Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - Introduce yourself and meet others

PFIZER COVID-19 Vaccine and Rheumatoid Arthritis Onset (2021 through 2025)

Any evidence so far linking COVID-19 Vaccine and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) ? In March/2021 I started the PFIZER COVID-19 vaccine followed by boosters in June/2021, December/2021, June/2022 and November/2022. No unusual side effects, but in May/2022 I developed increasingly acute inflammatory pain in shoulders, neck and hips. Various visits to Emerg with shoulder and neck ultrasound and CT scans through the end of 2022 were inconclusive.

In May/2023, I was formally diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and began different immunosuppressive medication plans, starting with Predisone and Alendronate, then Leflunomide, then Methotrextate (MTX) , then Actemra with no Leflunomide. Actemra was eventually successful in managing the inflammatory pain but with nasty side-effects, especially wooziness and balance issues.

In September/2024, the medication plan discontinued Actemra, leaving only Folic Acid and weekly MTX injections. Minor Inflammatory pain returned but was manageable with extra strength Tylenol and after 4 months, the wooziness and balance issues essentially disappeared. My rheumatologist expects to reduce the MTX dosage by 50% starting in September/2025 and MTX discontinuance at some future point.

JRA since 8 years old 54 yrs

My profile is all I do 4 work. All other hours of any day is coping with my recent RA diag. Prior with 6 years of diag pmr

Has anyone had RA attack one side of their body more than the other ? .. My right hand fingers have become rather deformed as have my toes compared to my left. It all started in 2018 ... my GP referred me to a rheumatologist .. I am serum negative RA, through trial and error have gone through different meds landing on Orencia infusions once a month ... now to start Prolia ... as a pre-caution. I broke my shoulder almost two years ago . But as I have said ... I would be very interested in another case that had RA attack one side of their body in the initial phases of this disease .. I also have Addison's Disease, Eagle's syndrome, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis ... well the list goes on. Once you have an auto-immune disease, more seem to pop up.

I have had RA for at least 35 years - mainly prednisone only worked (other meds not so much) Orencia IV once a month, methotrexate for about a year but now effecting Liver enzymes as did 35 yrs ago. At 78 my ligaments, tendons and muscles are tearing and atrophying - due to RA and meds. Always very active - now can hardly walk. Anyone else having this happen?

@jerkyjefr Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I think you’ll find lots of information and tips on this site. What medication were you put on?
And, how did you find MayoClinicConnect?

Ty Becky. Prednisone for pmr, 6 years and 4 docs ltr, told 4 sur RA is my issue. Then eflutimide and now hydroxy covid med, 15% improvement only. Shattering pain all over in a.m., weak legs, sound familiar? Ty again 4 ur interest.

Mayo clinic rep is compared with the best.

So sorry to hear. My next doc visit afraid same story. Decided 2 retire May and tru to make best of time left. I will say Aleve pm at bedtime helps sleep. Only once a week or twice when I am desperate. Regards. 😑

Be careful of Aleve and the like - only Tylenol for me due to the probiotics and other RA meds -others not healthy. I do use Voltaren on skin carefully.