How long does a sore arm last after a flu shot?

How long do flu shot side effects usually last?

The CDC says the most common flu shot side effects are soreness, redness, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given. If they happen, they usually begin soon after vaccination and last 1 to 2 days.

Other side effects can come along with the sore arm. The CDC lists headache, fever, nausea, and muscle aches. They are generally mild and go away on their own within a few days.

• Soon after the shot: soreness, redness, tenderness, or swelling at the shot site usually begins.
• Day 1 to 2: the usual window for shot-site soreness, redness, or swelling to fade.
• Past a few days: if side effects are not going away, CDC side effect guidance says to call your health care provider.

What helps a sore arm after a flu shot?

The CDC's tips for pain or swelling on the arm where you got a shot are simple. They come from CDC guidance on vaccine side effects in general, not a flu-specific page, but they cover the same kind of shot-site soreness.

Do not take a pain reliever such as ibuprofen before the shot to try to prevent soreness. The CDC does not recommend that. After the shot, talk to your doctor about whether to take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

• Cool compress: put a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area.
• Keep the arm moving: use the arm normally instead of holding it still.

When is redness or swelling at the shot site a problem?

Some redness and swelling right at the spot is one of the most common flu shot reactions. It usually begins soon after the shot and fades in 1 to 2 days.

The CDC says to call your provider if redness or tenderness where the shot was given gets worse after 24 hours, or if side effects are worrying or do not seem to be going away after a few days. Redness that is getting worse after the first day is a reason to call, not something to wait out.

What if my shoulder still hurts and I can't lift my arm?

A shot given too high on the arm can injure the shoulder itself. This is called shoulder injury related to vaccine administration, or SIRVA. Federal vaccine injury rules describe it as shoulder pain and limited range of motion after a shot given in the upper arm, thought to come from vaccine or needle trauma reaching the bursa, a small fluid sac in the shoulder.

Under those rules, SIRVA pain starts within 48 hours of the shot, the pain and reduced movement stay in the shoulder where the shot was given, the person had no problem with that shoulder before, and nothing else explains the symptoms. It is not a nerve injury.

A CDC-authored review of federal compensation claims from 2010 to 2016 looked at 476 claims the program's clinicians recommended accepting as SIRVA. 84% involved a flu vaccine, and about a third reported the shot was given too high on the arm. That study counted claims, not how often SIRVA happens, so it does not tell you your odds. Most sore arms are the common 1 to 2 day reaction.

If your shoulder pain is getting worse instead of better after a few days, or you can't raise your arm normally, see a clinician so they can examine the shoulder.

Is feeling dizzy or faint after the shot normal?

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including shots. The CDC says to tell your provider if you feel dizzy, have vision changes, or hear ringing in your ears.

This is different from an allergic reaction. A serious allergic reaction to a flu shot is very rare, but it can happen after you leave the clinic, most likely within a few minutes to a few hours of the shot.