Good morning - I had a major inflammatory reaction to both doses of the Pfizer vaccine, as well as the quadravalent flu vaccine last fall. I managed the pain with anti-inflammatory gel (Voltaren) and essential oils for several weeks each time, and when it was apparent it was not going to get better, a short course of steroids finally knocked it out 3 months after the second Covid injection.
I too was in the "better to have side effects..." so I am glad I got the vaccine.
Sue