Post vaccination soreness... can anyone offer tips?

TheWraith

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Mon Dec-21-09 02:21 PM
Original message

Post vaccination soreness... can anyone offer tips?

A friend of mine had to get 8 vaccinations yesterday as part of her prep for an overseas trip. Her arms are pretty sore as a result. Can anyone offer a suggestion that would help alleviate the pain for her?

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still_one

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Mon Dec-21-09 02:22 PM
Response to Original message

1. Tylenol, icepacks, or call the clinic where she got the vaccinations for suggestions /nt

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Warpy

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Mon Dec-21-09 02:28 PM
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4. Heat is better than ice in this case

Ice is great for sprains. Heat is better for inflammation.

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kestrel91316

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Mon Dec-21-09 02:25 PM
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2. Mild OTC pain reliever and tincture of time.

Edited on Mon Dec-21-09 02:29 PM by kestrel91316

ETA to add this true story:

When I was 5 my dad (USAF) was transferred to Japan and the family went along. In preparation, we had to go to the base dispensary for a bunch of shots. A colleague of my dad's was also there for the same reason and same shots, and he laughingly reassured us scared little girls that it was NO BIG DEAL and to prove it, he would get ALL the shots all at the same time in the same arm.

The nurse was a little hesitant, but she did it as we stood and watched, our mouths agape. And we stood there as he promptly passed out.

I think that's where I got my fear of doctors and needles from.

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Warpy

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Mon Dec-21-09 02:27 PM
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3. Warm compresses can help by increasing circulation

and allowing her body to absorb all the stuff. The soreness is a sign that the vaccinations are working, her body is mounting an immune response.

The best suggestion is preventive: get them in the butt. It's a much bigger muscle and doesn't tend to get as sore.

If she's a frequent traveler, that second suggestion is the best I can offer.

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MineralMan

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Mon Dec-21-09 02:40 PM
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5. Advil and time. It's not serious. It will pass soon.

Movement will also help.

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MineralMan

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Mon Dec-21-09 02:59 PM
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6. Back when I was in the USAF in the mid 60s, I got an

experimental plague vaccination, due to my upcoming posting to Turkey. I couldn't even raise my arm for two days. But, it went away with no aftereffects.

Lots of pain with one set of vaccinations, too. Both arms. Must have been 10 things at the same time. Typhoid, Typhus, Cholera, and I don't remember the others. You walked through a phalanx of guys holding pneumatic injectors. Bam Bam Bam. It was highly unpleasant, but only for a couple of days.

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TheWraith

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Mon Dec-21-09 03:02 PM
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7. She says to make sure to thank everyone who made suggestions. nt

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HopeHoops

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Mon Dec-21-09 03:23 PM
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8. It is a little late now, but ice IMMEDIATELY afterwards is the best thing.

Tetanus is the only one that bothers me. If I don't get an ice pack on it within a few seconds, forget it - I'm going to have a softball sized swelling for a week. The ice pack trick almost completely eliminates the swelling and all I get is a dull ache for a couple of days. Unfortunately, I keep finding myself in situations where a doctor asks, "when's the last time you had a Tetanus shot?" Like I can remember that? Sigh. Here we go again.

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Fire_Medic_Dave

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Tue Dec-22-09 08:37 AM
Response to Original message

9. NSAIDs and excercise.

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