Booster Dose of Pfizer on 02/11/22
Lakewood, Colorado
57 yrs old
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
Life was pretty typical and low key for me until I came down with a pretty bad cold that lasted for weeks resulting in a severe upper respiratory infection. This infection really affected my eyes to the point that they were ulcerated, swollen and bloody. My ears hurt so bad I couldn’t handle noise. Although not hospitalized, I was put on a heavy duty regime of steroids and antibiotics.
Q: Would you like to share your reasons for getting vaccinated?
Ultimately, I was diagnosed with “long COVID” I was advised that getting the vaccine would be in my best interest due to the fact that I had other underlying medical conditions and should I get COVID again the symptoms wouldn’t be so severe.
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
I did not have reaction to the first 2 injections. But, what did happen, is that when I went in for the booster everything went ok, but this injection really hurt and the nurse said she thought the needle to be dull… I went home. I had the typical sore arm that evening and night and the next morning I thought I had pretty much all night muscle guarded my sore arm resulting in a sore shoulder and neck. Throughout the day things got progressively worse in to the next day. I was in excruciating pain, hopping around, crying and just losing my mind. I ended up in the ER that afternoon and was just beside myself. The pain was like none other that I had ever experienced on that part of my body. After taking an X-ray, the Dr told me I had massive inflammation in my arm at the site of the vaccine injection, resulting in extreme muscle cramping from my neck to my elbow. The Dr said I had what is called SIRVA(shoulder injury resulting from vaccine administration) aka injection given in the wrong area. I didn’t even know that was a thing! The Dr told me there was nothing they could do to help me because no known medications would help to alleviate the pain or lessen the muscle cramping. The only thing I could do to help myself was to get PT right away to possibly avoid a frozen shoulder. I was beyond comprehension of what I was just told and what I was going through. I soon learned that this condition can be life-long.
Q: What is your life like now, after getting the vaccine?
Right now, my life absolutely sucks! I have extremely lost range of motion and have great weakness in my arm. My shoulder and neck are very tense and hurt so much that it is hard for me to keep my head up. A few hours a day I have to wear a neck brace to alleviate the stress of the muscles. My arm and shoulder continue to painfully cramp and it takes hours for the cramps to release. I can’t stand, I can’t sit, lay down, sleep or find any relief for any period of time. The pain is constant and never ending.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
During PT, they are doing a procedure called ‘dry needling’ in the muscles that are cramping the hardest. My primary care Dr did have me get an MRI and diagnosed me as having ‘complex regional pain syndrome’
I was told that SIRVA is not well known and not very many studies have been done to know how this should be treated. I was also put on gabapentin because this is the number 1 go to medication for this type of pain. There are no OTC and/or prescribed medications that will help. Nobody wants to talk about the injection I was given in the wrong place on my arm causing this situation that I will possibly have for the rest of my life. I have been reading about other treatments that might help me find relief for longer periods of time. As of now, everyone tells me to find an attorney. I just want somebody to help me before I go insane. I just want some answers.
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
Nothing has helped pain-wise, because there isn’t anything… but, the gabapentin has allowed me to zone out for a few hours a day and to not concentrate on the pain as much as I was. I feel traumatized!
Q: Have you had Covid before? What was your experience if so?
I did. Other than an upper respiratory infection, not having to be hospitalized, I was sick long enough that I was diagnosed with ‘long COVID’
Q: What do you wish others knew?
I feel that my struggles from having the vaccine injected into the wrong area, can not even compare to the struggles and battles of those suffering debilitating, unfathomable reactions to these vaccines. I keep you all in my prayers and wish you great blessings in health and healing. Stay strong and close to God. Everyone please be aware that there is a wrong and right area to receive a vaccine of any kind, not just COVID vaccines. Stay safe.
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