Could your PMR have been a result of the Covid mRNA vaccine?

Posted by danzster79 @danzster79, Jul 30 8:26pm

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.

danzster79 | @danzster79 | Aug 20 12:44pm

In reply to @alvina "How often and what s dosage of turmeric do u take?" + (show)

@alvina, I bounce between 1500 to 3000 mgs of turmeric (1-2 pills) depending on how I’m feeling. And I concur with @janiceem regarding diet. I’ve switched to a heart healthy Mediterranean diet. Eliminating sugar, most dairy (an occasional cheat treat) white starch, and focusing on fish, chicken, vegetables and fruit have been significant in my opinion. Lots of great recipes that my wife has embraced and it’s turned into a fun lifestyle journey. I sleep better, I’ve lost weight, which has in turn led to more energy and a more consistent exercise schedule. Turning lemons (PMR) into lemonade. In hindsight, PMR may have added years to my life.

izzie1020 | @izzie1020 | Aug 21 8:12am

I believe, although no doctor can conform positively, that I contracted PMR a week after my 4th Covid vaccine. I slowly tapered from prednisone over the course of a year. Been about a year out from taking Predisone. Some people have commented that because it lasted only a year, it might have been vaccine induced. I guess we will never know but I am now leery of taking anymore vaccines. I know it is in remission and I want it to stay that way.

rosemargaret | @rosemargaret | Aug 21 9:52am

I never attributed the Covid vaccine to aggravating my PMR but the longer I reflect on it I do remember my PMR getting much worse after actually having Covid twice. Could it just be that my immune system was already weakened at that time and heightened PMR symptoms are the result?

alisongrundy | @alisongrundy | Aug 21 10:51am

I have questioned myself the connection between Covid & PMR! I had Covid I believe in December 2019 (before testing so no proof) but I was so poorly for about 3 weeks, PMR is not in my family but with every vaccine of Covid I always had muscle cramps & fatigue! In April 2023 I was diagnosed with PMR then I had Covid again in September 2023! No sound proof of a connection but I truly believe there is a link

janiceem | @janiceem | Aug 22 9:16am

In reply to @izzie1020 "I believe, although no doctor can conform positively, that I contracted PMR a week after my..." + (show)

I had a similar experience, but my PMR developed after my second Pfyzer vaccination. It took about a year to taper off Prednisone and I have been in remission now since Dec. 2022, although I occasionally feel some mild discomfort in my upper arms while in bed (this could be neck related). I will probably never get another vaccine, especially an mRNA one.

jlo2252 | @jlo2252 | Aug 22 10:43am

In reply to @dorlera "I received the first dose of the Shingles vaccine at the end of September and the..." + (show)

@dorlera
I agree that you should not get another Covid booster at this time. Just do hand washing and disinfecting after you have been around other people. Even if people tell you they just have a cold or allergies, you never know for sure if they are a Covid carrier. I don’t mean for you to be paranoid, just be careful!
I have confidence in all the other life saving vaccines that have been around a long time. I did advise my daughter in law to go easy on the childhood vaccines— they wanted to give my grandson six (!!) vaccines all in one doctors visit!! I advised her to spread them out, maybe 2 at a time. Today he is a healthy 10 year old who has had all his childhood vaccines and even flu shots!
The Covid vaccine was thrust upon us in an emergency situation, with no real testing done— we were essentially the lab rats for this vaccine!! I had the j & j vaccine when it first came out, later had one of the mRNA vaccines as a booster and I’m done for now. I’ve tested negative at least a dozen times when I had symptoms! They keep telling me I’m due for a booster and I just decline it….
Good luck to you on your PMR health journey…

pattiobrien111 | @pattiobrien111 | Aug 22 12:06pm

Hello,
I can say that (the research is out there) I absolutely contracted PMR as a result of Covid. I had 3 vaccines (a nurse) and the virus twice. I’ve had long covid symptoms since the booster. I contracted a nasty covid virus a year ago. What followed was a series of new symptoms on top of my long covid symptoms. So yes, both the virus and vaccine can hijack the body in a sundry of manner. Skeletal, Neurovascular, Cardiovascular, Immune system, Gastric and much much more. Some of us are more susceptible. It is all an inflammatory process which most illness is in fact. It can create endothelial dysfunction (look up the role of the endothelial system which are the cells that line our blood vessels) which some researchers feel is at the crux of many health issues covid creates. Covid is an extremely bizarre virus we have not seen the likes of in terms of hijacking our health. Was it created in a lab? Well, look at offshore gain of function in Wuhan. I believe it was. That is beside the point. My PMR was diagnosed almost 3 months after my covid virus in July. I had not a clue what was going on. Night sweats, fevers, fatigue and bilateral shin pain/leg, high heart rate. I also ended up with pseudogout of my knee and believe it’s all related to covid. Some of the latest research suggests the vaccine and virus is a double whammy to our body. The diagnosis of PMR has increased monumentally. Some articles of research suggest it is autoimmune driven. Makes sense. My Rheumy is fantastic. She did not dismiss that I felt my PMR was connected to covid. We are each different in how it might manifest in our bodies re: symptoms. I believe there is a path to health and it is evident as we see many long Covid clinics pop up. Also, Functional Medicine is receiving some well needed attention. The steroids are not meant to be on for life if possible. And of course GCA is lurking in the background at 15%. Be proactive and advocate for yourself doing your own research. I found some fab doctors on YouTube and have learned more about PMR and other means of managing it. I wish you well. This is an excellent forum to connect. Our health is indeed our wealth.
Genuine wishes for health to all.
P.

pattiobrien111 | @pattiobrien111 | Aug 22 12:16pm

In reply to @alisongrundy "I have questioned myself the connection between Covid & PMR! I had Covid I believe in..." + (show)

Oh, there is a link. The research is out there as PMR has risen since covid made its debut.

jacquelineminix | @jacquelineminix | Aug 25 3:41pm

Was diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis in July 2024 ..would appreciate if anyone can tell me much about it

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 25 3:59pm

In reply to @jacquelineminix "Was diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis in July 2024 ..would appreciate if anyone can tell me..." + (show)

Welcome @jacquelineminix, I'm sorry to hear you joined the Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) club. You are not alone and have a lot of company here on Connect. You might want to look through the different discussions on GCA to learn what others have shared - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=GCA

Here's some educational type information if you want to learn more about GCA.
-- Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459376/
Have you started a treatment yet?