My post MMR and joint pain in toddlers got a ton of traffic. It is still one of my most visited posts. Only the breastfeeding husbands get more traffic. (You pervs.)
I was inspired to write my original MMR post when I was starting to consider whether Lane should get her MMR booster at her 4-year checkup, after the reaction she had from the vaccine when she was 15 months old (knee pain with an unwillingness to walk for a week). To say I was worried was an understatement. Well, as a rule I’m not a worrier. My one foray into wanting antidepressant medication after my mom died was a bit challenging – most antidepressants (at least nearly a decade ago) were also indicated as anti-anxiety, but since even being down and out I wasn’t all that anxious, my doctor was pretty concerned one of the standards — Prozac or Zoloft — would make me abandon all reasonable caution. I ended up on Wellbutrin, which has a side effect of weight loss. Oh, and seizures. Luckily under its spell I had some of the former and none of the latter, and just generally a better ability to get out of bed in the morning.
Anyway, enough of that tangent!! I was as worried about Lane getting her MMR booster as I’m generally capable of being. I did a lot of reading, and talked to her pediatrician ad nauseum about it. He was dubious of the vaccine causing the reaction, but at least was not obnoxious enough to be dismissive of my concerns. He was supportive of checking her titers instead of doing the vaccine, he was just worried the school district would give us grief over her not getting the booster.
I cannot find where I initially read it, but here’s the gist of the knowledge I put together about the reaction Lane suffered. Joint pain from MMR is caused by the rubella component of the vaccine. People who have the joint pain reaction tend to have the reaction because they are, at the point they are vaccinated, susceptible to actual German measles infection, and thus their bodies react more strongly when the vaccine is introduced to their system, as joint pain is a symptom of actual German measles infection.
The alternative of checking her titers to see if she was properly protected by her first shot was alluring in avoiding a shot, but Lane is not a child who gets over shots or blood draws easily. The little tiny bit of blood they had to draw to test her iron levels when she was three-and-a-half left her heaving and sobbing for like 20 minutes. She definitely takes after her daddy in this respect. So the idea of having her titers checked, and the full-on mega blood draw it meant certain trauma and freakout. And if her titers didn’t check out right, she’d have to get the shot anyway, at which point the same reaction could have happened because she wasn’t properly protected against rubella. If I went ahead and just got her booster, while chances are she didn’t actually need it, it’s because she didn’t need it that she would be protected from adverse side effects. And if she did have another side effect, then that probably meant she needed the shot.
So, we went ahead with the shot. This booster was administered in her arm, rather than her leg as it was last time. And she came through it with flying colors. A few tears at the initial administration, but the next day after the Band-Aid was gone, she couldn’t even tell me which arm she got her shot in. I asked her nearly every day for the next couple weeks if she had any boo-boos on her arm and she always said no… and she would totally let me know if her arm hurt.
That about does it. I just wanted to share for anyone looking for a follow-up.
8 responses so far ↓
Lien // October 31, 2008 - 1:45 pm at 1:45 pm |
Hey there,
It’s useful to read your write-up. My 4-year old boy just had an MMR vaccination a few days ago, and this morning he woke up with a pain in his knee, which prevents him from walking around. I was quite panic because there was no obvious sign of injury, and no vaccination flyer has told us about this kind of side-effect. The vaccine was administered on his arm, but his knee hurts. I wonder if I should report this to his pedic and bring my wee one to see the doctor…
A confused and worried mother.
gumboots // November 18, 2008 - 10:14 am at 10:14 am |
i had the MMR (live virus) administered in my L arm, and have had neck pain and cramps, joint pain in R ankle (!) and joint pain in left wrist/hand/thumb area. i’m not a joint pain person, so this was unexpected and concerning. i never knew that it was linked with the vaccine, and was joking to my husband that the vaccine was causing my aches and pains, becuase they started a few days after the shot. hope they oblige and go away.
Amanda Cluff // December 3, 2008 - 7:31 pm at 7:31 pm |
I really appreciate your original and follow up posts. My son who is 12 months old had his first MMR shot 12 days ago and started limping this morning. I checked him all over and nothing looked wrong externally, so something must be bothering him internally. And he’s been at home with me almost every day since the shot so I’m pretty sure he hasn’t had any trauma. I’m theorizing that it’s joint pain as a side effect from the MMR. It’s nice to know, although unfortunate for the child, that this has happened to someone else…makes me feel like my theory is valid! Thanks
Christa // January 8, 2009 - 3:34 pm at 3:34 pm |
Was so interested to find your narratives. I have just returned from my GP’s with my 31/2yr old son. He had his pre-school booster of the MMR about a month ago and for the last few weeks he has been complaining of leg pain and is showing a definate reluctance to walk and when he is walking he has slowed to such a slow pace. GP has said he thinks it’s unlikely to be the MMR but this isn’t the first time this has happend.
When he had his first MMR at the beginning of this year (late because I was dubious about the vaccine) he started within 2 weeks with a very prominent limp and his legs started to give way underneath him!!! Can’t tell you how scary that is to see a child’s legs just give way, obviously straight to the hospital where a few Dr’s raised an eyebrow at me saying the only thing I could think of him having had recently was the MMR, that and a temp that I had again but down to the vaccine.
In the end they never answered my is it the MMR, pretty much wrote it off as viral, they did monitor him for a few months as the limping returned on and off for about 7mths.
But here we are again and it seems to be a bit of coincidence that its happened again, so guess we will see what happens when we have seen the paeds at the hospital but is good to see that my child isn’t the only this has happened to and I won’t be letting them dismiss the possibility of the MMR being responsible.
Juan // March 17, 2009 - 1:11 pm at 1:11 pm |
My son just got his second dose of MMR a few days ago. He also developed low fever and knee pain since yesterday. I was also worried and wonder whether it is normal.
Leigh // March 24, 2009 - 7:10 am at 7:10 am |
My 4 year old daughter had the MMR 3 weeks ago. Yesterday she developed a rash and last night she woke with knee pain which after reading this I am sure was the MMR shot. Will call doc just to be sure.
Kathy // April 20, 2009 - 10:52 pm at 10:52 pm |
My son Jack is 16 months old and has an ear infection. two days after taking the antibotic he wouldn’t walk. My doc said to get x-rays. So we went to the ER and did turns out he has Toxic synovitis. Which is an onset hip pain due to upper respitory infections. He did not get his shots since he had the ear infection. He should be able to walk in 7-10 days, like nothing happed. He is due to go back and have vaccines next week but I’m gonna hold off since one is MMR. I’m sure it’s fine to wait till he’s closer to 2 yrs. old!
Jay // July 10, 2009 - 12:02 am at 12:02 am |
My 18 month daughter had an MMR vaccine today and she now appears to have joint pain in her left knee. She limps when walking, and does not like the knee to be flexed. She has been walking since she was 10 months and has never exhibited this symptom before. We will contact the doc to notify them. If this many people are experiencing it, it should be documented as a possible reaction.