you are having a reaction to the ingredients of the flue shot.

Unless something far from the ordinary happened, a needle stick even into bone isn't going to injure you. Into tendon, it really shouldn't either. It may hurt etc, but for a month....I wouldn't expect that.

If it hit a nerve, that's a different story. Any nerve kind of pain? Or just achey soreness.

There are some not so good ingredients in the flu shots. And even without those, your body could be having an extreme response to the foreign bodies injected, or an allergic reaction.

So tell me more, I don't have enough info yet to have any kind of accurate opinion, and let's try to identify what's going on.

Also, start Ice Packing. 5 minutes on, 5 off, as often as you can for the next several days. And drink a lot more water.

Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com

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Chemical Tendotitis From The H1N1 Flu Shot

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Dec 30, 2009
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Severe Shoulder joint pain into my under arm from the H1N1 shot!!
by: Anonymous

I am having the same exact reactions, today it is a full month. After the shot was administered the pain began and has worsened:( I become ill within 48hours of the vaccination. I was sick for 2 weeks and was prescribed a ZPAC. I am now seeing a chiro.

I can't live like this, it is painful to turn my steering wheel, get dressed or blow dry my hair..Please help.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Lisa, sorry to hear that.

Why....did they give you antibiotics (the ZPAC)?

Did you have a bacteria problem? Or did they just give it to you to feel like something was being done? Unless you had a bacterial infection, there's absolutely no reason to get a shot of antibiotics.

I wish I had a fast fix answer for you. The best I can offer is:

1. Get your Vitamin D3 levels up ASAP.

2. Drink LOTS of water. YOu're a sponge. Flush through as much as possible.

3. Reach up and rub the shoulder repeatedly throughout the day. 5-10 seconds every 30 minutes. You're a sponge. Squeeze it = old stuff out, new stuff in.

4. Take a bunch of good probiotics. Good for health and the immune system, and possibly the antibiotics wiped some/lots/all of yours out.

5. Take natural antiinflammatories like omega 3's and turmeric.

6. Here is a list of recommendations (nutritional) from Dr. Blaylock and Dr. Mercola. What To Do For Swine Flu Side Effects.

Again, there's no quick fix that anybody knows of. Your body is responding to an invasion of ingredients it doesn't like. Some systems go overboard in this response and take a good long while to settle down.

Please update us all on what exactly you do, and the results you get.

Apr 19, 2010
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shoulder pain after 2009 H1N1 vaccine shot
by: Anonymous

I received H1N1 vaccine late 2009 and shortly after started having pain in posterior and lateral shoulder.

I tried the usual OTC nsaids and heat/ice and rest with no benefit. Since that time, I have had 5 cortisone injections - subacromial tendon and trigger injections posterior shoulder. I have had very little relief.

I find it difficult to find a comfortable position for shoulder at night. It feels achy often but can get along ok. Pain occurs when I reach behind my back or with dressing and movement restricted. Any quick movement creates sharp pain.

Perhaps this is not from vaccine but I did not injure my shoulder.

Any ideas?

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Joshua Comments:

Well, I'd need to know a bit more.

1. Any shoulder pain pre-vaccination?

2. Overall health? Any health problems?

3. History of pain/injury in the top half of your body?

4. Age?

5. Pain constant, or comes and goes?

6. Similar pain anywhere else?

7. History of activity? What have you done physically for job/hobby?

May 06, 2010
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shoulder info
by: Anonymous

I am 53. No health problems or prior injury to shoulder. I am a nurse. I work out 3 times a week - no changes in activity for years. Work out is mostly aerobic, stretching, light weights, walking.

I suppose I could have injured with exercise but did not experience pain after work out.

I have had achiness in shoulder all day today but that is not always the case. Some days very little pain but I am constantly protecting shoulder.

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Joshua Comments:

Did you have a flu shot?

May 08, 2010
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additional info - Chemical Tendonitis From The H1N1 Flu Shot
by: Anonymous

Yes, I received flu shot prior to pain.

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Joshua Comments:

Well, it may not be very 'scientific', but when you're fine one day, and then the next day you get a H1N1 flu shot and have immediate and long lasting shoulder pain, that's pretty conclusive to me.

Maybe you did injure/irritate it that day with working out. But if that's the case, A. is would/should feel better by now, and B. workout injury pain is different than the ache and unhappy symptoms of the body poorly reacting to the ingredients (foreign contaminants) in a flu shot.

The best I have to suggest is to ice pack (3ish minutes on, 5ish minutes off, repeat) and self massage (squeeze the sponge over and over) to create circulation, get old stuff out and new blood and nutrition in so the body will have it's best chance to 'heal' from the irritation.

Thanks for sharing.

More questions, more (attempts at) answers.

Jun 23, 2010
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My exact symptoms! - Chemical Tendonitis From The H1N1 Flu Shot
by: Sharon

I NEVER had any problem with my shoulder until the day I received my H1N1 vaccination.

The injection hurt more than usual going in, usually they never bother me, and that night I could not unfasten my bra...I was in tears, unexpectedly, when I put my arm back to just unfasten it at the end of that day... it has been 9 months and i still have never been able to do that simple task since that day.

I am living with the constant pain, it wakes me up at night if I roll over onto it, and if I startle and jump and throw my arm back a little I have mind searing AGONY... I never had any hint of this prior to that day...I saw my PCP, got xrays, 2 sets of steroid shots by an arthritis specialist 6 months apart, lost time from work, had physical therapy, xrays and MRI... and am wearing a sling as I write this.

I wear a lab coat at work, and at the end of the day a friend helps me take it off every day. I am SO frustrated.

I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon for July, because I've exhausted all the usual ways to relieve the pain, won't take narcotics because that just covers it up and I'm afraid I'd just injure it more by using it, and I have a past stomach ulcer so am worried abut taking strong NSAIDs.

The worst part is that the medical professionals keep telling me that the shot could not have caused this, but it was EXACTLY at the time of the shot that it began, within hours, at the same site where the shot was given.... how could it not be related?

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Joshua Comments:

Exactly, how could it -not- be related? The medical establishment prefers to believe that shots are totally safe, even though they (some of them, anyway) contain toxic and unsafe and untested ingredients and combinations of ingredients.

Plus, immunizations are designed to cause a reaction. Not everybody's body is going to react happily to that.

I caution you against surgery. What are they going to cut on? What are they going to fix? There are better placebo's than surgery.

I'm sorry for your painful experience. Thank you for sharing so that others might avoid it.

Oct 06, 2010
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help! I received the combination flu & H1N1 shot last night around 1am at work
by: Anonymous

Hello, I received the combination flu & H1N1 shot last night around 1am at work (I'm a nurse who works nights).

By 8am then tendon in my wrist in my left arm (the arm I got the vaccine in) is causing me pain and stiffness. My wrist is swollen and you can see and feel the tendon running from the thumb to my wrist. I've never had anything before like this and it came out of no where...Could the vaccine cause this?!?

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Joshua Comments:

Well, one might say that obviously the flu shot did cause this.

Sure, it could be coincidence, but....

So yes, flu and H1n1 shots can cause those kind of symptoms. As this thread proves.

The question is, how/why?

They contain various contaminants and irritants etc. So your body can be responding like you've been injured/poisoned.

Potentially you were magnesium deficient (highly likely) and the above pulled magnesium such that now you're MORE magnesium deficient.

That's two possible explanations for what's happening.

Possibly the needle actually hit a nerve, which is unlikely but statistically has to happen sooner or later.

What to do about it? Bolster you're body!

** Magnesium for Tendonitis

** Vitamin C, lots.

** Get your Vitamin D level up between 50-80 with D3 supplementation (and magnesium and B6, as D3 requires magnesium and magnesium requires B6, and the symptoms of insufficiency/deficiency of each match your symptoms).

** Drink lots of water.

** Massage your arm, old fluid out and new fluid it. This includes your arm over your head to drain out fluid (unless that irritates the spot where you got the shot, in which case find a way to do it that doesn't irritate it.)

Oct 07, 2010
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H1N1 shot in both arms
by: Anonymous

Interestingly, I am also a nurse who works night shift. Last yr about this time, I had my H1N1 injection in my left arm. About 10 days later I developed pain in my shoulder. I had that pain on and off to some degree for months. This yr. I got my H1N1/flu combination in my right arm (because my left shoulder still hurt sometimes), and 10 days later I developed pain in my shoulder exactly like last yr. I continue to have very painful tendonitis in my shoulder and have an appt with an orthopedist tomorrow morning hopefully for a steroid injection. After having this twice I am sure now that it must be a reaction to the vaccine.

Dec 28, 2010
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Severe pain in the arm after combined H1N1 and fue shot
by:

In October 25 2010 I took the flu shot and it has been 2 months and I still can't move my arm in all directions, I can't raise my hand to take of my clothes, I can't put my hand to the back if I did that I will have a severe pain.

It was my first time in my life to have the flue shot and I will never have it again, the nurse gave me the shot very high in the arm like in the joint of the arm with the shoulder, it was very painful which made me like i had a shock I could,nt relax to continue the shot and when she finished and I had a severe pain I don't sleep at night fron the pain I feel it is very heavey like it is not part of my body, I'm a mother of three kids the pain made me unable to do my daily chores, I live on analgesics, I cry from pain and I don't want to live all my life with this pain, my family doctor told me to do physiotherapy but my insurance doesn't cover that.

Jan 19, 2011
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1.5 YEARS LATER, ALMOST AS GOOD AS NEW
by: Deb

In November 2009 I had extreme pain upon receiving the H1N1/Flu shot in the joint. It felt like it was being torn apart from the inside out. I expected pain for a day or two but that pain intensified and continued for more than a year and a half.

I lost ROM in my left arm and any pressure or sudden movements would shoot my constant pain level from a 5-6 to a screaming 10.

I had difficulty dressing, driving and working every day and it prevented me from participating in ALL recreational activities including motorcycling even as a passenger as I could not hold on.

I was examined by an Orthopod at work who told me I had tendonitis. Every possible home remedy was tried but I stopped short of invasive treatments.

It was 1.5 years before I finally was able to lift my arm above my head and nearly 2 years before I was finally free of pain.

It has now become mandatory at work to receive the flu shot annually as I work in a Children's Hospital. Without a Doctor's note certifying that these symptoms were brought on by the Flu Shot I will lose my job. Even the Ortho Doc I saw thought that this was only a co-incidence and non-related to the shot.

I am relieved to finally hear from others who have experienced the same difficulties when everyone else thinks I am just crazy. My question is, how do I get a Doctors note stating that I can't have the flu shot when I can't find anyone who believes there is a correlation between the two?

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Joshua Comments:

I deb.

I have a hard time respecting any person that looks at your symptoms and the timing, and shrugs it off as coincidence.

As far as a doctor's note, I fear that's a matter of looking until you find a doctor that is willing to agree and put it on paper.

As far as 'requirements' to get flu shots at the hospital, I fear that's something that may have to be taken to court, or at least a knowledgeable lawyer.

Unfortunately, even though science and common sense both show flu shots to be ineffectual and potentially harmful, a majority of people like the -idea- of them.

Jan 25, 2011
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FLUZONE VACCINE
by: DMH

I am also a nurse and received my flu shot on Nov. 22,2010. I knew when my pharmacist swabbed my arm, that the injection would be given too high. I didn't want to come across as a bossy nurse, so I prayed that even though she swabbed my skin high, she would give the injection below that area.
To make a long story short, the shot was unbelievably painful and seemed to take forever to receive. I had immediate pain and went to see my Dr. on the 15th day post injection. I had been treating myself with wall finger walking and arm circles to prevent frozen shoulder, heating pad, gentle active ROM exercises and 800mg. of ibuprofen 3 x's a day. I also take Omega 3 1250mg. 2/day, Probiotic Acidophilus 1/day, Women's Multivitamin 1/day, Vit. C 500mg/day, Calcium 600mg/day, Vit. D3 5000iu/day, Super B Complex 1/day, Cinnamon 1000mg/day and am being treated with narcotics for RSD of all 4 extremities that began after complications from a knee arthroscopy in January 2009. I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER! :(
I had an MRI of my shoulder on 1/19/11 that revealed bursitis and moderate tendinopathy of the supra and infraspinatus tendons. I was seen again by my Dr. on 1/23 for severe muscle spasms of my neck, radiating down the right side of my spine to just below the shoulder blade. It feels as though someone stabbed me in the back with a knife and left it there.
I filed an online VAERS report and am at my wits end. I also had my husband circle the injection site and take pictures of it on Day 16 after the shot. Google: SIRVA We are victims! PLEASE HELP!
DMH
Whoa is me!

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Joshua Comments:

Hi DMH.

Ouch....

You may want to add Magnesium to the mix and see what happens. Magnesium Dosage

Sep 29, 2011
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Flu Season approaches, forced to get the shot due to my hospital job
by: Deb

Well, Flu season is once again approaching as well as the impending mandatory Flu shot that my employer will start administering mid October. If I could find a Doctor to give me a note excusing me from, and it was approved by employee health exempting me, I would have to spend the next several months wearing a mask every working hour/day regardless of my health.

I have decided to get the flu shot this year but will note on my authorization that I am doing so only because my employer (a Childrens' Hospital with Specialist outpatient Satellite Offices) has compelled me to do so and that if I again have an adverse reaction I will be holding my employer responsible for any damages, pain, suffering and/or monetary losses incurred.

Understandably, Workers Comp may pay a portion of this but my employer will be held responsible for the rest. I will make sure it is documented thoroughly every step of the way and see every Doctor they throw at me. Only in this way will the truth about the Flu shot and its disabling properties truly come to light and be addressed for those who suffered from it.

Anyone else in the same position?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Deb.

Yep, that makes it tough when your job requires it.

Good plan!

I'm sure you'll find others in the same boat.

Sep 30, 2011
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One year later !! Massage suddenly made the tightness disappear
by: Anonymous

Hi, I'm "Sharon" from the 6/23/10 comment... I had agony for nearly a year, and was set up for surgery for the pain, because the MRI had shown a tear of 40% in one of the shoulder muscles... but then my mom was hit by a truck and went into the ICU, (she's fine now, she's a toughie!), but I needed to cancel my surgery because I had to care for her... in desperation I went to a massage therapist who specialized in injury therapy... she worked on me for 90 minutes, twice a week, for months, and I was feeling better and better... and one session, while she was working the muscle from the base of my neck to the top of my shoulder, stretching it out... all of a sudden the shoulder felt like it suddenly loosened in a series of small releases, almost like it feels when you drop a Jacobs Ladder in you hand... both of us realized SOMETHING happened... and the next day, the pain was just gone. like it never was there.

It was amazing! Now I can dress myself, stretch my arms back in the morning when I wake up, roll over on my shoulder at night, close the car door... nothing bothers it and I have my full range of motion back again!

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Joshua Comments:

Thanks GREAT Sharon.

That illustrates one of the downsides of our nervous system. If it thinks we're in danger, it locks up to guard and protect us. Unfortunately, it sometimes refuses to or doesn't know that it needs to let go of that guarding.

But sometimes when it gets it, it gets it, and BAM you feel better.

Great!

Oct 16, 2011
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pain from flu shot in shoulder
by: becky

I had a flu shot 3 weeks ago. I usually cant feel them, but this time it burned like hell and she gave it really high up on my shoulder.

I am thinking she hit bone that's why it was so painful. But now i have no strength in my shoulder and its extremely painful still. I think we have the same problem.

Oct 19, 2011
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Hope for shoulder pain from flu shot
by: Anonymous

Two weeks ago, some of my colleagues and I got the flu shot. We all commented on how high it was given and most of us felt greater than usual pain during the administration, as well as the following few days. Then, the soreness got worse and turned painful, just as described by the other posts. Thankfully, there we several of us that had this because they had to believe that it was caused by the shot. Now the good news... After suffering for two weeks with this, I finally went to my doctor, who told me that some of the ingredients in the flu shot could cause infection if it got into the joint (shot too high). One ingredient in particular that is a preservative can cause infection and if left untreated, bursitis. He said that the are on my shoulder was hotter than the rest of my arm, indicating that it was inflamed. Plus, I had a low grade fever.

Now the good news, treatment is simple and it works! Ice your shoulder and take an anti-inflammatory like Advil. All better, just like that. Amazing, because I seriously thought it would never heal. Please start treatment as soon as possible or bursitis could set in. Although this is also how they treat bursitis, but the longer you wait, I believe the longer it will take to heal. Good luck!

Oct 30, 2011
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Debilitating shoulder pain since flu shot work provided
by: jcard

Received a flu shot October 14 that my work provides for it's employee's every year. This was my 4th time having this shot.

A nurse from the visiting nurses association distributed the shots like always. This shot was different from the get go. 1st of all the shot was higher up on my arm than usual and I could feel a burning sensation I do not recall feeling from previous shots.

I am by no means a whimp when it comes to needles of any kind. I was healthy and had not even a hint of my arm being in any type of distress until after the shot.

An hour after the shot I asked other co-workers how their arms felt, both said fine and teased me for complaining. As the days went on my arm constantly felt as though I had just receieved the shot.

Fast forward to Tues. Oct 25th my arm started to really bother me moving it in certain directions.

I was having a hard tome fastening my bra and lifting my arm to anything higher than inches from a dropped position without pain. At work it became difficult for me to type (right now using only my left hand)Started loosing sleep due to the pain in my arm being constant and not being able to get comfortable.

By Saturday I could no longer take the pain and at this point could not lift or move my arm without excrusiating pain. (I kid you not.. actually bringing me to tears) my husband brought me to the emergency room.

The doctor on call determined I have Tendonitis in my upper arm near my shoulder. I asked the nurse and the doctor about any correlation between this and flu shot and both were not convinced. (WELL I AM) I was advised to use ibuprophen (600mg) every 4-6 hours and on and off ice and to see an ortho doc Monday if not feeling better.

Well as I type the ibuprophen has done little to nothing to help. I will be missing another day of work tomorrow to hopefullt get appt. with ortho doc. I will keep updating posts.

Hi Jcard.

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Please do keep us updated.

1. Does the ibuprofen help?

2. Do you have a sense at all that the needle hit something solid, tendon, dense connective tissue, or close to bone?

3. Were I you, I would Ice (2ish min on, 5ish off, as many times as possible) and squeeze the shoulder like a sponge 10 times as many times throughout the day as possible.

There's a couple other suggestions in this thread too, but nutritional factors aside, you have to squeeze the sponge, old stuff out and new stuff in, as much as possible to get whatever irritant is in there (including pain enhancing chemcial from the Process of Inflammation in place.

Nov 08, 2011
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Me too...had my yearly flu shot, now can't dress myself due to arm pain
by: Rebecca

I had my yearly flu shot through my employer (outsourced to a contrator) on October 9th. This is the first time I've had anything more significant than a little muscle pain for a day.

First, I thought the injection site was way too high on my deltoid, and it hurt considerably. It's ached ever since, but gotten progressively worse. Today, I cannot dress myself in certain clothing items without causing myself considerable pain and last night's sleep was marginal due to the pain.

I was going to call my doctor for an appointment, as I do believe there is some swelling in the joint (compared to the other shoulder). I hesitate to do so because either I'll get blown off and told to take NSAIDs (which is fine) or we'll go to overkill mode. Both are not good when you are on a HSA plan.

I'm going to try the suggestions here, including massaging the area, heat/ice, and Aleve and the vitamins/minerals/probiotics suggested for the next week and see if this lightens up a little. I'm admittedly off track with my supplements, so it's a good way to get back to better habits.

Thanks for the site and to everyone reporting their experiences. I am a bit relieved to see it seems to be a problem.

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Chemical Tendotitis From The H1N1 Flu Shot

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Chemical Tendotitis From The H1N1 Flu Shot