Has anyone had their voice affected by Pmr? I have read that it is.

I’m just starting with this diagnosis and have not started steroids yet. I will probably start next week. I am noticing a raspiness and I can’t sing normally. I’m the oddball with normal labs but text book PMR symptoms. I wondered if anyone else had this issue. Not normal for me.

@ggarrepy I am seeing a specialist in March about the raspiness that is settling in. I have had PMR for 6 years and was recently Dx with GCA Vasculitis. I'm the odd duck on the GCA because I haven't had any cranial symptoms. The GCA was picked up on a PET scan.

@ggarrepy I too have a raspy voice. It’s almost as though my vocal cords are being strangled! I was diagnosed three years ago with PMR, and have weird symptoms ever since. I don’t understand all of it, but I’m too old to care.

Thank you……I, too, have a raspy voice…..my husband has been all over me to get after it, and this post has done it. The last 2 weeks have been really bad, and first thoughts are allergies, which everyone around me have the problem right now.
I was PMR diagnosed 4/2024, probable onset 1/2024. Am now pain free after 10 months Kevzara preceded by Prednisone for 15 months.
I will reach out to my PCP, ENT & Rehumy tomorrow.
Everyone pls keep us updated with progress.
Lastly, my 80th bday coming up, still bike, hike, golf etc, and………
AM YOUNG ENOUGH TO STILL CARE.

I also have had a raspy voice, very hoarse sometimes, that comes and goes, starting suddenly since 7-8 months before I developed the other classic PMR symptoms. Then I thought it was probably allergies, but had never had that problem before. Prednisone has done a good job of nearly eliminating the PMR pain (started on 20 mg. daily 8 months ago, and now down to 2 mg, going to 1 mg in 3 weeks.), but it has not really changed the raspy voice at all. The voice problem is not here all the time, but comes for a week or so, then disappears for a few weeks, and then comes back. I had other tests with an ENT to check for other causes, with no real results. I think it must be the PMR, but . . .

I have been clearing my throat a lot lately, assuming it’s my allergies with nasal mucosal drippage, as I mop and blow my nose a lot. I’m now down to 1 mg of prednisone and on Kevzara for 3 and a half months. Have been on prednisone for 5 and a half months thus far. It’s very annoying and my throat feels so sore that I use a menthol cough occasionally to aleve the discomfort. I thought seriously about getting my vents cleaned if it’s allergy related. Hard to know what to do. Was hoping to reevaluate my situation, including hair falling out and stomach upset, after finishing my prednisone treatment.

@ggarrepy

I was told by an ENT that my vocal cords were growing together! (Another hazard of aging that I hadn’t been warned about.🫤) I take Musinex & it helps temporarily.

@ggarrepy Yes. I have been on Prednisone for a year. Started at 20, down to 5 1/2. Raspiness started 1-2 months ago after several months of a mildly sore throat. Also recently diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism which could cause the sore throat. I wouldn't mind so much if my new voice sounded sexy. Alas, no such luck.

While I was taking Prednisone for GCA/PMR, my voice was raspy. Once I tapered down to 10 mg.-ish (can't recall the exact dosage), the raspiness went away. No issues since then. I haven't been taking Prednisone since November 2025.

My voice raspiness has been coming on for a decade, way before PMR, but it has been getting raspier since PMR. I thought it was the Prednisone, never thought about it being a PMR side affect.
I’m interested, thanks to everyone who shares.