I’m a 36yo male, healthy and physically active w/no prior history of neuropathy.
On 4/21 I received my first dose of the Moderna vaccine in my right arm and within two minutes had a vasovagal reaction—tingling in my underarm, flush feeling face and stiffness and tingling in my upper lips. That mostly subsided within 30 minutes as the dull arm pain set in. Over the next 7 days my arm pain intensified some and moved up my shoulder and down my triceps and into my elbow.
4/28 I awoke with numbness and tingling in my pointer and middle finger of my shot (right) arm in addition to the arm pain and neck and shoulder muscle tightness.
5/8 Arm pain and finger numbness still present, I did some yard work which exacerbated the arm pain, and at this point it was the first day I recognized the pain as a specific intense nerve pain from my shoulder, down my triceps, across my forearm and into my pointer and middle fingers. From this point on the nerve pain and finger numbness/tingling persisted and included intermittent cold forearm/fingers.
5/11 Met with my primary physician who diagnosed me with cervical radiculopathy (C7) as cause for the specific finger numbness without any prior trauma. Prescribed physical therapy, prednisolone and flexeril.
5/12 Had a massage w/aroma therapy, cryotherapy, and cupping. Provided some relaxation, but no change in nerve pain or symptoms.
5/14 First day of PT; neck and arms stretches, neck traction and nerve glides
5/17 Completed Medrol dose pack, steroids seemingly had no effect. Flexeril at night helped relax neck and shoulder muscles a bit.
5/20 (Today) Still have numbness and tingling in my pointer and middle fingers with specific nerve pain down my triceps, elbow, across forearm and into my two fingers that intensifies with activity and at night. Intermittent cold sensation in right hand, underarm inflammation and tenderness, and general weakness of right hand and arm. My 2nd dose is scheduled for tomorrow and given my reaction to the first, I don’t think I’ll be getting it. At this point I’m not concerned with when these symptoms resolve but if they ever resolve.