Wellness

[Abrowneyegirl]

After my last tetnus shot I also had a "terrible" reaction similar to the one you descibe in the OP.

My arm also swelled, I looked like Popeye for at least a week..  The pain and weakness continued on and off for months.

I spoke to several specialists who all told me my reaction is not that uncommon and that I should only get a tetnus vac after a specific exposure, NOT every 10 years.

Apparently the risk for tetnus is only in very specific situations.  I was not aware of these facts or details.

[tobes]

yes - a couple weeks

[Pink is happy]

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@Abrowneyegirl wrote:

After my last tetnus shot I also had a "terrible" reaction similar to the one you descibe in the OP.

My arm also swelled, I looked like Popeye for at least a week..  The pain and weakness continued on and off for months.

I spoke to several specialists who all told me my reaction is not that uncommon and that I should only get a tetnus vac after a specific exposure, NOT every 10 years.

Apparently the risk for tetnus is only in very specific situations.  I was not aware of these facts or details.

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This is correct, mememe.

My doctor (dept head of immunology) also says, people are over vaccinated for tetnaus.

When you get a big reaction, from a tetnaus shot, that is an indication, you did not need it.

You are able, to take a tetnaus titer test, and it will tell you, if you are still covered, and do not need a booster.  That is what I do.

He said, most adults do not need additional shots.

The tetnaus titer test, is a simple blood draw test, I had it done, along with others during a checkup.

[Anita Hug]

Count me in as one who also had a bad reaction to my last tetanus shot. It actually didn't start getting bad until a couple of days after the shot, and the reaction was strange. I had severe pain in my armpit, and the nodes were extremely tender to the touch.  At first I thought I had some dread disease, lol. It finally dawned on me that that was the same side I had the tetanus shot, so I googled it. Others also had similar painful reactions, so I wasn't dying, lol.  It was awful. I used warm compresses for almost a week until it finally started to go away.

[chrystaltree]

Never heard of pain like that.  I'll go out on a limb and say you didn't call the doctor's office for advice.  After a week of serious pain, you might want to give them a call.    I had my flu shot in one arm and the pneumonia shot in the other arm and the flu shot arm was achy for a couple of days but the pneumonia shot arm really hurt for 5 or 6 days.  Just in the upper arm where I had the shot, nothing like you describe.

[garmer]

I have always had a very sore arm after a tetanus shot. The pain and stiffness lasts for a week or longer, can't even raise my arm over my head,

I still remember one I got as a child, couldn't even use that hand to hold on to the swing chain. Idk why that one sticks in my head, but it does. I remember sitting on that swing all sad...lol.  I was maybe 6 or 7.

Now, I take 800mg of ibuprofen before and after the shot, and use a heating pad for the stiffness. I continue to use the ibu regularly for a few days after. Doesn't make it all go away, but helps a lot. Taking the ibuprofen a couple of hours before the shot is the key for me.

[Abrowneyegirl]

@Pink is happy

Interesting, one of the doc's I spoke with was an Immunologist and one the others is a notable infectious med/disease doctor.

I learned at LOT about tetanus and actually how DIFFICULT it is to contract and the old "step on a rusty nail" wives tale.  I felt a lot better about forgoing my last 10 yr booster shot.

Now, I have clear direction on what type of tetanus shot I need and under what circumstances.

Consulting experts is often worth the time to avoid problems.

[garmer]

I believe the 'rusty nail' tale started because a barn was a place where people were likely to step on a rusty nail.

It wasn't the rust that got ya, it was the lovely microbes living in the barn with the livestock.

The nail puncture provided the entry way for the tetanus pathogen.

Doc told me that years ago.

[Abrowneyegirl]

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@garmer wrote:

I believe the 'rusty nail' tale started because a barn was a place where people were likely to step on a rusty nail.

It wasn't the rust that got ya, it was the lovely microbes living in the barn with the livestock.

The nail puncture provided the entry way for the tetanus pathogen.

Doc told me that years ago.

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Even if you step on a rusty nail in a barn, there still have to be a series of conditions for tetanus infection to set in (as so I learned).  There is a strong likelihood for several types of infection but tetanus is not near the top of a LONG list.

If you read up on the tetanus bacteria it is interesting!  

[Moonchilde]

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@Anita Hug wrote:

Count me in as one who also had a bad reaction to my last tetanus shot. It actually didn't start getting bad until a couple of days after the shot, and the reaction was strange. I had severe pain in my armpit, and the nodes were extremely tender to the touch.  At first I thought I had some dread disease, lol. It finally dawned on me that that was the same side I had the tetanus shot, so I googled it. Others also had similar painful reactions, so I wasn't dying, lol.  It was awful. I used warm compresses for almost a week until it finally started to go away.

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I had a very bad (definitely worse than the norm, which is bad anyway) reaction to a tetanus shot in my early 20s and have avoided them for many years. I had one doctor’s office agree to give me a split dose (two visits) and that was fine. But since then, no one will do that. When working I could have gotten a DPT booster (they were worried about whooping cough - still are) but they don’t/can’t separate the vaccines, it’s DPT or nothing. I’ve also asked at various doctors’ offices if they would do split dose and they said no. 

I know I should have one again, but I’m NOT looking forward to the reaction I had before.