Age: 81.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: PPV
Symptoms: X-ray limb normal
Clinical narrative: Even though I personally informed Dr. that I recently had a tetanus/pneumonia/flu vaccine (on 10/21/11) he insisted I needed a pneumonia vaccine. He had his nurse administer a pneumonia vaccine on 8/28/13 despite the fact that it had been less than 2 years and it's good for 5 yrs. I am an 82 year old who until 12/31/12 received my medical care at another location. I joined the HMO effective 1/1/13. I saw Dr. on two visits (1/2/13 and 6/5/13) before this painful event (8/28/13). Dr.'s office phoned me three times between the June and August visits for me to come in for a pneumonia vaccine. On each occasion I informed them that I already had that vaccine which I understood protects me for five years. I made the 8/28/13 appointment to discuss two problems: 1) My feet were partially asleep up to an area above the ankle and with a burning, tingling sensation. 2) A back pain in the kidneys area. When I arrived, the nurse asked me if I was there for my pneumonia shot. I stated once more that I already had that vaccine. Then, when Dr. came in, the first thing he wanted to discuss was the pneumonia vaccine. For the fifth time I repeated that I already had a tetanus/pneumonia/flu shot in October of 2011. His response to me was: "This is not the same thing. This is a single pneumococcus shot and you need it." My common sense told me I did not need the shot, but like most persons I chose not to argue with my doctor and I consented to receiving the shot. Doctor's nurse administered the vaccine on the upper left shoulder area. The doctor ordered lab work to determine if the back pain was caused by kidney stones and gave me a prescription for 10 mg of Nortriptyline HCL for me feet problem. Everything was normal for the next four hours after receiving the shot. Then, suddenly, I was hit by an excruciating pain in the area where I was given the shot. I was driving my wife to a doctor's appointment which is near a hospital. I checked in at the emergency while my wife drove to her doctor's appointment. The emergency doctor told me that I should go to the other emergency facility since they administered the shot. No examination or test was performed. They gave me an arm sling. When my wife returned from her doctor's appointment, she drove me home, a distance of approximately 50 miles. I took two 500 mg pills of TYLENOL every two hours (a total of 6 pills) with no relief. So, I finally asked my wife to drive me to the hospital emergency on the evening of 8/28/13. The pain would not subside. Only after they administered a heavy dose of morphine did I begin to get some relief. Staff gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen and discharged me with instruction to call Dr. the next day. If I do not ever see or speak to Dr. that would be too soon. There is no way I can adequately explain the pain I have been going through with a vaccination I did not need. I have not been to office since. I returned to another facility as a patient. I saw Dr. on 12 Nov, 2013. My wife was present. Dr. confirmed that on 10/21/11 I received a tetanus/pneumonia/flu shot at the facility. I gave her the precise date because I had made a written note to myself when I received the shot. Dr. ordered left shoulder X-rays, lab work and reinstated my medications. Dr. recommended physical therapy. The X-ray showed nothing abnormal. Because they are overloaded with physical therapy requests and because I live so far away, I decided to bide my time and hope that the injury would eventually heal itself. Meanwhile I have been favoring my left arm and containing the pain with ALEVE and TYLENOL. The pain has been a throbbing pain centered where I received the shot and its severity increases during sleeping hours. Sometimes it feels like the elbow to shoulder bone hurts and occasionally the pain travels to the heart area. I have never been diagnosed with heart problems. It has been six months since the vaccination. I am slowly regaining strength and use of my left arm although it is still painful to lift my left arm laterally. The area of the shot is still somewhat tender to light pressure. I have never had swelling or rash to the area. No MRI has ever been done. If I can be of further assistance do not hesitate to contact me.