Can PMR be induced by Exercise

@ds1 I'm certain my sudden onset PMR - which was later diagnosed as connective tissue disease - was caused by the expensive hydrolysed marine collagen I started taking five days before symptoms started. Hydrolysed collagen is structurally altered collagen. It makes sense to me that some of us react to altered collagen. Our bodies attack the alien collagen, then broaden that attack to include our own similar collagen, as happens in PMR and connective tissue disease.

I also was struck down right after I tried collagen.

@megz

There are many theories about what causes autoimmune disorders. Foreign proteins in the body was one I liked the best. There are many ways that these foreign proteins get into the body but infections are the more common way. I don't know why ingesting foreign proteins aren't believed to cause too many problems. It certainly seems possible. I will probably avoid marine collagen since the nearest ocean to me is more than 1,000 miles away. My body is not accustomed to seafood very often.

My anecdotal experience with acute PMR onset at age 72 presented after overexertion biking and kayaking on vacation.
There is not much research found on exercise causing
polymyalgia.
Sometimes the diagnostic presentation can lead into
overlap with other rheumatic disorders that are aggravated by mechanical overuse. Don’t push yourself
to the max and follow up with your rheumatologist.
Your commitment to fitness will help forestall bone loss.
A very slow wean off steroids worked for me.

I started drinking a collagen powder supplement in my coffee and after about 2 months my PMR began. I struggled and finally went to a rheumatologist who diagnosed it. But I had stopped all vitamins and collagen a week before seeing him and my symptoms had somewhat improved. So I added in slowly all but collagen with no changed then I added collagen in and my symptoms returned but at the time I didn’t put it together so I started prednisone and with in 4 hrs my symptoms disappeared. So my dr diagnosed PMR. I stopped all vitamins and supplements and continued to feel great no fatigue no pain. After a month I slowly added vitamins back and felt fine. One day I added collagen and within 3 days despite prednisone all my symptoms returned. Sooo… needless to say I have not taken any more collagen. My dr agrees the collagen could be aggravating the inflammation. I am now 2 months into prednisone and beginning to taper down with good results so far. I will be at 10 mg next week 10-10-23 for a month then hopefully to 5 mg in November, as I am having knee replacement in December. Hope this helps. I know we are all different with different outcomes.

It is interesting to learn that many health-conscious, avid fitness enthusiasts, who are in otherwise perfect health, have developed PMR.
I, too, was a personal trainer / fitness instructor and (even at my age) I taught 7+ fitness classes per week, prior to getting the Shingrix vaccine. I also was an avid skier, water sports participant, dancer and hiker. I was completely pain free with NO joint issues and very fit prior to getting the Shingrix vaccine.

I was diagnosed with PMR shortly after receiving the Shingrix vaccine in March of 2021.
My rheumatologist suggested that my PMR was adjuvant induced. (triggered by an ingredient in the vaccine that made my immune system chaotic)

My primary care physician recommended getting Shingrix before getting the COVID vaccine in March of 2021. She told me that many of her elderly patients were getting shingles after receiving the COVID vaccine 💉!!
Reluctantly, I took the vax. So did my husband. In fact, We took it on the same day.
He was a bit sore for a few days after the vax, but got better.
Unfortunately, I did NOT. I got worse.
The pain traveled from my arm - up to my shoulder - across my collarbone- into my neck and over to the other shoulder and upper arm. I felt as though the muscles were being ripped off the bone 😳. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. I was never that sore !!! 🥹
I couldn’t even dress myself nor pick up a plate. I was so sore and stiff. I lost all upper body mobility.
Within a month, I was also sore in the thighs, hips and buttocks. I could barely move and my husband had to help me get up from a chair, off the sofa and out of bed - all day long. I could barely walk. I couldn’t walk up or down stairs. It was a nightmare. I was like a 90 year old woman.
My doctor couldn’t believe what was happening. She sent me to a rheumatologist.
It’s been a horrible journey for me. So many side effects from different DMARD/ Biologics medications. Apparently my body is extremely sensitive to medications. I never knew this because I never needed any medication up to now.
Thankfully I found a wonderful integrative medicine doctor to help me navigate to where I am today.
It’s taken three years, but I am just now starting to have significantly less pain and see some improvement since taking Low Dose Naltrexone. My mobility has improved and the inflammation has decreased.
I’m Not 100 % by any means - but maybe 80% thanks to LDN.

Like I said… this has been a nightmare. 😱. It ruined my life.
I wish I had never taken that vaccine. Now I know !!
NO more vaccines for me. Ever.

It's amazing isn't it?! .... All of our different personal experiences, all of our different choices for ourselves, and beliefs. Which you would think would generate a lot of data driven studies and conclusions by the scientific and medical community. ....
But nope. As much as Adrenal chemistry and rheumatoid science has developed, I'm just not finding much definitive information on PMR.
If you have.... PLEASE send me the explanation, that is not a "word salad" that explains why so much diveresed experience produces so similar and profoundly difficult results.!
I'm 74. I've participated in large wave surfing in different spots around the world, up until the pre-diagnosis symptoms started 5 years ago after a had surgery (successfully) for kidney cancer, then surgery for snapped Achilles heel, then surgery for a hip replacement, then another. At that time I felt a shift in my brain chemistry they I attributed to anesthesia.
It wasn't till after all those surgeries that I lost 60 lbs in 3 months, became sporadically weak, and experienced a never before depression. ...... PMR.
I choose to make decisions based on quality of life, looking forward to where I want to be with my general body health.
So I continue to exercise (surf ) wherever I can even when I know I'll pay for it. I participate in methods for stimulating Cordisol even though I know until my Prednisone gets down to below 4 mg my body will make very little to no Cordisol on its own.
And I did take a COVID shot, because I knew my immune system would not survive COVID without the shot.

@dadcue I eat a lot of sushi, nigiri and sashimi mostly. I love raw fish. Raw salmon and tuna. It actually helps me feel better. Like some say turmeric does for them.
The omega-3’s and protein I like since I gave up meat (other than fish) three years ago.