If you are experiencing pain or other unusual sensations or limitations following a flu shot, these could be symptoms of an illness or injury resulting from your vaccination. Each year, tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with vaccine-related medical conditions, many of them resulting from flu vaccine injections in the shoulder.
When you make an appointment to have yourself or your children vaccinated, it is important to make sure that you understand potential risks that may be involved. It is also important to make sure you know the steps for pursuing compensation for vaccine injuries.
Symptoms of Flu Shot Injuries: SIRVA and GBS
Two of the most prevalent types of flu shot injuries and illnesses are: (i) shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), and (ii) Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). While shoulder injuries result from errors during the injection process (such as use of the wrong needle or injecting the vaccine too high up on the shoulder or too deeply into the muscle), GBS is a disorder that results from the immune system’s reaction to the vaccine itself. Both are potentially serious, and anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Possible symptoms of SIRVA include:
- Limited shoulder mobility
- Muscle weakness in the arm and shoulder
- Numbness or tingling below the shoulder
- Shoulder pain
- Swelling in the shoulder
Possible symptoms of GBS include:
- Difficulty walking steadily or climbing stairs
- Loss of bladder control and difficulty with bowel movements
- Loss of reflexes or mobility
- Pain in the limbs and extremities that may worsen at night
- Tingling and weakness that typically start in the legs and feet before spreading throughout the body
Treatment for Flu Shot SIRVA and GBS
As with any serious medical condition, promptly obtaining an accurate diagnosis and undergoing treatment can be critical to minimizing the long-term consequences of flu shot SIRVA and GBS. While treatment options for SIRVA vary depending upon the specific type of injury diagnosed, rest, pain medications and physical therapy are common. In some cases, treatment for SIRVA may involve use of corticosteroids, and in severe cases surgery may be required.
There are currently two primary treatment options for Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The first is plasmapheresis, or plasma exchange therapy, which involves cleansing the blood of antigens and antibodies that may contribute to the symptoms of GBS. The second is immunoglobulin therapy, or intravenous immunoglobulin, which involves the injection of proteins in order to combat the body’s autoimmune response.
Due to GBS’s effects on the neuromuscular system, individuals diagnosed with the disorder may require ventilatory assistance and physical therapy as well.
Compensation for Flu Shot Injuries
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal program designed to provide compensation to individuals diagnosed with SIRVA, GBS and other vaccine-related injuries. Seeking compensation through the VICP is more straightforward and less time-consuming than filing a lawsuit against a hospital or pharmaceutical company (though legal representation is still recommended), and you can hire a lawyer to file your VICP claim at little or no financial cost to you.
Through the VICP, individuals diagnosed with flu shot SIRVA and GBS can recover compensation for their medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. Learn more about the compensation available through the VICP.
Have You Been Diagnosed with Flu Shot SIRVA or GBS? Call for a Free Consultation
If you have been diagnosed with SIRVA or GBS following a recent flu vaccination, contact the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC for a free, no-obligation consultation about your legal rights. To speak with an experienced vaccine attorney in confidence, call (202) 800-1711 or submit your case online today.
Leah Durant Bio
Experienced litigation attorney Leah Durant focuses on representing clients in complex vaccine litigation matters. Leah Durant is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, a litigation firm based in Washington, DC. Leah Durant and her staff represent clients and their families who suffer from vaccine-related injuries, adverse vaccine reactions and vaccine-related deaths. The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC is dedicated to assisting individuals in recovering the highest level of compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. To learn more, contact vaccine attorney Leah Durant today.