I feel a sharp shooting pain in my knee. Is this because of the tetanus shot taken in my hip?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 22-year-old female who weighs about 209 pounds. I had been given a tetanus shot in my hip one year back. After that, I felt sharp shooting pain around my knee whenever I stand extremely painful, and I needed the support of something, and later I was pretty much fine as this pain was not much in the following months. So I did not consult any other doctor for the same. But recently, I felt the same pain in the same leg. Is that because of the tetanus shot? As I know generally, the tetanus shot is given in deltoid in the arm. Or this could be anything else other than the tetanus shot effect? Please let me know. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You are right; usually, vaccinations are given intramuscularly into the upper arm. However, the location you mention is also allowed and, of course, possible. It is also possible to irritate a nerve with an injection, at least in theory, but rarely happens. However, in your case, the pain came, vanish, and re-appeared. That makes it more than unlikely that the vaccination shot is the reason. Instead, it is an irritated nerve in connection with the lower third of your spine or an issue directly in your knee. “Funny” enough, I had precisely the same problem, in my case, out of the blue, and a stabilizing knee bandage for four weeks was the solution. If it troubles you, please see a local doctor in person who can run some tests. But sudden sharp shooting pain which comes and goes is unpleasant but nothing that I would fear. If you want, buy a nice, soft and cheap stabilizing knee bandage in a pharmacy and try if it gets better. If the pain is severe, Naproxen 250 mg (maximum three per day) can be used, with Gaviscon (Aluminium hydroxide and Magnesium Carbonate) liquid to protect the stomach against the pain medication. I wish you a speedy and full recovery. Thank you.