Precursor symptoms to PMR?

The last flu vaccine I had when I turned 65, I didn’t realize it was a triple dose. I was sick with 103 fever for a week. The one before that weren’t as strong and just got alittle sick. So if I ever decide to do it again I wouldn’t allow the senior dose. No one told me. I found our by reporting it to Vaers, and they told me and they told me also it was a different filler that year

Saw the rheumatologist yesterday, and while she's not ruling out PMR entirely, she wants to explore other diagnoses (myositis, and CPPD). I had more bloodwork yesterday, and my CRP is even higher, went from 26.5 on Nov 25 to 55.8 yesterday. She also did a CK test (first time I had that) and it's low, at 22 (normal range is 33-165) but I'm not entirely clear what that means (@dadcue any insight?). Still waiting on Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody result, again, not sure what that is. Today I'm having x-rays of shoulders, hands, wrists, hips, pelvis and knees. She boosted my prednisone from 20 mg/day to 40 mg/day. I see her again Dec 23 and she will consider adding methotrexate depending on response to prednisone increase. It's a wild ride!

CK level is usually high if it is myositis. Creatine kinase (CK) levels are a common biomarker used to diagnose myositis and monitor its activity. CK levels can be elevated after exercise too.

I believe there could be an association with having Covid and developing PMR. I had Covid vaccine July 2023. I then had Covid Oct 2023. My PMR symptoms developed 2 months later. There is some evidence of viruses triggering auto immune illnesses.
I had Covid vaccine Oct 2024 and flu vaccine Nov 2024 without any problem. On 2mg Prednisone now, continuing taper. Trying to be positive.

I had COVID Dec 16, 2023. Tested negative Dec. 27, 2023. Woke up Jan 11, 2025 with PMR symptoms neck, shoulders, hips came a bit later. Diagnosed 4/30/2024. Started prednisone that day@15 mg. Tapered of@ 2.5mg and off prednisone on 8/8/24. Still in PT and now back to my fitness class and hoping to get back to 6-8lb weights over next few months. I’m now 77 and in pretty good health except for some arthritis which I have managed with exercise.

I’m leery of getting COVID again but seems inevitable. < sigh>

I wonder if others who think their PMR was triggered by COVID also had a relatively quick term of prednisone treatment and then have had COVID again without without triggering PMR?
Or been vaccinated again without triggering COVID?

I developed a problem with my knee a couple of months before I got all of the PMR symptoms -upper arms, shoulders, neck, thighs and hips. I had a sonogram and an MRI on my knee and was told it was mild artritis but a torn meniscus. I had a couple of gel shots. The 2nd gel worsened my knee and then had a cortisone shot which helped my knee. Days after my cortisone shot my PMR systems started. I asked my Rheumy if the knee had anything to do with my PMR and she said there was no research that associated a knee problem with PMR. My feeling is that we are all specimens for the Rheumys since not a lot is known about PMR. I am also on a FB support group called "Living With PMR". A number of members have reported knee issues followed by PMR.

A few years ago had a regular flu vaccine and no efffects. This year, the day before Thanksgiving, I had a visit with my PCP do to light symptoms of PMR but it was not yet diagonosed or suggested at that visit. The PCP thought it best for me to have a flu vaccine which I preferred not to get but I allowed her to give it to me (I had had a severe reaction to to my Covid booster). This time it was the Sr Flu vaccine which made me sick the next day and my PMR symptoms became more prominent. I am done with these vaccines that they are poping out like M&M candies.

I had a my knee drained al shot if cortisone, a shot in shoulder, and was suppose to have exploratory surgery on the knee.
I woke up a couple days later and could not lift my arms from pain, I then got pain in shoulders and couldn’t move from pain. It was PMR. I HAVE BEEN ON CORTIZONE FOR almost 3 years. I feel the COVID shots have caused it and has made my nueropathy much worse. I walk with a cane now, and cannot walk more than a block without sitting. I will never getting another vaccine again!

The more I read about vaccines, I’m beginning to think being on prednisone alters to immune response to vaccines.

Vaccines are designed to trigger an immune system response albeit not enough to cause sickness. I was told the Covid vaccine might not even be effective when I was on immunosuppressant medications for PMR. Prednisone clearly alters the immune system response. I just know my immune system is deranged so I never know what it might do next. Prednisone just makes my immune system more deranged.

I had a problem with my knee during the time I only had PMR (before GCA). My knee swelled up for a few days, and I wasn't able to go up and down steps normally for several months. I went to an orthopedic doctor, and all he could say was it might be arthritis. Once I started prednisone for the GCA and PMR, the knee problem disappeared almost immediately.