C5 Palsy after cervical laminectomy or Brachial Neuritis after Flu shot

Hi Dr. Corenman,

Hello,

I recently had C3-C6 laminectomy decompression and fusion surgery – 10/20/2020.
This was for Cervical Spondylotic Stenosis with Myelopathy.
I also had herniated disks and Foraminal Stenosis at those 3 levels, and nerve root impingement (including C5).
The surgical notes said there were bilateral foraminotomies done at those levels.

When I was recovering in the hospital, I was fine for the first 3 days after
surgery.

Then, they came at me with the flu shot.
3 days after that (still recovering in the hospital), I woke up with pain in my right shoulder, loss of sensation

in the upper outer arm, and most of all (devastating), could no longer lift my right arm
at the shoulder (flexion and abduction).
The pain subsided in around two weeks. Maybe there is a faint pain at this point, but nothing to speak of.

My surgeon said a few inconsistent things, which really make me worry about his interest in getting to the bottom

of this. First he said it was Frozen Shoulder. The Physical Therapist agreed with me that it was not, because I

could do passive range of motion. Then the surgeon said it was because I have been laying around in the hospital

and have not been actively using it, completely ignoring the fact that a) it is only happening in one shoulder,

not both, and b) I can’t move it around if there is something preventing me from getting the muscle to move.

From previous experience with foot drop after a surgery, I know what it feels like when
a nerve is not sending signals to a muscle. That is what the feeling is.

He then told me to trust him in that this type of thing will take a lot of time (months) and MY hard work in

Physical Therapy. I don’t agree. I do not think Physical Therapy can do anything for a muscle that is not

receiving nerve signals.
I feel that I cannot just trust him and wait, because I know how there is a certain time window for nerves, and

if you miss it, then you can never get it back.

At this point I still have the loss of sensation and the inability to use my shoulder in the way described above.
Did not get many answers, so I was forced to research on my own.

I feel like my symptoms line up with both Brachial Neuritus (sometimes associated with a very recent flu shot)
and
C5 Palsy (known to be a possible complication of the surgery I mentioned)

I have not had any diagnostic tests yet, but an MRI and EMG are on the list of tests to be taken as soon as I can

schedule and go to them.

I profoundly regret having let them give me the flu shot, because… that is muddying the waters, as far as why

this happened.

My major fear is whatever nerve damage there is (and I strongly suspect there is nerve damage, but I just don’t

know which nerve(s) ), is not going to heal.
I have read that it can, and people sometimes get their function back ‘spontaneously’, but I can’t help thinking

this is something of a fairy tale. My former foot drop experience has left me hopelessly pessimistic.

Please give me your thoughts on what you think I should do.

Thank you,
Cathy