Question about side effects after a tetanus shot

[TLHB70]

I had my annual well-exam/physical yesterday AM. My doctor told me that it was time for my next tetanus vaccine because it had been 10 years since my last one so I got the shot. I do remember my last one causing pain in my arm, enough so that it hurt to lift it for a day or two after the shot. However, this time it is HURTING terribly. I also have some redness and swelling around it. I read about it online and this does seem to be a side effect. Has anyone else had this? I don't remember swelling and redness last time. I may have had it but not remember. I don't know. I just want to know how long this will last. It really hurts!

 

[Pembo]

I had a tetanus shot about a month ago at my wellness exam. It did hurt, then stopped then about a week later I could barely lift my arm. Then it was better. Take some ibuprofen and use a heating pad on it. That helped me.

 

[RitaZ.]

The last one I had wasn't too bad, just mild tenderness and soreness.

The one I had in 1993, yes I remember the year, caused a bad reaction. OMG!!! The shot site was really red, very swollen and I felt like someone hit my arm with a baseball bat. I couldn't even lift my arm. It took about a week for the pain to go away.

Take some Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help with the pain. I think my doctor recommended warm compresses on the shot site. I expected the same kind of reaction when I had the last shot, but it wasn't anything like the previous one.

Feel better.

 

[DawnCt1]

Yup, you are building antibodies in that arm. That's the goal.

 

[TLHB70]

Thanks everyone. I am glad to know that this is normal.......not that it makes it feel better, but it does at least help me to stop worrying.
I am about to soak it in a warm tub.
I was hoping it would be better by tomorrow. I guess I should expect it a little longer than that.

 

[TLHB70]

The redness was only a small area last night, right around the injection site. Now the redness covers just about all of my upper arm. I put a call in to the doctor. I am waiting for him to return the call. I don't think the redness should swell. Right?

 

[TLHB70]

Well the doctor on call told me that I needed to go to urgent care and have it checked. The doctor at urgent care prescribed antibiotics, topical cream/ointment, and pain medicine. She told me that it may or may not be infected confused3 ). At least the pain is letting up a little bit.
I don't think I will be getting another tetanus shot unless I get a bad wound.

 

[luvwinnie]

I couldn't lift my arm for 2 days after it and I also had a fever. Let us know how you make out.

 

[Kath2003]

Totally normal - means the jab last time worked a little too well

My arm ached like crazy for about a week when I had mine done, and I had a headache/fever for 24-hours afterwards.

Speaking of which, it can't be too many years until I gotta go through that again since all UK kids get the jab at 15.

 

[TLHB70]

The redness and swelling have spread more today. The redness isn't too much more, but the swelling is a lot more. They both stretch from the injection site all the way down to my elbow, covering the top part of the arm.
How long will this last??????? I am really concerned. I would think that it should decrease each day, not increase!
Ironically, the pain is much better. I don't get it.

 

[TLHB70]

This morning the redness and swelling are down PAST my elbow!!!!!! However, the pain is completely gone.
Is this still normal??? Should I call the doctor again?
I am so confused.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Go and get seen!!!

 

[RitaZ.]

This morning the redness and swelling are down PAST my elbow!!!!!! However, the pain is completely gone.
Is this still normal??? Should I call the doctor again?
I am so confused.

That sounds like a very large area. Call the doctor and tell him/her what's happening.

 

[alldiz]

This morning the redness and swelling are down PAST my elbow!!!!!! However, the pain is completely gone.
Is this still normal??? Should I call the doctor again?
I am so confused.

Call the doctor immediately....

If everything is ok....600-800mg ibuprofin will do the trick...
Kerri

 

[Amy]

Maybe there's something in the latest tetanus booster shot. I got one the end of January and had a reaction, too, and I've never had a reaction to any shot. My arm got really red, hot and sore for a couple of days. Not quite as large an area as the OP's, but most of my upper arm. Once the pain subsided, the redness turned into a hive-like appearance and then the itching started; that lasted about 3 days. I used Benadryl cream to stop the itch. Called my dr - she said it was a mild allergic reaction to the tetanus shot.

I hope you go back to the ER or your reg dr and get it checked out again, esp. since the redness is covering such a large area.

 

[TLHB70]

The DR told me to come right in. When she saw it she said that it is an allergic reaction to the new formula. She said that the urgent care didn't prescribe anything that would have helped with that. She prescribed Prednisone and told me to keep it elevated (chest level) and try to ice it on and off all day. Hopefully the swelling should start improving soon.
The redness/swelling is now wrapping around to the underside of the arm, around the elbow.
This has been a mess. She wrote that I am allergic to tetanus vaccine in my chart and told me not to get another one.

 

[alldiz]

The DR told me to come right in. When she saw it she said that it is an allergic reaction to the new formula. She said that the urgent care didn't prescribe anything that would have helped with that. She prescribed Prednisone and told me to keep it elevated (chest level) and try to ice it on and off all day. Hopefully the swelling should start improving soon.
The redness/swelling is now wrapping around to the underside of the arm, around the elbow.
This has been a mess. She wrote that I am allergic to tetanus vaccine in my chart and told me not to get another one.

Glad the Dr saw you right away....
Sounds scary.....follow your instincts....if it dont look better in a day
or 2....go back to the dr...
good luck
kerri

 

[DawnCt1]

The DR told me to come right in. When she saw it she said that it is an allergic reaction to the new formula. She said that the urgent care didn't prescribe anything that would have helped with that. She prescribed Prednisone and told me to keep it elevated (chest level) and try to ice it on and off all day. Hopefully the swelling should start improving soon.
The redness/swelling is now wrapping around to the underside of the arm, around the elbow.
This has been a mess. She wrote that I am allergic to tetanus vaccine in my chart and told me not to get another one.

DH is home from Jackson Hole. He is an infectious disease specialist. He said that it is actually called "Extensive Extremity Swelling". It "happens every now and again, perhaps 1 in 600 0r 700" and doesn't require treatment, it is unpleasant but goes away by itself". Just thought I would pass it along so you wouldn't think that you had an allergy to tetanus when you need it in the future.

 

[TLHB70]

DH is home from Jackson Hole. He is an infectious disease specialist. He said that it is actually called "Extensive Extremity Swelling". It "happens every now and again, perhaps 1 in 600 0r 700" and doesn't require treatment, it is unpleasant but goes away by itself". Just thought I would pass it along so you wouldn't think that you had an allergy to tetanus when you need it in the future.

Thank you.


Thankfully I noticed improvement right away after starting Prednisone. By that night the redness was almost completely gone. Yesterday the swelling started to improve. My arm is almost back to normal now. There is still the initial bump and slight red looking bruise over the injection site. There still may be slight swelling around the elbow. Everything else looks much better.
I am so thankful for that!!!!!!

 

[alldiz]

Glad to hear it is better...
Kerri