Question 1

are redness and swelling and pain normal for the area of a flu shot? i got mine yesterday and i can hardly move my arm.

Accepted Answer

Redness yes: BUT to the degree of "can hardly move my arm" is not usual for flu shot
without an exam, I can only give general information, and local soreness is the number one side effect of the shots. generally lasts under a day. Heating pad resolves
BUT
local infection can also occur and is serious. Gets worse over time. Heating pad doesn't help.

Question 2

i got the flu shot 3 days ago. had a fever the day after the shot and developed underarm swelling with pain along the inside of the arm. no swelling or pain on the injection site. the swelling is still there. is this normal? how long does it last?

Accepted Answer

: Depends on what is causing it. I tell my patients most will be gone as fast as 2 weeks but others may take as long as 14 days. Discuss with your injector as they will know what their data is locally.

Question 3

for how long would it take to develop swelling from a flu shot if you had a mastectomy on that side?

Accepted Answer

Post-mastectomy : If the mastectomy also took lymph nodes out of the armpit, the arm will always have a tendency to swell. You should avoid shots, blood drawing, blood pressure on that arm to try to not have swelling. 

If your arm is swollen, you can try elevating it over your head. Sleep with it up on a pillow. 

If swelling continues, your doctor can prescribe a fitted sleeve to help keep swelling under control.

Question 4

can i apply cortizone (hydrocortisone) ointment to the injection site of a flu shot if i have pain, redness, and swelling in the area?  is that a bad idea?

Accepted Answer

Probably correct: Steroids suppress immune response &amp; constrict local blood flow. The whole purpose of vaccines is to catch the immune systems attention to induce a strong response prior to exposure to the actual virus or bacteria. Thus suppressing local response could decrease the protective response to the vaccine. I do not think any explicit double-blind prospective controlled trials exist, too much$ for ↓value.

Question 5

i have a swollen lymph node in the armpit of the arm where i got the flu shot, what could be wrong?

Accepted Answer

Not telated see MD: It is not related to your flu shot and you should consult your doctors to find out the cause and get it treated appropriately.

Question 6

my arm hurts after the flu shot?

Accepted Answer

Vaccines: Typically after a vaccination you may have some soreness of the area.  This is usually nothing to be worried about and will go away.  If this continues to get worse, does not go away or gets extremely red/starts to have a discharge you should seek the advice of your doctor.

Question 7

pain in upper left arm after the flu shot. how long it lasts?

Accepted Answer

1-2 days: Local adverse reactions like soreness, swelling and redness usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.

Question 8

i received a flu shot 4 weeks ago and i can hardly lift my arm over my head?

Accepted Answer

Muscle tenderness...: Mild problems with flu vaccine:
*soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given. Hoarseness. Sore, red or itchy eyes; cough. Fever. Aches , headache, itching, fatigue. If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days to a week. You have a rare muscle aches and pain with decrease arm movement-it will improve!

Question 9

is it normal for my whole arm (forearm) to hurt a few days after a flu shot?

Accepted Answer

Yes : yes if gets worse swollen or red or not improved in 3 weeks see MD

Question 10

constant pain upper left arm. had flu shot 3 weeks ago could this still cause pain?

Accepted Answer

Flu shots: If the person administering the shot hit the  muscle tendon and injected into it, the pain may persist for some time. The injectate itself causes inflammation within the muscle too.

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Doctor answers about:

Swelling in armpit after flu shot

A member asked:

Are redness and swelling and pain normal for the area of a flu shot? i got mine yesterday and i can hardly move my arm.

A member asked:

I got the flu shot 3 days ago. had a fever the day after the shot and developed underarm swelling with pain along the inside of the arm. no swelling or pain on the injection site. the swelling is still there. is this normal? how long does it last?

A member asked:

For how long would it take to develop swelling from a flu shot if you had a mastectomy on that side?

A member asked:

Can i apply cortizone (hydrocortisone) ointment to the injection site of a flu shot if i have pain, redness, and swelling in the area? is that a bad idea?

A member asked:

I have a swollen lymph node in the armpit of the arm where i got the flu shot, what could be wrong?

A member asked:

My arm hurts after the flu shot?

A member asked:

Pain in upper left arm after the flu shot. how long it lasts?

A member asked:

I received a flu shot 4 weeks ago and i can hardly lift my arm over my head?

A member asked:

Is it normal for my whole arm (forearm) to hurt a few days after a flu shot?

A member asked:

Constant pain upper left arm. had flu shot 3 weeks ago could this still cause pain?

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