Impingement Syndrome (Swimmer’s Shoulder) from Flu Shot

Every year, you make the decision to get vaccinated against the flu. Sometimes, your shoulder is sore for a few days, and it goes away. This time, you experience intense shoulder pain and tenderness. It hurts to put your seatbelt on or grab a glass out of the cabinet. Over time, you lose the ability to move your shoulder joint fully.

There is a multitude of shoulder injury diagnoses that could be the cause of your symptoms, but the main culprit could be Impingement Syndrome, also known as Swimmer’s Shoulder. Impingement Syndrome is a type of SIRVA injury. Shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration happen when a vaccine is administered incorrectly into the shoulder joint, instead of the shoulder capsule. 

If this sounds like something you may be experiencing, you may be entitled to compensation through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, also known as the VICP. This program is a national program created for people such as yourself who have been injured by certain vaccines. It’s of no cost to you to file a claim, and the VICP even covers attorney’s fees. 

Give us a call today and start the process of recovering financially from a shoulder injury from the flu vaccine: (312) 578-9501. 

If you need more time or information, keep reading and learn more about impingement syndrome, its symptoms, treatment, and everything else in between.

What Is SIRVA? (And What SIRVA Symptoms Should I Look For?)

SIRVA stands for Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration. It’s rare, but sometimes a medical provider will inject the vaccine either too high or too deep into the shoulder and cause inflammation in the patient.

It’s important to understand that SIRVA is an umbrella diagnosis and not a final diagnosis. SIRVA is more so to help explain that a vaccine has caused an injury. You will also be diagnosed with a more specific shoulder injury condition, such as impingement syndrome. 

Beyond severe pain, there are a few symptoms of SIRVA that are also associated with swimmer’s shoulder, including shoulder pain, arm weakness, and limited or loss of range of motion of your shoulder. 

But How Can the Flu Shot Cause Impingement Syndrome (AKA Swimmer’s Shoulder)?

Impingement syndrome happens when the tendons of the rotator cuff are pinched where they pass between the top of the upper arm and the tip of the shoulder. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and bones that share a common tendon. Impingement syndrome from SIRVA happens due to the inflammation in the shoulder joint and tendons. The inflammation causes the tendons to be pinched. 

What are the symptoms of Impingement Syndrome from a flu vaccine? 

We listed a few symptoms that could help indicate a SIRVA injury, and possibly impingement syndrome. However, there are a few telltale signs that you should watch out for when it comes to swimmer’s shoulder from a vaccine injury:

• Shoulder pain within 48 hours that progressively gets worse.
• Pain when lifting or extending your arm. This arm pain may last for months following the flu shot. 
• Pain and tenderness in the front of your shoulder 
• Shoulder and/or arm weakness and stiffness

We always recommend you consult with your doctor when it comes to any concerning symptoms following vaccination. A medical provider can help properly diagnose and treat you.

What Are My Treatment Options for SIRVA-Related Impingement Syndrome?

Obviously, you may be asking yourself what your treatment options are for your SIRVA-related Impingement Syndrome diagnosis. 

Thankfully, treatment is not only promising but also there are numerous options available to people these days. Depending on the severity of your case, your doctor may only need to prescribe physical therapy. This is the most common form of treatment, with a possible combination of prescription pain medications to help your pain while it subsides. 

If your case is more severe, they may also recommend steroid injections to help the affected areas. Only in rare cases may a doctor suggest surgery to alleviate your pain. The surgery would likely be scheduled in order to remove scar tissue from the injured area. 

Speak with your doctor as soon as possible in order to get your care plan started.

We often get asked if SIRVA is permanent and when will the pain go away? While we aren’t medical specialists and can’t necessarily define when your pain will stop, what we can tell you is that SIRVA does go away in most cases. On very rare occasions is SIRVA permanent. 

Getting Compensation for A SIRVA Injury

If you received the flu vaccine, you’re likely eligible for compensation through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. You must file your petition within three (3) years of the date of your vaccination. 

Under the VICP, you’re entitled to the following types of compensation: 

• Past out-of-pocket medical expenses.
• Future medical expenses.
• Past and future lost wages. 
• Pain and suffering (up to $250,00). 

You can file a petition without the help of an attorney, but we recommend hiring a vaccine injury lawyer to help you. It costs you nothing, as the court pays for your attorney’s fees. Having a lawyer on your side throughout the process can make things significantly easier. 

When you choose a lawyer to help you file a petition through the program, we take care of getting the medical records, filing forms, and everything else so that your only worries are working on making sure your shoulder gets better. 

Impingement Syndrome After a Flu Shot? Contact Our SIRVA Lawyers Today 

If you believe you or someone you know is suffering from SIRVA, we can help. We know it can be confusing to navigate at times, and our attorneys at Shannon Law Group are here to help. We have helped hundreds of people start their journey to emotional and financial compensation through filing petitions in the VICP, and we can help you too. 

If you’re ready to start filing or want more information on how we can help, give us a call now at (312) 578-9501 for a free consultation with no obligation. Or, you can submit a form here on this page and someone will reach out to you within 24 hours.