Can the flu shot cause a shoulder injury?

Picture this: You go to your local health provider and receive a seasonal flu shot. Every year before, you’ve anticipated feeling a little sore in your upper arm. But this time, you experience severe shoulder pain following the flu vaccine. As the days go by, no matter how much ice or Advil you take, the pain just doesn’t go away. The days turn to weeks, and the shoulder pain from the vaccine is still present. 

Does this situation sound familiar? If so, you may be experiencing a condition called SIRVA, which stands for Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration. You may be entitled to compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This is a no-fault federal program created to help those who have suffered a vaccine injury. 

Our team of vaccine injury attorneys is experienced in representing others who have developed SIRVA due to a flu shot. We offer free, no-obligation consultations for vaccine injury victims. Please give us a call at (312) 578-9501, or fill out the form at the bottom of this page to schedule a free appointment with one of our compassionate vaccine injury attorneys. 

Keep reading below to learn more about SIRVA after a flu shot. 

SIRVA Can Happen When a Flu Shot is Given Too High On the Arm

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) is something that can occur when a vaccine is administered too high or deep in the shoulder. As a result, the shoulder joint becomes inflamed. When this happens, the patient will feel sharp or stabbing pain in their shoulder within 48 hours following their flu shot. SIRVA injuries can affect the bursa, tendons, and ligaments in the shoulder. 

When a medical practitioner administers a vaccine, they should perform “landmarking,” which is a technique taught to ensure the needle is the correct length and injected in the correct location of the deltoid muscle in the shoulder. There are a few risks associated with this technique being performed incorrectly.  

First, if the shot is placed in an incorrect location, it may be injected into the shoulder capsule instead of the deltoid muscle. When this happens, the bursa, tendons, and ligaments may become inflamed. Secondly, if the needle that’s used is too long, it may hit a bone. In some rare cases, a long needle can also injure the axillary or radial nerves in the upper arm, causing nerve damage.

What Are the Symptoms of SIRVA from a Flu Vaccine? 

There are a few clear symptoms that are indicative of a shoulder injury resulting from a flu vaccine. Here are the most telltale signs of SIRVA to watch out for: 

• Severe shoulder pain: This is the most common and clear SIRVA symptom. Severe pain will start within 48 hours of injection. This pain will typically get worse when using the affected arm. It may be difficult to sleep on or use throughout the day to do simple tasks. 
• Decreased range of motion: After experiencing a shoulder injury, you may lose the functionality of your injured arm. Daily tasks may be harder and more painful to perform, such as dressing yourself or picking up your child. 
• Swelling: SIRVA causes inflammation in your shoulder. Inflammation is accompanied by swelling, pain, redness, and being warm to the touch. 
• Arm pain: Someone people with SIRVA experience radiating pain that travels from their shoulder and down their arm. This pain can also be an indication that your nerves were damaged by the injection. 

Can the flu shot cause shoulder pain?

Yes, it can. If the shoulder pain lasts for several weeks and intensifies, see your doctor immediately. You may have a shoulder injury related to the flu vaccination. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and perhaps order an MRI. He or she may prescribe physical therapy, steroid injections, or prescriptions as part of your SIRVA treatment plan. 

What types of shoulder injuries are related to a SIRVA diagnosis? 

SIRVA isn’t a singular diagnosis. Rather, it’s used as an umbrella term for all shoulder injuries from vaccines. When you see your doctor, he or she may diagnose you with a shoulder injury like adhesive capsulitis or a torn rotator cuff tear. 

Listed below are the most common shoulder injuries associated with SIRVA from a flu shot:

• • Bursitis: This happens when the influenza vaccine is injected into the bursa, a fluid-filled sac in your shoulder joint. It leads to pain and inflammation in the joint.
  • Tendonitis:  If the vaccine is administered too high, it can injure the tendons above the deltoid muscle. This can lead to tendonitis, inflammation of the tendons and muscles in your shoulder.
  • Rotator Cuff Injury: This injury happens when the tissues surrounding the shoulder joint are torn. Rotator cuff injuries are typically accompanied by bursitis or tendonitis.
  • Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): The prominent symptoms of this injury are pain and stiffness in the shoulder. As time goes on, the shoulder loses range of motion and becomes hard to move.

Can a flu shot cause a rotator cuff tear?

Yes. If the flu shot vaccine is administered in the wrong location, it can cause injury to the shoulder. Because of this, a flu shot that isn’t injected into the deltoid muscle may cause a rotator cuff tear. 

Does SIRVA from a flu shot go away on its own?

SIRVA can go away on its own, but that’s not always the case. For some, their SIRVA injury may heal a few months after receiving treatment. Others may experience chronic pain even after completing treatment and will continue to go to physical therapy or take pain killers to manage their symptoms. 

However, most people diagnosed with a shoulder injury from a seasonal influenza vaccine make a full recovery after treatment. If you believe you have SIRVA, it’s important to speak to your doctor and seek treatment immediately. 

You Were Diagnosed with SIRVA from a Flu Shot. What Now?

If you have SIRVA after a flu shot, there is hope, and you have options. Our SIRVA injury lawyers at Shannon Law Group, P.C. can help you and your family recover financially and emotionally following a shoulder injury from a flu vaccine. How? By filing a petition on your behalf in a unique program called the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. It’s a program created to help those suffering from a vaccine injury. Hiring us to help you will come at no cost to you. The vaccine court pays us for attorney’s fees. 

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced vaccine injury attorneys by either giving us a call at (312) 578-9501 or fill out the contact us form on this article.