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Side effects after Covid Vaccine - symptoms seem like PMR
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 1 hour ago | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
@janiceem @bpyle47 We are not doctors, and probably cannot say until a lot more studies are completed. My COVID booster was November 17, 2025, exactly 2 weeks later I started having classic PMR symptoms. Sever muscle pain, could not get out of bed without strategizing for 45 minutes. Figured PMR early January but refused Prednisone due to side effects. Instead made drastic changes to diet and fasted. Yep, a long time. Finally March 20, 2026 started Pred since I could not get up the stairs to bedroom. Pain was gone in 1-2 hours, incredibly fast. Sooooo, 6 doctors said: 'since COVID boosters, we have seen a significant increase in PMR'. And increase in children with type 1 diabetes. Doc in Canada, doc in California (from fasting clinic) husband's doc and several more. These are all (but 1) without examination. But still, that is a lot saying the same thing. Scary that your life can change on a dime.
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@pmrnew I never had any issues after Covid vaccinations, however, I did start having bilateral pain three weeks after a Covid infection. I didn’t go to the doctor right away, but eventually the pain got so severe I was sent to a rheumatologist and was diagnosed with PMR. I asked him if they have seen an increase of PMR since Covid or if he thought there was any connection and he replied no to both questions. He even went on to say PMR in his practice is very common and not rare at all. Having never heard of it before, I was surprised to hear that.
@pmrnew
I developed GCA/PMR a few months after 1st Covid Vaccines. I continued to take the boosters and finally realized I was getting flares several weeks after each one. Then when finally off Prednisone and tapering Actemra Subcutaneously, I finally took the shingles vaccine and after the second dose (within one week), I had full blown flareup and was back on Prednisone and had to switch to IV Actemra. I'm holding off on all vaccines for now. For some reason, my body reacts differently to them.
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@pmrnew Sounds a lot like my onset. As soon as my arm stopped hurting from the shot, I had bilateral pain in my shoulders and then my thighs, but only when I was in bed! As soon as I got up, I was fine! My inflammation markers were normal, so it took a long time to diagnose. I attribute my mild case to eating right and exercising regulary. I am also a registered dietitian and eat a primarily whole foods, organic diet, hight in anti-inflammatory foods, with very little meat or poultry. Good luck to you!