How To Treat Covid
One area that may react to the vaccine is the arm where you received the shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists injection-site pain, swelling and redness as normal side effects.
Here are some things you can do:
Pain relievers: Though the CDC and the World Health Organization recommend against the preventive use of over-the-counter pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, they do allow them if symptoms develop after the shot. Daignault recommends checking with your doctor first, however, if you’re already taking other medications.
Cool it down: “Ice is a great treatment for swelling plus for pain, and it’s often overlooked, but it’s something we all have and it doesn’t interact with any medications you have already,” Daignault said. Out of ice? The CDC says you can use a “clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area” as well.
Epsom salt baths: “If it’s really sore or if you have general body aches,” Daignault said, “just take 2 cups of Epsom salt, put it in some relatively warm water and soak in there for 20 minutes, finish with a cold shower and get into bed.”
Exercise your arm: “The muscle ache comes from localized inflammation,” Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and California State Senator who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, explained to USA TODAY. “So moving the arm around can sometimes make it feel better.”
Covid Vaccine: Variants That Beat Jabs ‘will Appear’ Says Expert
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
The current number of boosters given out in the UK is more than 37 million doses. Just like any medication, the booster shot can also cause some possible side effects. However, this doesnt make the jabs unsafe as they are measured up to rigorous scientific standards for safety and effectiveness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Hold Your Baby Close During Baby Shots
According to research published in the journal Pediatrics, parents should stay nearby so you can distract and calm your baby during the injection. An ideal option is to hold your baby. Be sure to hold her so her upper arm or thigh is exposed and the provider can give the injection. Children who are a little older can sit on your lap facing you. Keep the baby as clothed as possible so you can leave quickly afterward, Dr. Haller suggests.
Read Also: Does Cvs Pharmacy Give Tdap Vaccine
How To Reduce Pain After Vaccination
There are a few things you can do to help relieve arm pain after receiving a vaccine:
-
Keep your arm moving in the hours following your shot.
-
Apply a cool compress or ice pack to help reduce swelling and redness. If you use an ice pack, only apply it for 20 minutes at a time with at least a 20-minute break before applying it again.
-
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen if needed for pain after your shot.
Experts do not recommend taking pain relievers before receiving a vaccination. Doing this isnt always helpful, and theres concern that it could interfere with your immune systems response to the vaccine.
Are Side Effects Worse After The Second Covid Vaccine
For many recipients, side effects are worse after the second dose, says Anderson. Local inflammation from the bodys inflammatory response leads to redness, warmth, swelling, and pain at the injection site.
When enough of these substances are released, muscle aches can occur and you begin to feel tired, Anderson explains, With the second dose, your immune system is really fired up and ready to immediately and forcefully respond to the vaccine components. However, he adds, this is a good sign your body is mounting a strong immune response. And if you dont have any side effects from the vaccine, it doesnt mean the vaccine didnt work or that you have a weak immune system. The protective immunity afforded by the vaccines takes longer to develop and isnt associated with these side effects, Anderson says.
Recommended Reading: Cvs Whooping Cough Vaccine
Ask About Alternatives To Needles With Baby Shots
In some situations, doctors can reduce vaccination pain by using a needle-free device, such as those that use compressed air to put the medication into the skin. You can ask if this is an option for your baby, but in general these are used when many patients are being vaccinated at one time, Haller says. If it’s any consolation, researchers are working hard to find alternatives to needles.
Sore Arm After Covid Vaccine Is Good Sign
Time & Date
Thursday, February 4, 2021
If you received your second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and experienced a sore arm and perhaps some fever, well, good for you.
Thats typically a good sign, said Fred Campbell, MD, an internal medicine physician and associate professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio. In general, a good local reaction is consistent with the bodys defense against that particular vaccine, which means the development of antibodies.
But, he quickly added, everyone is different. If you dont have a sore arm, that doesnt mean the vaccine is not working, its just that if you do its likely youre getting a good response.
Mild symptoms can begin immediately after getting the shot or within a few minutes or hours and can last a day or so, but almost never for more than 36 hours, Dr. Campbell said.
To relieve pain or soreness at the injection site, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying a cool, wet washcloth and exercising the arm. Drink plenty of fluids if you experience fever.
Another concern, Dr. Campbell added, is the time between the first and second doses. For the Pfizer vaccine, its recommended that the second dose be administered 21 days after the first. For Moderna, its 28 days.
But, he noted, those days are not set in stone.
Also Check: Cheapest Shingles Shot
If You Received A Booster Shot
So far, reactions reported after getting a booster shot were similar to those after the two-dose or single-dose primary series. Fever, headache, fatigue and pain at the injection site were the most commonly reported side effects, and overall, most side effects were mild to moderate. However, as with the two-dose or single-dose primary series, serious side effects are rare, but may occur.
Inquire About Combination Vaccine Plans
Vaccinations for several diseases can be combined in a single shot to reduce the number of injections your baby requires, which reduces vaccination pain. These include the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine, which is available in combination with the polio and hepatitis B vaccines, or the polio and haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines, Haller says. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that combination vaccines be used for your baby whenever possible.
You May Like: Can You Get Tdap At Cvs
Exercises To Reduce Arm Soreness After The Covid
With the COVID-19 vaccination now open to anyone over 16 in the United States, more and more people are getting vaccinated every day. Although the side effects of the vaccine vary widely, one of the most common side effects is arm soreness. Despite lasting for only a day or two, it can still be unpleasant. One way to reduce this soreness is to move your arm around to keep the muscles active and prevent the vaccines reaction from being concentrated to the injection site. Here are 7 exercises you can do to keep your arm moving to reduce soreness and inflammation:
Seated Towel Slide
Shoulder Posterior Capsule Stretch
Shoulder Flexion Wall Slide
Circle Pendulum Stretch
Lateral Deltoid Raises
When To Seek Emergency Care
“If you have any of the signs of an allergic reaction within four hours after your first dose, it is very important that you get emergency care then tell your primary care team right away,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Do not wait until your second dose to report possible allergic reactions that you had after your first dose. If you have an allergic reaction, you may need to be assessed by your health care provider as soon as possible. If you have a history of allergies, tell your care team about your allergies. Tell them about all reactions you have had to medications and vaccines.”
Recommended Reading: Tdap At Cvs
How Do I Treat Post
It’s not too difficult to alleviate post-vaccine soreness at your injection site. “Icing the injection site for 20 minutes several times a day can help to reduce discomfort,” Dr. Jain says. If you’ve experienced bruising from the needle disrupting any blood vessels, that should fade on its own within a couple of weeks.
When icing doesn’t feel like it’s enough to ease your discomfort, Dr. Jain tells Bustle that it’s generally alright to take an OTC pain reliever like Tylenol. “Ideally, you want to let the immune system do its job and to not interfere with the inflammatory response,” he explains. “However, if you are experiencing extreme discomfort due to the symptoms caused by this inflammatory response, you can take Tylenol. The relief provided by Tylenol should not affect the efficacy of the vaccine.” That’s good news for both your arm and your immune system.
Experts:
Dr. Sanjeev Jain, M.D., doctor double-board certified in immunology and internal medicine, Columbia Asthma and Allergy Clinic
Sirva Is Mainly In The Medicolegal Realm But Physicians Acknowledge Its Rare Possibility
byKristina Fiore, Director of Enterprise & Investigative Reporting, MedPage Today September 9, 2021
Within a few hours of getting her first COVID-19 shot, Leah Jackson had severe pain in her left shoulder.
The New York City-based veterinarian said the nurse lodged the shot “extraordinarily high” into her left shoulder, hitting the bursa rather than the deltoid muscle. When the nurse got resistance, she redirected the vaccination into the joint space, Jackson said.
As a veterinarian, Jackson is well versed in giving injections: “This was just poor administration technique,” she told MedPage Today.
For weeks, she had severe pain that didn’t respond to over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Her primary care doctor referred her to a physical medicine & rehabilitation specialist who, after confirming bursa and joint inflammation on imaging, prescribed steroid and lidocaine injections along with physical therapy.
The pain largely resolved but returned, albeit to a lesser extent, after 6 weeks, and a follow-up MRI confirmed persistent bursa inflammation.
Jackson can still do her job as a veterinarian, but it can be painful lifting animals during surgery, for instance. Sometimes it hurts while driving.
“I just can’t move my arm in certain motions,” she said.
The condition is also plagued by the lack of a solid evidence base, and causality is difficult to pin down.
What Is SIRVA?
History of SIRVA
Shoulder Injury and Vaccine Court
Don’t Miss: Tdap Booster Cvs
Exercise Can Prevent Sore Arms
The most commonly cited post-vaccine side effect is soreness in the arm where the vaccine was injected.
Some people have reported a slight soreness similar to after getting the flu shot, while others have said they can’t move their arm due to the pain.
The sensation is a result of immune cells reacting to the vaccine, Dr. Daniel Summers, a pediatrician in Maine, told Insider.
Since the arm is where the vaccine originates, immune cells rush to that area and inflame it, making it look red and feel tender. Moving your arm throughout the day, whether through exercise or shimmying around your living room, can relieve the intensity of arm tenderness.
“By moving the arm, it helps disperse that local area of inflammation faster,” Summers said.
On the flip side, simply massaging the vaccine site with your hand could worsen inflammation and pain.
“It’s not going to have any truly negative effects to rub the vaccine site immediately after you get the shot, but since doing so may disperse the vaccine material into a larger area that will then become inflamed as the immune system responds, you’ll have a larger area that’s sore,” said Summers.
Arm soreness should dissipate one or two days after getting the jab, according to Summers.
First Why Does Your Arm Get Sore After The Covid
Arm soreness isnt unique to the COVID-19 vaccinethe side effect can also occur with other vaccines, like the flu shot, says Irvin Sulapas, M.D., a primary care sports medicine physician and assistant professor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
However, the COVID-19 vaccine does get injected into the muscle in your armthe deltoid muscle, if you want to get specific. The hiccup here is that the injection can cause tiny tears in the muscle, says Jamie Alan, Pharm.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology at Michigan State University. This can cause inflammation in the area around the shot, leading to mild pain, soreness, or tenderness for a day or two.
Your armand other parts of your bodycan also get sore because your immune system is doing what it should be doing: reacting to the vaccine, says Aline M. Holmes, D.N.P., R.N., clinical associate professor at the Rutgers University School of Nursing in New Jersey. These vaccines essentially trick your body into thinking its being exposed to the , so your immune system sends out infection-fighting cells to attack the perceived threat, and that can lead to flu-like symptoms.
Don’t Miss: Cvs Pharmacy Tdap Vaccine Cost
Pain After A Shot: Normal Site Reactions To Vaccines
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , in most cases vaccine side effects are minor and go away within a few days. Side effects vary according to vaccine type, such as flu, shingles, or pneumonia. Generally mild side effects of vaccines may include:
- Pain, redness, tenderness, or swelling at injection site
- Fatigue
Why You May Feel Arm Pain After Receiving Any Vaccine
When you receive a vaccine, your body initially thinks its been injured, similar to when you get a cut or scrape. It sends immune system cells to your arm any time your skin is broken to investigate what happened. Once your immune cells realize theres an invader in this case, the vaccine in your arm, they signal your body to relax the blood vessels around the area and send more immune cells to help fight.
This process is called vaccine reactogenicity. It allows your immune system to create antibodies infection-fighting proteins that will help prevent you from getting sick if you ever come into contact with the real virus or bacteria. Part of this process includes producing inflammation. The more inflammation your body creates, the more sore and swollen your arm will be.
Also Check: Does Cvs Do Tetanus Shots
Helpful Tips To Relieve Side Effects
Talk to a doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin , or antihistamines for any pain and discomfort experienced after getting vaccinated.
People can take these medications to relieve side effects after vaccination if they have no other medical reasons that prevent them from taking these medications normally. Ask your childs healthcare provider for advice on using a non-aspirin pain reliever and other steps you can take at home to comfort your child after vaccination.
It is not recommended to take these medicines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects.
Sore Arm After Vaccine Thats Normal
Side effects after receiving a vaccination are normal and arent necessarily cause for concern. Mild injection site pain and irritation are common after receiving many vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, about 65% to 82% of people will have injection site pain with the COVID vaccine, and more specifically, if youve gotten the Moderna shot.
The COVID vaccine, along with many vaccines in general, can cause common side effects to occur such as:
- Redness or soreness at the site of injection
- Muscle aches
- Fever or chills
- Headache
Arm pain is likely to begin within 24 hours of vaccination and lasts a few days after the vaccine is administered, says Grant Anderson, Ph.D., an associate professor in the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. A sore arm after a COVID shot is the most common side effect, and according to Anderson, only 25% of vaccinated people report experiencing side effects other than arm pain.
Some vaccines can hurt more than others. Along with the COVID vaccine, the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, can cause more and longer-lasting pain than other vaccines. The flu vaccine, on the other hand, usually causes less pain, explains Anderson.
RELATED: Can you get the flu from the flu shot?
Recommended Reading: Cvs Tdap Vaccine Schedule
How To Treat General Covid
You may also experience symptoms including fever, chills, tiredness, headaches and nausea.
Rest up: “I would say rest as much as you can,” Daignault said, before advising not to overdo it. “I’m also encouraging people to go about their daily activities… because you always want to maintain the best cardiovascular system as possible.”
Drink fluids: The CDC recommends this as a way to “reduce discomfort from fever.” To help with nausea, Daignault says it’s important to be “well hydrated in the days before your vaccine” as well. If nausea is intense, he recommends sipping ginger tea packets or steeping hot water over sliced or grated fresh ginger.
Dress lightly: The CDC also recommends this for fevers.