I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Jean on October 23, 2009, 11:06:38 PM

Title: Needles/Muscles
Post by: Jean on October 23, 2009, 11:06:38 PM
16 days ago, I had a flu shot. The muscle in my arm stayed sore for nearly a week. A week ago Tuesday I had another shot, this one was a tetanus shot. Now, 9 days later, the muscle is still sore. I am wondering if I have developed a sensitivity to needles, and if so how will this affect my future use of a fistula, which I dont even have yet.
Title: Re: Needles/Muscles
Post by: Ang on October 24, 2009, 01:36:39 AM
if you  got  an  aversion to  needles  they  will  put  a  catheter  in  so  dialysis  is  not  a  problem,why  the  sore  arms  talk  to  the  drs :thumbup;
Title: Re: Needles/Muscles
Post by: BigSky on October 24, 2009, 02:43:12 PM
Both the flu shot and a tetanus shot are known to make people sore at the injection point anywhere from days to weeks.
Title: Re: Needles/Muscles
Post by: Melissa on October 24, 2009, 03:35:54 PM
It's not the needles, it's the stuff in the shot.  My Dr. explained it to me, and I will do a poor job of it now:
He said the inactive virus - flu/tetanus, etc. - goes into you, then your body starts fighting it, building up the immunity.  And it is especially sensitive around the injection sight.  This is also why some people get flu like symptoms after the shot...your body is attacking it and building its immunity. 
I had terrible soreness after my flu shot this year, the worst ever!  I couldn't touch the area for over a week, even my clothes hurt my arm.  I had soreness with a tetanus shot 10 years ago too.

Hope your arm is better soon!
Title: Re: Needles/Muscles
Post by: Jean on October 24, 2009, 10:07:41 PM
Thanks Meliis, perfect answer and if I had given it some thought, I would probably have even figured it out myself, lol. But, thanks for thinking for me, God know, I sometimes need it.
Title: Re: Needles/Muscles
Post by: YLGuy on October 25, 2009, 12:10:08 AM
Also...Those shots are given IM, intramuscular.  When they access your fistula they do not penetrate into the muscle tissue (hopefully!).