After receiving a vaccine, some people experience shoulder pain and/or discomfort immediately following. Typically, this pain is considered a normal reaction – it’s part of the body’s natural process of building immunity and usually is short-lived – and vaccinations of all types can cause it.
However, in some cases, people experience pain that does not subside and suffer from inflammation resulting in a loss/decrease of range of motion. The misconception, though, is that the vaccine itself is the cause of the injury, but in reality, improper administration causes it.
If a medical professional administers the vaccine improperly, this can cause injury to the shoulder joint, resulting in pain, swelling, and impaired range of motion. In the medical community, this is referred to as SIRVA, or shoulder injury related to vaccine administration.
SIRVA occurs when a vaccine is injected too high or too deep into the shoulder, and it is an underreported and preventable event for which you might be able to seek compensation.
Typically, vaccines administered in the shoulder should enter the deltoid muscle. Still, an improperly administered vaccine can graze the bone or nerve, or it may also puncture the bursa (a fluid-filled sac that protects the shoulder tendons). When this occurs, an individual can experience intense pain and have difficulty moving the shoulder. Sometimes the pain is immediate, although it may take hours and/or days for symptoms to appear. Some people may develop shoulder conditions, such as a torn rotator cuff, bursitis, or tendinitis.
For some, the condition may resolve on its own, while others end up requiring physical therapy, cortisone shots, and/or surgery. Regardless of the SIRVA injury severity, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is designed to compensate individuals for SIRVA injury.
Our team of attorneys has vast experience representing individuals in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. If you believe you have suffered a SIRVA injury following receipt of a vaccine, give us a call. We would be happy to look into the specifics of your case through a free consultation.
Comments