Hello,
You may find a previous posting at
medhelp.org helpful.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Occupational-Safety--Health/improper-flu-shot/show/465108
Your questions:
1. "Will I always have pain?" If the pain that you had and have in your shoulder is the result of a bursitis following an influenza vaccination, this type of pain does not last forever. Bursitis may take weeks to months to completely resolve with or without treatment.
2. "Will I have to have surgery?" In general, surgery is not recommended for bursitis or bursal surface tear of the supraspinatus tendon.
3. "Does my case sound consistent with the shot being given improperly?" To answer this question, it is important to know exactly where on your upper arm or shoulder the vaccination was given. The correct placement of the influenza vaccination is for the injection to be given in the body of the deltoid muscle. If the vaccination is administered too high, it is possible that the vaccination needle could enter the subdeltoid bursa and cause a bursitis, resulting in shoulder pain.
As a massage therapist, you will appreciate the anatomical position of the subdeltoid bursa. You can perform a google search for images of the subdeltoid bursa.
You're welcome to follow-up with additional questions that you may have.
~•~ Dr. Parks
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.