Limping after DTaP

[smlame]

Hi all! I'm a mostly non-vax mom but we had decided that the tetanus was worth going for......so my daughter had her first DTaP when she was 7 or 8 mo. old and now just had her 2nd at her 2 year visit. The whole experience just didn't sit right with me.......it was awful watching the nurse JAM the needle into her leg and it seemed like it took forever for her to finish. Anyways, I'm just feeling concerned b/c ds is now two days out and her leg is still bothering her....she's walking a little funny and she seems stiff. It's also a bit swollen. I want to call my dr. but I also thought I might start here for some feedback. I feel like I'll get a little of the eye rolling response b/c they think I'm one of "those" moms!

Any experience like this-do I need to worry? And what's next....I'm leaning towards NO MORE SHOTS ever!

Thanks!

[angelpie545]

I had the *exact same* reaction to the DTaP when I was kid, only then I think it was still the DTP. I can't remember if my leg was swollen, but I know that it felt really strange (a little numb) and it was hard to move. I limped and couldn't walk very well on it at all. My mom kept telling me to move it or it would get worse. It did eventually get better. I was about five at the time, and those were the last vaccinations I remember getting as a kid. I'd keep an eye on your daughter, that's for sure, and I would avoid the DTaP vaccinations since she seems to not tolerate it well.

[serenbat]

I want to call my dr.

I would have called ASAP - the longer you wait the more fuel they have to say it had nothing to do with the shot.

REPORT, REPORT, REPORT, you have nothing unless you report.

We don't vac because I had a sever reaction to DTP and could not move for over a week and ran a fever. The first Dr. (who gave the shot) told my mother it had nothing to do with the shot, the second one told me to NEVER get another booster or any other vac.

A reaction is a reaction!!!!

[Gitti]

From my readings I've learned that the aluminum can not be absorbed by some people and is "stuck" under the skin which can cause the exact problem you describe. It will eventually dissipate (I hope). My son came down with a metal reaction from one of those shots. He is a grown man now but he can not have any change in his pocket even to this day. It causes a terrible rash. This only happens on the leg that got the vaccine.

I hope your child will not react like this. It's one of the things doctors do not warn us about.

[FernG]

My mother and my close friend both had similar experiences this year. My friend could not hold anything in her hand on the side of the shot for over a month. They both had pain for several months. Best wishes for healing!

[NKMama]

My son had a similar rxn at his 2 yr appt. The DTaP was the only shot he received that day and within 4 hours, he was limping and his leg was hugely swollen. It took about a week for him to start walking again normally and for the swelling to reduce. That was his 3rd DTaP.

Our doc seems to think it was either the pertussis component or the aluminum. Either way, we have not continued vaxing him at this time. Our ped suggested we do the Td instead of a full DTaP in the future, if we choose.

P.S. This is coming from an extremely pro-vax ped practice.

[bbrandonsmom]

I would report it immediately to your dr and to the vaccine adverse reaction group.

Gitti-that's nuts. My cousin was telling me that when all three of her children were young, they couldn't have any metal touching thier skin or they'd break out. I wonder if it was from what ever was given then. I wonder if they still have that problem now. They'd say I was crazy if they do and it was prob vax related.

[alegna]

Well known reaction to the tetanus component. Mine started like that...

-Angela

[freestylemama]

My daughter had the same thing with her third shot (except for the mean nurse, ours are sweet and encourage nursing). It lasted for a few hours and the site of her shot was hot. I talked to my mom who's an RN and she said it's a pretty common reaction and to just treat her pain. I gave her some Motrin and she was fine after she woke up the next morning. I would call your doc if you're concerned, but I'm not sure I would rule out all vaccinations ever because of this. I'm not going to go there here, but I would encourage you to do some peer reviewed research and make sure that the risks of vaccinating actually outweigh the risks of disease.