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why my shoulder STILL hurts after 2010 flu shot

By September 26, 2010 - 5:48am
 
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I started this new share because I got the new flu shot 3 weeks ago- the one that contains the reg. flu and the H1N1 combined. I got it done at Walgreens. When the Dr (pharmacist, actually) put it in, it did not hurt. Even though it felt like it was in the bone and very high up. The actuall dispensing of the vaccine felt like it took longer than usual. Since then, my shoulder still hurts and I complain about it several times a day. I cannot sleep on it at night and everytime I roll over in bed, it wakes me (all night long). I have rec'd the flu shot for years and I never got this pain. For this reason, I will NOT be forcing my 10 yr old to get it because she could not tollerate this pain and would have missed many days of school thus far. Comments?

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Just realized there is actually a name for what happened to me. It is called Serva. My doctor administered the flu vaccine too high up in the shoulder and I could actually have a damaged nerve from that. I felt so much pain and discomfort that I went to a neurologists, who told me there was nothing wrong with my sholder. This happened about 5 years ago. I still feel discomfort.

February 25, 2015 - 9:36pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

This is so frustrating, I got the flu shot on February 12, 2015, the next day my shoulder started hurting so bad, I shrugged it off since some say your arm will hurt for a few days after the shot. Not to mention I have had like 10 in my life and never had a problem. The pain started to get so bad, I went to Urgent Care, I showed the DR. what I found on this site, and they of course never heard of that. I went to my Primary DR. and got an MRI, it show I have severe Tears in my shoulder and they said it can't be caused by a flu shot? I have never had any shoulder issues before until the shot? I have an appointment with a orthopedic so I'll try again to see if I can prove my case. This is so frustrating. I am in so much pain and for what?

February 15, 2015 - 7:22am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

All of you this is called a SIRVA (shoulder injury related to vaccine administration). You all should see an orthopedic doctor, one that is aware of what a SIRVA is. Check out the following links

http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/mmrreportsirva.pdf

http://m.jabfm.org/content/25/6/919.full

February 9, 2015 - 6:08am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Hi. Sorry you have had to deal with this. Most shoulder injuries from vaccines as you know come from the injection itself rather than the vaccine.

here is a bit of information
http://www.usvaccineinjurylawyer.com/shoulder-injuries-vaccines/

March 24, 2015 - 1:11pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I got a flu shot in November of 2013 and my shoulder still hurts. As a former PE Teacher and yoga instructor, this is incredibly frustrating. I have found one thing that has helped, especially since no one believed me that my shoulder was hurt from a damn shot! I purchased a set of Miracle Balls in December of 2013 and started using them every day. It took months before I could tolerate the pain (good therapeutic pain) enough to put all of my weight on that shoulder to roll it out. I can still feel the injured injection point. My shoulder is at about 80% after a year of self-therapy. At least I can raise my arm without wincing.

February 3, 2015 - 1:42pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I am 37 year old female. Pregnant. I had the vaccine in November and it has gotten progressively worse since that day. I can not sleep on my right side, cannot lift, twist, pull, push, or make any motion anymore without pain. At one time the pain only came with movement, but now the pain and ache persist with no movement. I can't take medication or have X-ray's due to the pregnancy. I'm so miserable and angry this happened. And to have doctors look at you and treat you like some kind of complainer is just salt in the wound.

January 28, 2015 - 7:17pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Look up SIRVA and insist on MRI

I AM SUFFERING WITH THE SAME THING AND DRUGS DO NOT HELP THE PAIN. Then call a lawyer.

March 2, 2015 - 12:08pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Wow- at least I'm not alone. Why do Dr's dismiss this so quickly, especially when we tell them that we are certain it was the shot? In my case, the MA was standing in FRONT of me and bending around to administer the vaccination. She asked me to relax my arm, so I slouched my shoulder, then she pinched my skin too high and the needle was in upper deltoid towards front. No pain at all until 2 hours later. I was not working that week when I received the shot, so I am positive there was no other cause. The Dr gave me a snide look when I declined physical therapy (I have a manual labor job- so PT does no good) and when I asked for ultrasound, he reluctantly said MRI would be the only clear indication, so I asked for MRI. He stated clearly that it was not the vaccine. That is, until the MRI results came in. He still would not come right out and say it was SIRVA, but did state "When that stuff gets in there it can cause a reaction ", then gave me a cortisone shot that instant. I'm very worried what will happen to me. I cannot work now and am waiting to see what the surgeon will do, now that PT is not helping. Geez- I really don't need this extra stress. There were warnings when RN's were phased out into Med assistants and other lesser-trained health care employees. Now look what's happening.

January 24, 2015 - 2:34pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

After suffering for weeks after my flu shot, I went to a orthopedic doctor. He dismissed the shot theory and said I must have injured my shoulder. I know it was the shot! There was no injury or pain before. I did three months of physical therapy which helped a lot. It still hurts sometimes, especially when I pick up the grandkids. I go back and do some of the exercises from my therapist and it helps. Extremely frustrating! This year I told the Walgreens pharmacist where to give me the shot! Good luck to all my fellow shoulder suffered. You are not crazy ♡

January 23, 2015 - 5:57pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Thinking of starting a FB support group on this to raise awareness, interested?

February 9, 2015 - 6:22am
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