Unusually Painful Shots? πŸ’‰

Updated on September 18, 2012
E.7. asks from Schenectady, NY
10 answers

About a week ago my daughter got an HPV shot in the muscle and it has bruised up and she cant move her arm without feeling LOTS of pain. She yelped when she got it and this is the third time she has gotten this shot and she is 13 and has never done this. If they hit a nerve, could anything happen?

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Which shot was it? My oldest son had one shot a few years ago that was particularly painful. I think it was his chicken pox booster (which was interesting because they insisted that he had received a prior dose and I know for a fact that he hadn't but I digress). The booster caused pain, bruising, redness and swelling from the injection site in the upper arm all the way to his shoulder and wrist. I think they called it cellulitis and he might have received and anti biotic to treat the infection but it was a few years ago so I don't remember exactly.

In any case, when I called the office they explained that they see this reaction frequently with that kind of shot. If you call the pediatrician, you can find out if this kind of reaction is common or not and what, if anything, should be done about it.

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D..

answers from Charlotte on

Was it a tetanus shot? Those are crazy ouch shots, I'll tell you!

If it wasn't, then what I would say is that either they hit a nerve (unusual) OR she tensed up and that made her arm super sore. It hurts more if you tense up - thus they always tell you to relax.

My sons, even when they were young teens, would ask me to hug them and talk to them quietly while getting a shot. I did that when they were younger, and I always whispered "relax, relax" and that helped.

I don't know what happens after hitting a nerve, honestly. It never happened to us, but I'm pretty sure I have heard of it happening before.

Hope someone else can tell you more!

Dawn

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M.S.

answers from Seattle on

I can't really answer your question since I'm not a doctor, but anything is possible.

Have you called her pediatrician yet? If not, you might want to because this shouldn't happen. At the very least, does your doctor's office have an after hours nurse you could talk to?

In the meantime, try a warm compress and some tylenol or ibuprofen, that might help alleviate the pain.

Go call the doctor!

Updated

I can't really answer your question since I'm not a doctor, but anything is possible.

Have you called her pediatrician yet? If not, you might want to because this shouldn't happen. At the very least, does your doctor's office have an after hours nurse you could talk to?

In the meantime, try a warm compress and some tylenol or ibuprofen, that might help alleviate the pain.

Go call the doctor!

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

Talk to her pediatrician. Sometimes shots, even ones they have had, can cause a reaction. My DD got a fever and was hugely lethargic after her last round, even though she'd had those shots before.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

My little guy had a DTAP vax last year which ended up swelling at the injection site-- his leg was a whole inch larger in circumference. When I called his pediatrician, they recommended a warm compress and massaging the area.

I don't have any other experience of this.

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

that's a pretty severe reaction, to still be that bad a week later. you definitely need to let the doctor know, if for no other reason than it can be reported.
it's certainly possible that whoever gave the shot wasn't experienced and didn't do it well. there's a remote possibility of lasting damage, but she'll probably be fine.
i got a tetanus shot 2 weeks ago, and boy howdy that puppy hurt! it took over a week for the swelling and pain to go away.
khairete
S.

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

After my flu shot I usually have pain in my arm for a few days to a week. I will wake up if I roll over onto that arm in my sleep.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Rocefrin is the MOST painful shot they can give...they put Novocaine in the syringe last so it will go in first and numb the area. I have adverse reactions to caine products so I have to take it straight up. It hurts for days afterwards.

At first heat feels good because it is soothing. BUT after a few hours ice makes it feel much better. The ice reduces the inflammation in the muscle and it numbs the nerve endings in that area.

The pain she is feeling should go away within a couple more days. If not then I'd call the doc.

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T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I got the pertussis/ whopping cough vaccine last year. I was bruised and sore for a couple of weeks. I think I had a bad reaction. You can ask her Dr. For now Motrin and warm compresses may help. You may have to do cold though....I would ask Dr.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I'd call my pedi. We don't know what shot she had. Either way, if pain persists, certainly call and ask.

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