Difference Between Normal Flu Shot Shoulder Pain and SIRVA

Every year, people protect themselves from influenza by getting the flu vaccine. Most side effects from the flu shot are typically mild. However, in rare cases, they can be severe. Before you get your flu shot, you may want to know what to expect. Or, if you have already received the flu shot, you may want to know if you have routine shoulder soreness, or a more serious shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). The most common side effect of the flu shot is a reaction at the injection site, which is typically on the upper arm. After the shot is given, you may have soreness, redness, warmth, and in some cases, slight swelling. These effects usually last less than two days. According to the manufacturer's package insert for the influenza vaccine, "The most common solicited adverse events occurring in the first 96 hours after administration were associated with the injection site (such as pain, erythema, mass, induration and swelling) but were generally mild/moderate and transient." If you have shoulder soreness within the first two to three days following a vaccination and your shoulder movement and range of motion is not affected or hindered, then it is likely that you are experiencing routine post-vaccination soreness at the injection site. This soreness will always resolve within the first 2-3 days. If it does not resolve, then you do not have routine shoulder soreness. Shoulder pain, soreness, discomfort that begins within two days of a vaccination, but persists well beyond the first two to three days, is known as shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration is an under-reported and preventable event that occurs when an intramuscular deltoid injection is administered into the shoulder joint, instead of the deltoid muscle. In this scenario, a patient will notice sharp pain immediately upon administration of the vaccine. This results in an inflammatory process that causes damage to the musculoskeletal structures including the bursa, tendons, and ligaments. The main symptoms of SIRVA include persistent shoulder pain and a limited range of motion. The keys to distinguishing SIRVA are that the symptoms typically begin within 48 hours of vaccine administration and that they do not improve with ibuprofen or NSAIDs. Patients will often visit their physicians months later because they are not able to carry out daily tasks that were possible before the vaccination. These patients are often diagnosed with inflammatory injuries such as bursitis, rotator cuff tears, and adhesive capsulitis. In summary, temporary and mild shoulder soreness within three days of a vaccine should not be confused with a SIRVA. Many times, SIRVA may seem like ordinary shoulder soreness for a few days, but if you have experienced ongoing shoulder pain in the days and weeks following a flu shot, it is more likely than not that you are suffering from shoulder bursitis, a rotator cuff injury or adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). If you or a loved one has experienced prolonged shoulder pain after a recent flu shot please fill out our brief contact form to determine if you are eligible for compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Fund. [Click here to see if you are eligible for compensation][1] [1]: https://www.vaccineawarenesscenter.com/contact/