Sex: F
Vaccine: VARZOS
Symptoms: Arthralgia, Dysstasia, Gait disturbance, Joint swelling, Loss of personal independence in daily activities
Clinical narrative: This case was reported by a consumer and described the occurrence of knee pain in a 62-year-old female patient who received Herpes zoster (Shingrix) for prophylaxis. The patient's past medical history included shingles (Shingles outbreak on head and ears about 6 years ago) and toothache (pain in teeth with having hot, cold or microwaved food for about one year after the outbreak). Previously administered products included Covid vaccine (received 1st dose on 22nd January 2021) and Covid vaccine with an associated reaction of pain (received 2nd dose on 12th February 2021). Concurrent medical conditions included pain (she still experience once a while in right arm, at the site of administration of covid 2nd shot) and drug allergy (ibuprofen causes knees, ankles, wrists and finger joints swollen and painful). On 10th November 2021 11:40, the patient received the 1st dose of Shingrix. On 11th November 2021, 1 days after receiving Shingrix, the patient experienced knee pain, swelling of knees and walking difficulty. In November 2021, the patient experienced difficulty in standing, pain upon movement and activities of daily living impaired. The patient was treated with acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), paracetamol (Tylenol) and non-drug therapy (Ice Pack (No Medication)). On an unknown date, the outcome of the knee pain, walking difficulty, difficulty in standing, pain upon movement and activities of daily living impaired were not recovered/not resolved and the outcome of the swelling of knees was recovering/resolving. It was unknown if the reporter considered the knee pain, swelling of knees, walking difficulty, difficulty in standing, pain upon movement and activities of daily living impaired to be related to Shingrix. Additional details were provided as follows: The case was reported by patient. The age at vaccination was not reported. The patient allergic to Ibuprofen, taking ibuprofen made patient's knees, ankles, wrists and finger joints swollen and painful and knees. The patient had Shingles outbreak on head and ears about 6 years ago. Extremely painful and experienced pain in teeth with having hot, cold or microwaved food for about one Year after the outbreak. The patient had first Pfizer Covid vaccine on 22nd January 2021 and 2nd dose on 12th February 2021 with minimal side effects except for still continuing once in awhile jabbing pain in my right arm, at the 2nd dose site. The patient was in good health prior to vaccine. The patient rode bicycle for 20 minutes at 7am, and practiced yoga from 9am to 10 am and had the Shingrix vaccine at 11:40am. The patient woke up on 11th November 2021, with severe pain and swelling in both knees. The patient could barely walk. The patient took one dose of Tylenol which did not help. The patient elevated legs, and put ice packs on them. The only way to describe it, as hobbled. The patient switched to aspirin and took it regularly every 4 hours for a week. The patient's knees were as swollen as the size of softballs. Sitting down and getting up was so painful and it was almost impossible to get up on own, without being pulled up using the bathtub, a wall, a person. This lasted until 22nd November 2021, when the softball size knees felt normal in size. The patient still experiencing pain but not as severe. The patient still need help getting up from a sitting position about 60% of the time instead of 100% of the time by grabbing onto a table, a wall, a person, a handle. The patient was afraid to take the second dose. The patient was due to get Pfizer Booster vaccine on 2nd December 2021 and was nervous about that as well. The patient did contact doctor about these Shingrix side effects but she wasn't very concerned. The patient mentioned it to sister and she suggested that, let pharmacist know about event.