Saturday, June 19, 2021

SHOULDER INJURY From Vaccine (SIRVA) ~ Read before getting the COVID vaccine! (NOT Anti-Vax)

Last year, I got a pretty unpleasant shoulder injury due to a nurse giving me a vaccine too high on my arm.

Immediately after the shot, it hurt like hell and I couldn't move it without aggravating the pain. I held my arm close to me and avoided rotating my shoulder to minimize the pain. I already mentally have a hard time doing tasks due to executive dysfunction (I'm neurodivergent), but the arm pain made it physically harder; especially tasks like getting dressed, washing dishes, and typing at the computer. I had to do a lot of things one-handed.

I thought the pain would go away eventually; after all, most vaccine-related arm pain does disappear after a few days. But it didn't go away. It lingered for weeks, which turned into months, without much improvement. So I did some research.

Eventually, I was able to put a name to it: SIRVA.

AKA "Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration."

Apparently, when a vaccine is given too high on the arm, it can cause a myriad of problems like tendinitis, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), bursitis, and rotator cuff tears.

My doctor referred me to an orthopedic surgeon, who took x-rays and diagnosed me with "tendinitis of the left rotator cuff." I also spoke to an attorney specializing in SIRVA injuries, and he agrees that my injury fits in the category of SIRVA. Luckily, I was able to receive some treatment that greatly improved my arm's condition.

I'm writing about this today because I don't want anyone else to suffer like I did.

Don't let my story discourage you from getting the covid vaccine--rather, please get your vaccine from a doctor you trust who is up to date on their vaccine administration training. And tell people you know (especially doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, if they are unaware!) about SIRVA. These are the best precautions you can take.

Getting a vaccine in a rushed or poorly trained setting may also put you at higher risk. Mass vaccination sites or pharmacies may not be as good as a private doctor--but don't take my word for it, that's just an assumption (I got mine in an emergency room, for reference, and the nurse giving me the vaccine seemed rushed). It's hard to know how well-trained any medical professional is when it comes to giving vaccines. The point is, make sure you trust whoever is giving you the vaccine.

Doctors, Nurses and Pharmacists: Since SIRVA is caused by landmarking errors, please check out these resources and ensure everyone in your practice is properly trained. It will help the vaccinations go smoothly without patients enduring life-changing injuries.

Study: "Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration and other injection site events" includes information on SIRVA and prevention methods

HHS VICP Data

Prevent Shoulder Injuries During Covid-19 Vaccinations

More info on landmarking techniques + list of resources


TREATMENT AND COMPENSATION

If you have this injury, there are also steps you can take to get treatment and seek compensation.

TREATMENT

For treatment, I recommend seeking out an orthopedic surgeon or someone who specializes in shoulder injuries. You may need a referral from your PCP / GP (general doctor) to see a specialist. Treatment will vary, but may include physical therapy, steroid shots, or surgery in extreme cases (like a bad rotator cuff tear).

Below are some exercises for rotator cuff tendinitis given to me by my orthopedic surgeon. If you don't have access to medical care, it might be worth giving these a shot.


COMPENSATION

As for seeking compensation, you can file a claim via the VICP / "Vaccine Injury Compensation Program" with the help of an attorney, as long as your injury meets criteria and has lasted 6 months or longer. However, SIRVA injuries caused by covid vaccines are not currently covered by the VICP. We're hoping this changes soon; I'll update this blog post if it does. Skip to 11:08 in my video for more info.

If your SIRVA injury was caused by any other vaccine, you can file a VICP claim. You can find links to law firms who handle SIRVA injury claims in the description of my video.