Getting vaccinated isn’t supposed to be dangerous—and, in the vast majority of cases, it isn’t. Of the hundreds of millions of vaccines administered in the United States each year, only an extremely small percentage result in vaccine-related injuries. But, for the small percentage of vaccine recipients diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries, recovery can be both difficult and expensive—and this makes it important to hire an experienced vaccine attorney to file a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
For many people, reduced range of motion in the shoulder is among the first signs of a vaccine-related injury. The majority of these injuries fall into a class of injuries referred to as shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). While there are several types of SIRVA, reduced range of motion is a symptom of all of them.
How Vaccines Can Cause Reduced Range of Motion in the Shoulder
An important fact to understand about SIRVA is that these injuries are related to the vaccine administration process—they are not related to the ingredients of any particular vaccine. As a result, they are at risk with all vaccines administered via injection in the shoulder. This includes, but is not limited to, common CDC-recommended vaccines such as:
- Annual flu shot
- Hepatitis A and B vaccines
- Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines (e.g., MMR)
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines (e.g., Tdap)
- Chickenpox (varicella) vaccines
Errors during the administration of all of these vaccines (among others) can potentially result in SIRVA with reduced range of motion and other symptoms.
The link between errors during vaccine administration and SIRVA is well-established. There are several published scientific studies on the causes and effects of SIRVA, and SIRVA is listed as an “on-table” injury for all vaccines covered under the VICP. This means that if a vaccine recipient begins to experience symptoms of SIRVA (including reduced range of motion) within 48 hours of vaccine administration, this alone is enough to establish the vaccine recipient’s eligibility for financial compensation.
Shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration can cause reduced range of motion in two primary ways. As explained in an article published in the scientific journal Vaccine in 2022, “Of patients with imaging-confirmed SIRVA . . . the most common diagnoses were adhesive capsulitis and bursitis, and the most common symptoms were pain (97.7%) and limited range of motion (68.1%).” In other words, for most vaccine recipients who are diagnosed with SIRVA, their reduced range of motion is due to one of the following:
Adhesive Capsulitis (or “Frozen Shoulder”)
Adhesive capsulitis is “a painful and debilitating condition characterized by progressive stiffness and loss of both active and passive shoulder motion.” Due to its potentially severe impact on range of motion, it is also commonly referred to as “frozen shoulder.” While vaccine recipients’ reduced range of motion may initially be due to inflammation, “[s]ubsequently, fibrotic changes occur within the joint capsule, particularly the rotator interval, leading to thickening of the coracohumeral ligament and contraction of the joint capsule.”
These fibrotic changes within the joint capsule in the shoulder can cause severe and prolonged range of motion. Typically, vaccine recipients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis will experience a gradual “freezing” stage during which their range of motion becomes progressively reduced, followed by a “thawing” stage during which their range of motion gradually returns. However, vaccine recipients can experience chronic effects in some cases—meaning that adhesive capsulitis caused by a vaccine has the potential to be a lifelong condition.
Inflammation Due to Internal Trauma in the Shoulder
Reduced range of motion in the shoulder following a vaccination can also be due to inflammation. As the Cleveland Clinic explains, “Inflammation is your body’s response to an illness, injury or something that doesn’t belong in your body . . . . Inflammation is a normal and important process that allows your body to heal. . . . But inflammation can harm you if it occurs in healthy tissues or goes on for too long.”
Various errors during vaccine administration can cause inflammation in the shoulder, including:
- Inserting the needle at the wrong angle
- Inserting the needle in the wrong location
- Using a wrong-size needle for the vaccine recipient’s body composition
Inflammation caused by an error during vaccine administration can lead to swelling inside of the shoulder. While this swelling can be painful, it can also restrict the movement of the shoulder joint and the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that make it up. In some cases, this inflammation will subside relatively quickly. In other cases, however, inflammation following an immunization can be symptomatic of bursitis or another form of SIRVA. Treatment options and long-term risks vary between the various forms of SIRVA, and this makes it essential to obtain an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible.
Seeking Financial Compensation for the Effects of Reduced Range of Motion in the Shoulder from a Vaccine
All forms of SIRVA are covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with reduced range of motion caused by SIRVA following a covered vaccination, you will want to discuss filing a VICP claim with an experienced vaccine attorney.
Why? Because the VICP pays financial compensation for eligible claimants’ medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. If you have a claim under the VICP, an experienced vaccine attorney will be able to calculate the value of your claim and seek just compensation on your behalf. This costs you nothing, and securing the financial resources you need for the future could be essential for managing the financial and non-financial effects of your (or your loved one’s) SIRVA diagnosis.
Do You Have a VICP Claim? Find Out from an Experienced Vaccine Attorney for Free
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with reduced range of motion linked to a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), you may have a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). To find out more from an experienced vaccine attorney for free, give us a call at 202-775-9200 or tell us how we can get in touch online today.