Bilateral Muscle Pain in Arms, Legs, Neck and Shoulders

Hello @janemcd, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @kberlyhouse and others. Sorry to hear your PMR is a result of the Covid vaccine. I've had 2 occurrences of PMR but neither were from Covid. Fortunately my PMR is in remission right now. There are many PMR discussions that you might find helpful for dealing with the PMR. Here is a link showing the search results for the discussions - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=PMR+.

Have you started a treatment for the PMR?

I too have been experiencing horrible pain which started in my neck, then shoulders, bilateral arms, legs, and pelvis for 3-4 months and at times, so bad it actually wakes me up at night throbbing. I did recently get labs work and CRP was high and hemoglobin low. Now I know why I'm always so fatigued and taking 1-2 hour naps nearly daily. I have a follow up with the rheumatologist in 2 weeks and counting the days. I am living with pain daily, some days worse than others. Walking actually feels better since sitting for prolonged periods of time makes it worse. At this time, I'm taking Celebrex until the Dr. can make a diagnosis. I initially went to a spine specialist since I do have degenerative disc disorder but the specialist recommended a Rheumatologist since MRI didn't show anything that would cause my symptoms. So now I wait for a diagnosis.

In early December I was waking up with your exact symptoms. I googled my symptoms and the search came up with PMR. The remedy was steroids. I couldn't get an immediate appointment with a Rheumatologist. I was desperate. I had a Medrol Pack (Methylprednisolone) in the house so I took 3 4mg pills. Within 1 hour my pain was gone. I finally got to see a Rheumatologist and I reported my experience. It was confirmed that I have PMR. I remained on Methylprednisolone instead of regular prednisone since the Methylprednisolone (generic) worked better for me. My dose started at 20mg and I am now down to 3.5mg daily. I am doing well. In the AM I do wake up with slight symptoms of PMR so my Rheumatologst suggested I take 2 extra strength Tylenol and that is helping a great deal. I am 72 years old and I normally wake up around 3 or 4am to use the bathroom. At that time I take the Tylenol and go back to sleep. I wake up around 7 - 7:30am with very mild PMR symptoms. I can dress myself easily and feed my cats before breakfast. After breakfast I take my Methylprednisolone dose and I am great for the rest of the day - no symptonms of PMR.

Did they do a Sed Rate blood test. Mine was 86 and my CRP was 99.7 when I was diagnosed with PMR. The Sed rate is supposed to be below 30. I had all of the same symptoms you are describing.

The lactic acid feeling sounds just like how my PMR started. My inflammatory markers were all low, but a trial dose of prednisone confirmed a diagnosis of PMR.

A long, comprehensive, but useful explanation of the differences between prednisone and methylprednisolone and how each acts upon the body: https://www.gbchealth.org/blog/methylprednisolone-vs-prednisone/

My sed rate was within normal limits. Hope to find out soon. Am getting really tired of this!

I too had same experience. Woke up one morning in November of ‘24 with excruciating pain in both shoulders and hips. Had to sleep in one position as it was nearly impossible to use those body parts to turn or flip. Same with attempting to sit or get back up. Then took a minute or two to allow pain to subside to then walk. Actually felt my best when taking daily walk but when finished had to struggle to sit and remove shoes (not from walk but from PMR). Went over a month like that until GP had blood test run and diagnosed PMR. Prescribed prednisone and pain almost immediately diminished. I have seen rheumatologist three times and am slowly weening off of medication. I have been blessed that the terrible pains in original spot have not flared up and now dealing with low to medium pain in hands (knuckles and wrist) which for the time is bearable. I do not want to be on prednisone long but do realize that it will be the bridge to get me back to normal or what will be my new normal.

Thank you. That was an excellent read. I have been on Medrol from the start. Luckily I haven't had any obvious side effects like weight gain or moon face.

I'm so glad your pain diminished immediately with the prednisone! Hopefully soon, you will be totally off it. I see doctor in about 10 days and now that he has lab report, can be able to diagnose. Everything you experienced with the pain, I have as well. Even the walking which was great and returning to struggle to sit and remove my shoes! Hopefully soon my pain will diminish as well.