Connect
← Return to PMR and the new Shingles vaccine
Discussion
PMR and the new Shingles vaccine
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Dec 27, 2021 | Replies (67)Comment receiving replies
I also was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica after receiving the Shingrix vaccine. I received my first dose in May 2020. By the end of June I was experiencing pain/stiffness in my neck, shoulders and hips. I am 55 years old and in fairly good shape. Being a regular at the gym, I attributed the symptoms to an over zealous workout. I took the second dose of the vaccine in July. By early August, the pain/stiffness had gotten much worse and now involved my knees. I was in so much pain I could no longer workout and could barely get out of bed. By the end of the summer, I realized there was something else going on. I was diagnosed with PMR just last week and started a round of prednisone. Within 2 days, I felt like a new person. I am hoping I won't have to be on the prednisone too long.
Replies to "I also was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica after receiving the Shingrix vaccine. I received my first..."
So we both have similar stories with PMR occurrence after the shingrix vaccine. I wish you the very best and glad that you’ve got relief just like I did starting prednisone. I have followed the usual tapering regimen and I’m now down to 5 mg daily after starting in March. I did report my reaction to GSK the shingrix company. If you can I think it would be worth it. This is made me a little hesitant to be first in line for the COVID-19 vaccine whenever it is available However, I did get the flu shot this year and had no adverse reactions. Take care.
Hi, your description of your experience with the vaccine s then the symptoms could have been ME. I had such a similar experience separated by one year, 2019. It took me several months to get a diagnosis. I too was nearly paralyzed. The prednisone helped immediately (36 hours).
My doc says there’s no connection but I feel very strongly that there is.
I’ve tried tapering but was not successful. It has been 6.5 months. I’m down to 13 mgs and hoping to go to 12 in October. Previously when I got to 8, the symptoms returned and also GCA giant cell arteritis symptoms, nothing to mess with. Also, my blood work was not classic for the disorder, they tried the prednisone based on my symptoms, and it worked.
Connect
Hi @cmm445, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I was 60 when my first occurrence of PMR happened. It took 3-1/2 years for me to taper off. The second occurrence was 6 years later and it took 1-1/2 years to taper off prednisone. A friend of mine was diagnosed with PMR around the same time as I was and his has never come back. My rheumatologist was great helping me put together a couple of different taping schedules until I was finally able to get off of the prednisone. One thing I might suggest would be to keep a log while you are tapering off of prednisone and record the dosage and a pain scale of 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 whatever works for you so you can discuss it with your doctor or rheumatologist if you are having trouble tapering off.
Did your doctor suggest a tapering schedule?