Age: 75.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: FLUA4
Symptoms: Injected limb mobility decreased, Injection site pain, Insomnia, Insurance issue, Loss of personal independence in daily activities
Clinical narrative: On September 23, 2023, I received a Flu vaccine at the pharmacy. I was sitting; my husband was standing on my left side and the Pharmacist stood at my right as he injected the needle with the Flu vaccine into my shoulder. My husband can verify that the Pharmacist was standing, not sitting as he injected my shoulder. After my husband and I left Pharmacy we went to the grocery store and while shopping my right shoulder started hurting and burning more than I had ever experienced from an injection. By the time we got into the checkout line, over an  hour later, my shoulder felt like it was on fire and the pain level was a 9 or 10! I was very anxious to go home to Ice my shoulder and take Tylenol. When we arrived, it had been over 1 1/2 hrs since I had the flu shot. It was the worse pain I remember ever having, I could not sleep at all that night and mostly paced the floor in pain. I continued to experience extreme debilitating pain, a serious lack of sleep and physical limitations in that shoulder so on 11/9/23 I went back to the pharmacy explained my dire situation to the Pharmacist, and showed him where the shot was given. He said that flu shot had been administered too high on my shoulder. He checked his computer and said the Pharmacist on 9/23/23 was a weekend temp not one of their regular Pharmacists and made a note of it on the computer. I learned that what I had was called SIRVA, a shoulder injury related to incorrect vaccine administration. Three months after receiving the flu shot I was still experiencing great pain, throbbing and spasms in my right shoulder which continued to disturb my ability to sleep because my right shoulder would hurt in any position I would try to sleep not just on my right side. The pain also spread to the top of my shoulder and back, down my arm to my elbow and toward my wrist. This inhibited my ability to dress, to comb and wash my hair, brush my teeth, put on shoes and sox, and other normal tasks that involved reaching or lifting. The movement in my right arm and shoulder became so limited so that I was unable to move my arm in any direction, mostly because of the pain, but it just wouldn't move! I wasn't able lift my right arm to apply deodorant. I needed my husbands assistance to dress. I could not raise my right arm to hold onto the steering wheel, or even put my hand into my own pocket. On 3/1/24 I finally saw a Shoulder Specialist, Dr. His diagnosis was Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis which I had never heard of before. I was hesitant to receive a cortisone injection and opted to be treated with Physical Therapy. The Physical Therapy became on March 4, 2024, and I was Immediately beneficial. They stiffness in my shoulder lessened, but the pain remained, I had a total of therapy sessions over a month. At the end of that time I was told I had "plateaued" that my insurance would no longer pay for any additional sessions and that I would need to continue the exercises on my own. It's been 14 weeks since therapy ended and months since I received the errant flu shot at Pharmacy, So almost a year after my shoulder is still somewhat painful and my arm still won't reach in some directions. A few of my lingering shoulder difficulties and limitations are Pain and limited shoulder range of motion. While doing basic exercises and movements that I used to be able to do easily and freely and without pain before the flu shot injured my shoulder. When I am in the driver's seat and need to reach for something in the back seat with my right arm, that movement hurts my shoulder. My shoulder hurts for awhile if I've slept on my right side for longer than an hour. When I do ballroom dancing, my shoulder will feel a sharp twinge if my right arm is lifted above my shoulder. On August 26, 2024, Dr. stated after examining my right shoulder movement, that I now have 85% functionality which means I have some limitations compared to the range I used to have before the shoulder injury at Pharmacy occurred. He also explained that the lingering shoulder pain is due to tendonitis. He said  stiffness to resolve and my shoulder to regain former level of strength and mobility. For me to have a chance if fully regaining my former level of movement, strength, and comfort in my right shoulder, and daily continue doing all the PT shoulder exercises myself, I am told that if I don't continue these PT exercises every day, my shoulder could freeze up again. Sometimes I feel discouraged that more progress has not been made after almost a year now and I wonder if my shoulder will ever be normal again.