• Question: Hi, we had our HPV vaccinations today. Just a quick query, why exactly does your arm ache after having an injection?

    Asked by smileynatterzx to MarkF, Mark, Michael, Panos, Sarah on 22 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sarah Burl

      Sarah Burl answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      When you inject something into your arm that is not normal then the immune cells in the body will recognise this as being foreign and will show some reaction to it. This can be a small swelling or red area of an aching arm. It should go away very quickly but if you are in a lot of pain or it doesn’t go away then you should consult your doctor to make sureit is OK. When you get the BCG vaccine it leaves you with a big scar as the reaction is quite large but this means the vaccine was given properly so is a good sign.

    • Photo: Mark Travis

      Mark Travis answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Good question- but think it is nothing more than a slight trauma in the muscle of your arm which makes it ache (with the immune system recruited due to the trauma and causing some pain). It shouldn’t last very long.

    • Photo: Mark Fogg

      Mark Fogg answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      I think it will just be your body’s immune system reacting to something ‘foreign’ being put into it. It’s totally normal and a good sign, it means the vaccine is beginning to work and your immune system is ‘learning’ to recognise HPV. I’m sure you’d far rather have a sore arm for a couple of days now than cancer in the future. 😉

    • Photo: Panos Soultanas

      Panos Soultanas answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Hi,

      Your immune system responded to the vaccine at the point where it was injected and a little bit of inflamation appeared causing the ache you are experiencing. It happens a lot with vaccines but it is normal and will go away soon.

    • Photo: Michael Loughlin

      Michael Loughlin answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      well a needle has just been shoved often into muscle banging nerve ending on the way down and back

      also you will get some immune respose( the poitn of a vaccine)m and that may also cause aches, swelling general feeling poorly for a short while depending on the vaccination

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