Treatment of arm pain after Covid-19 vaccination

After vaccination, especially the Covid-19 vaccine, people may experience reactions such as dizziness, fever, sore arms, sore shoulders... Of which, sore arms and shoulders are common.

Dr. Paul D'Alfonso (a therapist at Maple Healthcare Clinic) said that post-vaccination biceps pain is a common side effect, abbreviated as SIRVA. This phenomenon occurs when the vaccine is not injected into the muscle but into the tendon area of ​​the forearm under the muscle, causing the tissue to become irritated and inflamed. The cause is that the injector inserts the needle too deeply or the tendon of the person being injected is too shallow, so when the needle is inserted, it can easily penetrate this area, causing damage.

According to Dr. Paul, some studies show that this phenomenon is common in people aged 40-60, especially women, with underlying diseases such as type 1 diabetes and thyroid disorders.

"Be careful if the pain persists and is accompanied by more dangerous symptoms such as red rash, swollen eyelids, difficulty breathing, persistent diarrhea, high blood pressure... you should contact a medical professional for help," the doctor advised. Some cases of bicep pain, if not treated promptly, will directly affect work and life.

To treat post-vaccination bicep pain, pain can be reduced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone injections to relieve pain in the shoulder area, or non-drug - non-invasive pain relief by physical therapy, muscle relaxation. In particular, the preferred method is conservative treatment with physical therapy such as pain and inflammation reduction by ultrasound, electric stimulation, combined with muscle relaxation therapy to restore muscle function and improve range of motion.