Age: 73.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: COVID19, COVID19
Symptoms: Injection site pruritus, Magnetic resonance imaging, Muscular weakness, Pain, Pain in extremity
Clinical narrative: After 1st vaccine injection (3/4/21 L-arm), I developed a sudden and continuous itching of left arm, shoulder, left side toward my back that last about 1 and 1/2 days. I looked up COVID 19 symptoms and found that symptoms could arise after 3 to 7 days so I reported to my pharmacist but was not alarmed and neither was he. The soreness from the first injection (L arm) got a little worse with some swelling instead of better (like a flu shot w/o swelling ) but I was not really alarmed about that either at the time. I received my 2nd COVID 19 Injection 3/25/21 (Rt arm) and had mild soreness, swelling and fatigue (I sleep almost nonstop for 3 days) but nothing out of the ordinary with this 2nd vaccine. Then noticing the difference between the Left and Right arms, my left arm was more swollen and much more tender than the right arm. For the record and because joint pain is also a side effect of the vaccine, I noticed other changes to my left upper extremity but ignored these changes due to my chronic pain history until the pain became unbearable. They are: Sudden and severe pain in left thumb radiating up the inside of my arm/wrist; I was unable to grab or hold unto objects (cups, silverware, dishes, etc.). Off and on, this pain and swelling continued up into my left arm along with the periodic bouts of itching in my injection site. I mentioned and showed it to my pharmacist and he suggested I report it as soon as possible. Having trouble obtaining a readable copy of the VAERS form, I went to an Urgent Care Center after waking up and could not move my arm (slept on it all night). Because of my health history and a Rotator Cup injury in June 2016, they contributed my current problem to that shoulder injury; they mentioned nothing of my report about the symptoms after the COVID 19 Vaccine. I was sent for X-Rays and MRI of my left arm/shoulder and referred to an Orthopedic Surgeon (Dr.  who recommended a complete shoulder replacement. By the time of my appointment with him, I was using my arm with little to moderate pain, taking Protonics and Meloxicam and using ice packs as needed for pain (there were multiple days I went without pain meds but tenderness and swelling still apparent). I am a little skeptical about there diagnosis of it being related to my old rotator cup injury (6-2016) because, the pains are different: 1. the original injury resulted in a frozen arm with no movement until couple months of therapy, in which I regain full use of my arm until the first dose of my COVID 19 Vaccine (3/4/21). As mentioned because of my Chronic Pain History, I am not quick to seek medical attention unless the pain appears to me, to be out of the ordinary scope of my pain. Therefore, I am reporting this out of concern of the ongoing soreness/swelling in the L-Arm Vaccine Site ( much greater than rt arm) and wondering if this soreness/swelling and warm to touch, could be a reaction to the COVID 19 Injection, which could be causing an old injury to flare up (maybe inflammation). Lastly, following the development of the Pifzer and Moderna Vaccine, it was recently reported that some teenagers that received the vaccine had developed Myocarditis, inflammation of a heart muscle and/or inflammation around the Pericardium of the heart and were [complaining of chest pain]. At the age of 73, I have a healthy heart history without medications other than the baby asprin but have also felt these symptoms [in my chest and breast] since taking the vaccines. Some of the pain is sudden and forceful until it stop me in my tracks; I have increase my aspirin because of this.  I am a former smoker but quit Feb 2013. I have also had my yearly mammogram and had a normal reading.  In summary, I believe my symptoms might be a result of the vaccine as it relates to joint pain, swelling, and inflammation but don't understand why it is lasting so long. I am also following up with healthcare providers to make certain that I don't have other developing health issues. Therefore, I look forward to hearing from CDC and hope this information helps me, as well as, your efforts to perfect the vaccines and keeping the public safe.