Does anyone have any experience with Shoulder Injury Relating to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)?

Hopefulone

Well said Amy

MikeR

Well said Amy

RedPlum60

Was following this forum for support and until now it has been most helpful but this latest thread is tiresome and sadly detrimental to the aim of the group. Huge thanks and good luck to everyone who has made useful and supportive contributions for all of us SIRVA sufferers but I will now be leaving due to the nature of this latest thread.

1111Richard

Hi,

I had my 1st jab about 2 weeks ago, felt a little bit sore which I thought was normal. 2 weeks down the line I can’t lift my arm (where I had the jab) beyond a certain point and have been suffering from excruciating pains since them. From the research I have done and what I have read so far It seems to be SIRVA. Has anyone had the same experience where the pains did not start immediately after the jab. Mine started two weeks after.

Ross_Alumni

Hello @1111Richard

Welcome to the community, glad to see you join us. 

Sorry to hear of the pain you've experienced since having the vaccine, have you reported what you've been through to the Yellowcard system?

We've had many users who have experienced shoulder related pain since receiving the vaccine, although it must be noted that such pains can happen as a result of incorrect vaccine administration and aren't related to the vaccine itself.

Have you discussed your symptoms with your GP?

chiarieds

Hi @1111Richard - welcome to the community, & thank you for joining. Have you contacted your GP about the pain you are in, as they may be able to help?

lizzier

Currently under A&E and GP for what seems to be incorrectly administered 2nd covid vaccine. Loss of left arm use for 12 weeks, cannot wash or dress myself, can't brush hair. Totally f****d. Consultant diagnosed bicep damage and rotor cuff tear. I have not had any trauma to this area and this started just 3 days after my second vaccine. I am a mess....cannot get in and out of my own bed without help. To say I had this vaccine to save my life...I reported to yellow card, I do think they should trace the "professional" responsible and remove them from the programme and retrain. I am an ex NHS worker so not completely unaware. This has torn my life apart  the pain is unbearable 

Hopefulone

Hi Lizzier
Sorry to hear you are suffering like me. To make matters worse you are probably already aware that research shows that vaccines administered incorrectly into birsa, tendons etc., are inneffective as the vaccine isn't exposed to the immune system, that's why it is an intramuscular injection.  As you mention bicep muscle damage too, hopefully some of the vaccine will have got into that muscle and afforded you some protection. 

LABoo

Hi All,
I'm so relieved I found this thread, I had my first jab on May 10th and it felt very awkward, kind of forced not the you won't feel a thing that everyone around me was saying, I'm not scared of needles and give blood when I can so wasn't tense or worried but it did feel different, I have had arm and should pain ever since, its not constant but is getting worse, I did call the GP and they said it should wear off after a few weeks, I've since had my second jab and its still the same, I will be calling them once again as this just is not right! 
 

Hopefulone

I found the same thing, only problem is a lot og GP's and nurses aren't aware of SIRVA, mine weren't and I sent them the information.  I'm seeing a consultant this week in the hope of finding out exactly where in the shoulder the damage has been done and getting it repaired.  I've also contacted my MP about it as my concern is that the vaccination is inneffective, leaving me with the protection of only 1jab. So far he has forwarded my complsoto NHS England but I'm still waiting for a reply.  I can understand the Government not wanting to acknowledge this happening as itsy put others off being jabbed but I think it is totally unfair that through no fault of my own I will be left unprotected in a few weeks time when the benefit of the 1 correctly administered jab wears off. 

MikeR

Hopefulone,

You have raised a very good question regarding the effectiveness of your first jab. I too am very keen to know the answer.

Take care,
Mike.

Hopefulone

Hi Mike

Please see the following link: 

The Lancet Volume 397, Issue 10273, P471, FEBRUARY 06, 2021.  “Updating policy and training vaccinators to safely administer the vaccine in the appropriate intramuscular site will be essential for ensuring efficacy of the vaccine, as placement in a bursa or joint will prevent immune system exposure”

LancsRose

LancsRose said:

Hi guys, I received my first dose of Pfizer end of March and from the moment the volunteer injected me I felt discomfort and pain. I just knew something had gone wrong. This was followed by bruising and pain around the injection site. The bruising and pain lasted for about two weeks, so the emergency 111 doctor gave me a 10-day course of antibiotics (this was a telephone triage).  The pain was still constant, not being able to sleep as in so much pain and discomfort. After finishing the antibiotics and the pain remaining, and appearing to be more prominent my GP prescribed Nanoproxen (2 Week course) again telephone triage. This appeared to have no effect in relieving the pain and again I went back to my GP quite distressed that my arm was still causing incredible pain despite pain killers not providing any pain relief. This time another GP spoke to me on the telephone and said that he wanted to examine me at the surgery. He said on seeing my arm, that the person who had administered the vaccine had gone into the nerve and damaged it, prescribing me Neurontin which is something that can help with nerve pain. He was shocked at the fact there was no muscle on the affected arm, comparing it with the other arm. I am now on Neurontin day 2 and I can honestly say I am feeling no pain relief yet. In fact, the pain appears to be more intense and I  am feeling pain in my legs, tingling in my hands and feet. I have been told to take Neurontin for 2 weeks and if that doesn't work to go back and they will try something else. During this time I did have the 2nd dose of the vaccine (in the other arm) and thank God that is fine. I am unable to sleep at night without crying out in pain, unable to get comfortable, and am praying that the Neurontin will work. If not, I will insist on an x-ray or MRI as I am unable to bear this. Really good to be able to share with people who have gone through this too... after over 2 and a half months I really need some solution to end this... 

LancsRose

Quick update guys, after over a month of taking Neurontin I am still experiencing severe pain in my arm. This is a constant pain that gets worse when carrying out very basic day-to-day activities such as dressing, washing, using a PC or mobile phone.  I am now going to go back to my GP to ask to be referred to a specialist /pain management clinician as it has been almost 4 months and I am still unable to get a pain-free night's sleep. Would be good to hear how people are getting on with their MP and if there is a group action underway for this to raise awareness... I simply want the pain to end and to receive some clarity as to, what exactly they have damaged (with my nerve) and what can be done to repair the damage that has been done. Will keep you updated as hopefully, this will help others in my position.

inpain247

@AmyS1992
SIRVA is definitely a thing.. I had a influenza vaccine in UK last November,  straight away I knew something wasn't right , even commented but within 24 hrs I couldn't move my arm. I have a very understanding gp and they had heard of sirva and straight away got me physio acupuncture.. when that didn't work normal physio exercises via video link due to covid restrictions. I've I had an ultra sound,xray and mri and still today 9 months on I still don't have full movement in my arm and a constant ache and pain. I have been given the all clear for Steroid injections into the shoulder at a cost of bieng extremely vulnerable to covid for 4 months atleast.. I have got a solicitor who specialises in SIRVA  and medical negligence claims also.Various things not stated here for obvious reasons  .Even with having the flu vaccine it didn't put me off having both my covid vaccines, I was warey but I had them  in the opposite arm under the guidance that they go below my 2 fingers that I place at the top of my shoulder..that way they don't go too high. And leave me with 2 useless arms ..  There are many many people that have had what will result in the consultants saying "oh you've got frozen shoulder" as they will not be willing to admit you do have sirva .and many people do not realise it is intact the injection bieng given too high up in the arm..the lack of checking the person's body build and how "fat " the are is where the injection is going and also the needle length and angle that they give the injections.. because these injured people believe or have been told its coincidence they do not pursue it as a negligence act and are left in agony and with a restrictive life style for how ever long they suffer.. Stick to your guns ,if you had no symptoms beforehand,no medical problems to suggest an on going medical problem then yes you've most probably become one of uk's growing sirva victims.   We need the UK to become more aware of this.. I hope your not in excruciating pain..it does wear off eventually but you will have a constant ache..loss of strength in that arm and pain on trying to do stuff you normally do..  x ? 

jsimpson7

Reading all these posts, I realise that my wife is not alone in her suffering after having the Covid vaccine jab. After telling her that it wouldnt hurt,( I never felt a thing when I had mine ) she came ot of the Vaccine Centre close to tears. She said that the person who administered the jab had struggled and had forced the needle in hard. The following day my wife could not raise her arm, and now, 17 weeks later, has limited movement and constant pain from her arm. She cannot drive, dress herself etc. Our local GP doesnt seem to have a clue about SIRVA, in fact there is not a lot of information about it on any UK websites. The Yellow card scheme is mainly for other reactions to the vaccine, not for the administering of it! She is being treated as if it is a frozen shoulder, painkillers etc, but they are of no use. What I have since found out though, is at the start of the vaccine program, many of the staff giving the jabs had only received one days training. The woman who gave me my first jab said her regular job was at Costa Coffee! When it was time for her second jab, our GP told her to inform the Vaccine Centre of her problem. The Doctor there gave her the jab in her good arm, no problems whatsoever. He also did not know, or say anything about SIRVA. Now, is there a cover up about this issue? Would public awareness about this put people off from getting vaccinated? Maybe i am a sceptic, but it does seem strange that in the USA, Australia and Canada there is a lot of info about SIRVA, but after over 45 Million vaccinations given in the UK, there is very little information or knowledge about this condition. Think about it!

Hopefulone

Hi JSimpson7

Don't give up....I had the same problem with my GP and nurses not knowing anything about SIRVA when I contacted them because I have the same symptoms.  The worst thing is finding out that an incorrectly administered vaccine is ineffective!  My doctor told me I couldn't have another jab as I'd already had two, despite the first one being ineffective.  He didn't believe that was the case so I sent him the link to information gained from the Lancet, British Medical Journal etc.  This wasn't specific to Covid vaccines but simply because any jab that isn't administered correctly won't work.

If you want to read one for yourself I have included the link below.  
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00192-6/fulltext?rss=yes
The last paragraph states:
"Updating policy and training vaccinators to safely administer the vaccine in the appropriate intramuscular site will be essential for ensuring efficacy of the vaccine, as placement in a bursa or joint will prevent immune system exposure."

Also, re-vaccination is possible in certain cases as the link and statement below shows.

UK Government Vaccine Incident Guidance https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/859773/PHE_vaccine_incident_guidance_January_2020.pdf

“Where a vaccine storage incident or vaccination error has been discovered, the priority is to assess the risk to patient(s) and ensure that good practices are in place to avoid any reoccurrence.

Given that revaccination is not without risk (both in terms of vaccine reactions and damage to public confidence in the immunisation programme and provider services), the decision to revaccinate should only be considered in situations where there is a high likelihood of a suboptimal response to the vaccine or where there is evidence of exceptionally poor practice overall that leads to great concern for the efficacy of vaccine(s) administered.

A decision to revaccinate patients who have been given potentially sub-potent vaccines should be based on a thorough risk assessment that balances the public health risk of receiving a sub-potent vaccine against any potential risks from revaccination (for example reactions at the injection site, fever, etc).  

 For most routine vaccines, repeating a dose as a replacement for the potentially affected vaccine is not likely to cause any harm.”

I contacted my local MP who took up my case with the local Clinical Commissioning Group who, at one time, because I wasn't satisfied with the response I got, then contacted NHS England.  Following the NHS reply, the CCG contacted my doctor's surgery to carry out a risk assessment as above.

Please don't give up, it'll be worth it in the end.

rosiewln

https://www.clinicaledge.co/podcast/physio-edge-podcast/122

122. Shoulder pain after vaccine & NSAIDS - Physio Edge Shoulder success podcast with Jo Gibson

rosiewln

The physio talks about SIRVA from about 10 mins in 

jsimpson7

Thank you for this information.