Neck and Shoulder Pain After Vaccination Helped with Chiropractic

The December issue of the Journal of Physical Therapy Science releases a study on December 1, 2023, documenting the case of chiropractic helping a patient who suffered neck and shoulder pain associated with receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

The study authors begin by explaining the problem of vaccinations related to arm pain. "Each year, billions of deltoid intramuscular (IM) injections are given to administer multiple vaccines globally. In some instances, this shoulder injection causes pain and dysfunction long after the normal soreness should persist. In many of those cases where the pain does not resolve, the patient will experience disability and reduction in quality of life."

In this case a 54-year-old man, who was suffering with left shoulder pain, went to see a chiropractor. The man described the pain as a dull ache that made his shoulder feel like it was "rigging out". He noted that the pain was severe and rated it as 8 or 9 out of 10, with 10 being the worst pain ever. He reported that this started after a COVID-19 vaccination and was steadily getting worse over the three weeks since his injection.

In addition to the left arm pain, the man also reported having mild-to-severe throbbing neck pain. His problems were continuing to get worse to the point where he could not sleep over the prior four nights before starting chiropractic. He noted that he did not have any of these issues prior to receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.

A chiropractic examination was performed with spinal x-rays. It was recorded that the range of motion of his neck was restricted in all directions. When any pressure was placed on the man’s head, it caused an immediate severe increase in his shoulder pain. He was unable to lift his arm above his shoulder, not due to stiffness, but because lifting his arm caused severe pain. His x-rays showed that he had a loss of his normal neck curve and an increase in his mid-back curvature causing a hunch-back appearance.

Specific forms of chiropractic care were started with the man receiving multiple visits per week. The study records that after just one month, the man reported significant relief and commented that he was "feeling great." As chiropractic care continued, the man continued to improve and eventually reported no shoulder or neck pain and no restriction in his movements. Follow-up x-rays also showed an improvement in the man’s neck and mid-back curvatures. Two years later, a follow-up was done, and the man remained pain free and continued to show spinal and postural improvements.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, "This case demonstrates immediate and long-term improvement in a patient suffering from COVID-19 vaccine SIRVA, concomitant with neck pain and disability as well as significant radiographic postural/spinal deformity. These conditions all improved and were maintained at a 2 year follow-up without further treatment."