Winter is right around the corner, which means that millions of Americans are getting ready to get their flu shots. While many argue that getting a flu shot is a great idea to ensure that you don’t get the flu, others have warned that it could result in long-term health consequences, such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Jacalyn explained that when she went to get her flu shot last year, it wasn’t her first time getting it. Though having a soreness in your arm in the days after getting the flu shot is normal, Jacalyn “knew something wasn’t right.”

Jacalyn was feeling an extreme amount of pain in her shoulder, and a chiropractor saw that her right shoulder and arm were sloping.

After multiple doctors could not figure out what was wrong, Jacalyn was diagnosed with SIRVA (Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration), which is a medical complication when a vaccine is not administered properly. This likely happened because the shot was placed too high or deep into the upper arm.

SIRVA can lead to injury to the tendons, ligaments, or bursa (a fluid-filled sac in your shoulder spaces), and can lead to prolonged pain, limited range of motion, and shoulder-related injuries.

“The surgeon had me do another MRI, and everything had fallen off. A complete tear of the rotator cuff,” Jacalyn said.

Despite everything that has happened to her, Jacalyn still says that people should get vaccinated.

“I would not tell anyone not to get a shot, but just being careful how it’s given,” she said.

Jacalyn has since undergone surgery to repair the tear in her shoulder and is working on gaining her arm mobility back. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!