Shoulder Pain After TDaP Shot That Won’t Go Away? You May Have SIRVA

Tetanus vaccines are known to be more painful than other vaccines. You knew (and expected) this when got yours a month or two ago after stepping on a rusty nail. According to the CDC, it’s normal to have some swelling and redness at the injection site after a TDaP vaccination. 

But you didn’t anticipate shoulder pain like this.

In the past few weeks, you slowly lost the use of your arm, and the shoulder pain isn’t going away as it should. You can’t help but wonder if something went wrong when you received the TDaP shot.

If this experience sounds familiar, you may have something called SIRVA, or shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. 

SIRVA is a rare side effect of receiving a vaccine improperly.

If you’re currently struggling with SIRVA after a TDaP vaccine, you are not alone. Every day, our team of vaccine injury attorneys helps people like you get the compensation they deserve from tetanus shot injuries in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). If you’re ready to speak with someone and schedule a free consultation, call our office now: (312) 578-9501.

Keep reading to learn about shoulder injuries from TDaP shots, including how SIRVA happens, how to get diagnosed, and what treatment options are available. 

How Long Does Shoulder Pain from the TDaP Shot Last?

When you receive the TDaP vaccine, it’s common for your shoulder to be sore and achy for a few days, a week or two max. So, if you just got the vaccine and your wondering if you have a serious shoulder injury, wait a few weeks to see if your shoulder pain gets better.

On the other hand, let’s say you got your tetanus shot a few months ago, and you still have shoulder pain. You likely have SIRVA, and you should see your doctor as soon as possible. 

As mentioned above, SIRVA stands for shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. It occurs when a vaccine is administered improperly in your arm. When giving a vaccine, a medical provider uses a technique called landmarking to locate the best place to give the shot, which is the deltoid muscle.

When a vaccine is given too high or too deep into the shoulder, the shot can cause immense pain and inflammation in your entire shoulder. This reaction can damage the ligaments, tendons, and other components of your shoulder joint. 

Common SIRVA Symptoms

If you’re concerned about having SIRVA from a TDaP shot, look out for these telltale symptoms:

• You experience shoulder pain within 48 hours after vaccine administration that progressively gets worse.
• You notice a reduced range of motion in your shoulder. You may be unable to reach in the cabinet for a glass or have trouble getting dressed.
• You feel pain and tenderness on top of your shoulder. 
• Your shoulder and/or arm are weak and stiff. Lifting objects such as a gallon of milk are now difficult for you.

SIRVA can cause shoulder injuries such as a torn rotator cuff, tendinitis, or bursitis. SIRVA is an umbrella term used to describe how your shoulder injury happened. Talk to your doctor about your SIRVA injury to rule out any serious shoulder injuries. 

SIRVA Diagnosis After a Tetanus Shot

After having shoulder pain and discomfort for some time, you go to your doctor. When you visit them, they ask you questions about any prior shoulder injuries, as well as perform a physical exam of your shoulder and arm. Your physician also recommends that you have an MRI of your shoulder.  

What shoulder injuries are related to SIRVA?

As stated before, there are several diagnoses related to SIRVA from a TDaP shot, including:

• Frozen Shoulder
• Torn Rotator Cuff
• Shoulder Bursitis
• Shoulder Tendinitis
• Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

If you’re interested in learning more about these conditions, click here for more information.

What SIRVA Treatment Options Are Recommended? 

After getting a diagnosis from your doctor, there’s a standard course of treatment for any condition related to SIRVA.

This routine treatment often consists of the following: 

• Rest. This is an easy (but important) step so that you don’t injure yourself further. Take care of your shoulder and rest it. Make sure not to lift heavy things or strain the muscles or tendons. 

• Physical Therapy. Many doctors recommend physical therapy to treat shoulder injuries. It’s vital that you keep moving your shoulder in order to preserve the range of motion you have left. You’ll also regain what you’ve lost slowly. This therapy will also be paired with pain medication, either over-the-counter or prescription. 

• Steroid Injections. If physical therapy isn’t helping, your doctor could also recommend a steroid shot. Steroid injects reduce the inflammation and swelling in your shoulder. 

• Surgery. In very rare cases, surgery may be recommended. This is typically in severe cases after all the rest of the options listed previously are exhausted. 

It’s important to discuss any and all treatment concerns with your doctor when you visit them. Make sure that after you do get a diagnosis, you start treatment right away. 

Does SIRVA from the Tetanus Shot Go Away?

SIRVA often goes away, but most patients need treatment in order to fully recover.

Some people are lucky, and their shoulder pain resolves on its own after a month or two. Others recover in a year or two. In very rare cases, patients may experience permanent damage from SIRVA.

Most people diagnosed with a shoulder injury from a TDaP vaccine make a full recovery with treatment. 

This is why it’s so important to seek treatment immediately if you believe you have SIRVA. The sooner that you start to treat it, the better your outcome will be. 

Diagnosed with SIRVA After a TDaP Shot? There Is Hope. 

Our SIRVA injury lawyers at Shannon Law Group, P.C. are here for you. We can help you and your family recover financially and emotionally following a shoulder injury from a TDaP shot. 

We represent vaccine injury victims in a no-fault program called the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). It costs nothing for you to hire us for our services, as the federal court pays for our attorney’s fees. Our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, so we can represent anyone injured by a tetanus vaccine in the United States. 

To get started, contact us today for a free consultation. Call us at (312) 578-9501 or fill out the contact form on this page.