Received Apr 7, 2026
| Type | Name | Manufacturer | Dose | Lot | Route / Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLU3 | INFLUENZA (SEASONAL) (FLUZONE HIGH-DOSE) | SANOFI PASTEUR | 1 | UT8781CA | IM / LA |
The evening of September 11, 2025, I received a flu vaccine at the (name withheld) pharmacy at (address, city, state withheld). (My Confirmation No. for that appointment was (withheld). The Vaccine was Invluenza Fluzone High Dose, UT8781CA. Manufacturer: Sanofi Pasteur. Left Arm.) I remember two things about that vaccine: (1) that it was higher on my left shoulder than I expected it would be and (2) that the nurse who administered the vaccine seemed very confident and forceful with the needle. My shoulder was very sore when I went to bed that night. The next morning it was sorer still, and the next night it was so sore that I could not lie on my left side. This continued for months (now almost 7 months). Eventually, I found myself using my left shoulder as little as possible. Then my shoulder started to lock up. It impressed me as odd that for many months the injection site felt extremely sore when I lightly pressed on it. A month or two after receiving the flu vaccine, I wondered aloud to my husband how many people end up with injured shoulders from the flu vaccine. He search my question, which is when we learned that SIRVA (shoulder injury related to vaccine administration) is a known occurrence after certain vaccines, including the flu vaccine. By the end of the year, my shoulder hurt enough that, on December 31, 2025, I visited an orthopedist (M.D.) about it. I explained that my injury that had resulted from a flu vaccine received September 11, 2025. I described the timing of the injury and demonstrated that I could still feel the exact spot that the vaccine had been injected. The doctor said that he sees about one or two such injuries each year. He told me that the injury occurs when the vaccine is injected into the bursa rather than into the deltoid muscle. (He also commented on the value of vaccines and told me I should not quit getting them). My doctor told me that these injuries sometimes resolve on their own, but he also gave me a prescription for physical therapy. As he was leaving the examination room, his assistant asked him what diagnosis he should put in my chart. My doctor responded, for now, just put frozen shoulder -- adhesive capsulitis. I delayed physical therapy to see if my injury would resolve if I made myself use the shoulder and began doing recommended stretching exercises. However, after a few more months with things only getting worse, I decided I must start physical therapy. (The pain keeps me awake at night. I can no longer lie on my stomach due to pain in related arm position. It is painful to lie on my left side, but the weight of my left arm hanging down to the bed when I lie on my right side also hurts my left shoulder. I can no longer cross my arms above my head when I lie on my back, and I cannot rest my left arm on the bed. I must rest my left hand on my abdomen or on my shoulder. I cannot use my left arm to pull my hair back between my head and the pillow. I cry out in pain when trying to hook my bra or reach out with my left arm past a certain point, or use my left arm in many other ways). I had a follow up appointment with my orthopedist today. He took x rays and concluded that I have no arthritis in my shoulder. He ordered an MRI and physical therapy.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
None known
None known
Ongoing medical care. Xray today (April 7, 2026). Physical therapy and MRI in process of being scheduled.