They can request numbing spray or ice for the injection site, or that the alcohol used to prepare the area be completely dried off to avoid it accidentally getting into the injection point, which can sting. Patients can ask to have a shot given into their less-dominant arm, which may make them less aware of the pain, Smith said.

“It puts the focus on something that feels grounded for them.” “It’s about how can I focus on something other than that shot in your hand that’s going into my arm,” Smith told Teen Vogue. Gayle Smith, a Richmond, Virginia-based pediatrician, said patients have some control over how shots are administered, which can make them feel more at ease. While the pain associated with getting a shot is often mind over matter, Dr. So, definitely, some people are more susceptible.” If I look, I end up thinking it's going to hurt a lot more than it does. Even myself, I just have to look away when I get shots. Some folks, even kids, cry when they get their shots some are troopers. “Pain is subjective,” Stewart told Teen Vogue, explaining that no specific age or gender group are affected more than others when it comes to getting a shot. According to Popular Science, this immune response may cause inflammation, which, as they put it, is your body 'rushing to try to save itself.' Popular Science also notes that certain vaccines don't cause as big of an inflammatory response as others, which can impact your perceived pain level.īeyond the physical aspect, pain can be personal, and a person’s individual reaction can vary.

So, the soreness or pain you feel in the days after a shot is your body building up a response that can protect you in the future. Once the body recognizes the cells injected and fights them off, it will learn to identify the bacteria, virus, or toxin if it’s ever encountered again and “kill it quickly,” according to the WSJ. The soreness is related to the goal of immunizations, which is to incite an immune response. But the pain, if it goes away after a few days, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

If pain continues after four or five days or there is swelling near the injection site, Stewart urges patients to call their doctor. Stewart said pain should go away within two or three days and recommends taking aspirin or ibuprofen and applying ice and a warm compress to alleviate pain and inflammation. Unfortunately, the pain associated with a vaccine can continue for a little while after the injection itself.

Painful shots