Could your PMR have been a result of the Covid mRNA vaccine?
I have taken vaccines my entire life. I believe in their ability to prevent diseases. From childhood vaccines for school, to Tdap with the birth of my grandchildren, to influenza and more, and yes to the Covid vaccines. I believe medical science in my lifetime is nothing short of amazing.
But I have read some science papers recently that are now questioning if some individuals may contract PMR after receiving the new mNRA Covid boosters.
I had never heard of PMR. I contracted it in mid April 2024. My latest Covid booster was in late December 2023, my 4th or 5th, I've lost count. What gives me pause is that within my closest golfing buddies, a relatively small group of 12 or so men, another buddy contracted PMR in February 2024. His last booster was in early November, 2023. That's a very small sample group to have two PMR cases.
Does anyone else have concerns or experiences similar to mine?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
Yes, I agree it was overkill! Six vaccines in two years = three per year. Which is way too much for any vaccine. I can't prove they caused my PMR, of course, but I'm personally confident they did by shoving my immune system into overdrive.
You're fortunate you never got Covid even while looking after family members who did! I've also been exposed several times over the last four years, but never got it myself (unless I had the asymptomatic variety).
I'm not planning to get another booster, and am instead focusing on trying to keep myself as healthy as possible in other ways.
I received the first dose of the Shingles vaccine at the end of September and the newer COVID vaccine in late December. My PMR came on in mid-January. The ER Doctor mentioned the same observation, that visits to rheumatologists in the area from people with the same symptoms had tripled since COVID. And the local DPA that I followed up with agreed. I was a bit horrified but do still think vaccines are important and life-saving. Having said that, I am unsure as to when I will get another. Certainly not while fighting off PMR. I did search the CDC database for symptoms and there have been some reported. Here is the CDC website and you can find a link to report your own experience so they can collect the data they need: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/reporting/index.html
Here's hoping we all fully recover and remain symptom free!
No more Covid vacs for me my PMR seems to be in remission and I feel normal with normal inflammation markers so after dealing with it for a yr I’m never getting another Covid I had to vacs and a booster then 2 months after PMR began. I do feel strongly they set it off even though my rheumatologist won’t way that.
I am pretty sure it was the covid vaccine and follow up boosters. I was totally healthy before receiving them. Thank you for website info.
I hesitated to share this info as it sounds kind of wacko. But want to say I read somewhere that tart cherry juice helps reduce inflammation. Bought some at Trader Joe’s. It seriously reduces my pmr body aches at least by half.
Alvina, not “wacky” at all. There are numerous natural remedies that help to reduce inflammation and tart cherry juice is known to be one of those. Personally, I take tumeric, which replaces NSAIDS for me as they exacerbate my tinnitus. Tart cherry juice may not be for everyone (diabetics) but as we’ve learned in our PMR journey, it’s an individual path with some shared experiences and solutions.
I wonder if cherry pie (my favorite) has the same benefits 😂.
My son, who works for a college football facility, just told me that the athletes use the tart cherry juice. He said they bring in cases of the stuff. So, maybe you have something here. It's also recommended for those with Gout, which is also an autoimmune disease. 👍
How often and what s dosage of turmeric do u take?
Both tart cherry juice and turmeric are well-known anti-inflammatories. I take 2000 mg. turmeric (with black pepper) and 700 mg. omega-3's (from algae) daily. I am a registered dietitian and have been taking these for many years. Perhaps that is why I had a very mild case of PMR and came off of my low-dose of prednisone in about a year. I've been in remission since 12/22. I eat a whole foods, primarily plant-based, organic diet. My advice to everyone is to avoid processed foods and focus on anti-inflammatory foods such as:
Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards
Nuts like almonds and walnuts
Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges
Beans (the common food eaten in the Blue Zones)
Olives and unheated olive oil
Fiber (feeds your gut microflora, which improves your immunity)
Keep well everyone--it is up to you!
@janiceem Thank You! I think we could all benefit from the advice of a dietitian, and one who is experiencing PMR!