I was vaccinated for tetanus, Hep and tb a month ago. 5 days ago, my joints started to swell and become motion restricted. Mornings were the worst. I am active going to the gym, badminton, motorcycling, skiing, golfing, ball, bowling and walking. Can RA happen this quickly or is it a reaction to the vaccinations?
Q: I was vaccinated for tetanus, Hep and tb a month ago. 5 days ago, my joints started to swell and bec
Answers (1)
6/28/09 9:25pm
RA tends to start slowly, flitting about your body playing hide and seek, but I have heard of cases where it comes on like a freight train. It can also occur after trauma or surgery, but only in people who are genetically predisposed to developing the disease.
I did a bit of poking around in Google and the most common side effects of tetanus vaccinations are tiredness and body aches. I did find an abstract to a journal article describing reactive arthritis following a tetanus vaccination, but in that case, the arthritis came on two days after vaccination. Given that your issues started a month after the vaccination, I would suspect that it is not a reaction to the vaccine. However, I'm not a doctor, so don't take my word for it. I would recommend you make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible to get checked out. There are many causes of joint symptoms and many are entirely treatable. Good luck!
6/28/09 11:26pm
glad you're seeing a doctor. If the blood test is negative, keep pushing. Approximately 20% of people with RA are what's called seronegative, which means their RA factor is negative (you can read more about blood tests here). I hope you find an answer - let us know how it goes?
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By Beth— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 06/26/09
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Thanks for your input. I am seeing a doctor next week to read results from a RA specific test done last Wednesday. Keeping my fingers crossed (if my joints will let me:)