Is it safe to get the Corona Virus (COVID-19) vaccine with PMR?

It is a hard call for sure when you fear a potential nasty reaction from a vaccine. I can't recall how many of the reactions were from the shingles or CoVid one. My wife, with Leukaemia, had doubts about getting the vaccine due to not getting any real benefit from it but her specialist Professor John Seymour (probably the best in Australia) advised her to get it as any benefit no matter how small may make a difference in the event of getting CoVid. We still take all precautions as we have since last Year and will throughout this year contrary to what our Victorian "medical experts" recommend such as masks no longer required in stores. We will continue to wear them. Good luck with whatever decision you come to and keep well.

I am almost 83, on 3 1/2 mgs prednisone and got both Moderna shots for Corona virus. Here in Oregon, we are advised to continue wearing masks everywhere. And wait for a couple of weeks before joining others who have had their two shots.sans masks. It seems the older you are, the fewer reactions experienced. I only had a sore arm for both shots. If one still gets the virus, it will be less dangerous. I have gotten flu shots for the last five years while on pred and had no reactions other than a sore arm. Getting the COVID shot is better than dying.

My husband has PMR. He was on Prednisone for about 18 months even though he was in extreme pain for just the first few weeks. He started on a high dose and it was reduced gradually during those eighteen months till he stopped taking it (after being brought down to half a tablet). He has had a couple of flare ups (the last was about eighteen months ago) since he stopped the Prednisone but has either gone back on the very low dose, gradually reduced till dosage stopped, or just stayed on Tylenol 3. His flare ups haven’t lasted more than a day or two at a time.

He has not had his Covid injection yet because he isn’t in any of the age groups getting the injections right now, so we don’t know what effect that will have in his PMR. He just turned 69.

I believe my flare up came because I do not have enough prednisone to help. I was on high dose not the low dose most of you take. I needed 20 mg to manage, so p I had to lower the mgs to 10 mg so the vaccine would work. I had only six weeks to do it and had to stay at 10 mg four weeks through both shots and the two-week wait. Now, as myDr recommended, I just increased the dose to 20 mg and hope it “wacks” the PMR back into control. Still, I am grateful to have the vaccine.

I am 74 and developed pmr almost three years ago. Had to go to 25 mg of prednisone to get it under control. My first three taperings failed probably because I was going too fast so I had to go back up a bit and start again. My Dr was adding methotrexate to offset the prednisone reduction and I may have placed too much faith in that too. I was and am also on fosamax to offset the prednisone induced bone loss and folic acid to offset damage to my liver from the methotrexate. I am currently at 3.5 mg of prednisone and going down very slowly and 20 mg of the methotrexate which I am told I can’t begin to taper off from (again very slowly) until I have been off the prednisone for six months. Overall, it looks like a six year experience if all goes well from here. Had the first Pfizer shot a month ago ( no reaction other than a sore arm) and the second one earlier this week. The second one knocked me for a loop - felt like a major pmr jolt with pmr-like achy muscles and weakness and a headache to boot. The good news: it only lasted 24 hours. I think everyone’s pmr experience is unique to them and that’s probably true of the the vaccine interaction also.

i had flare of PMR 2 years row one month after flu vaccine,,,,,and now have flare 6 weeks after covid pfizer second vaccine,,,i think it triggered PMR

I do not have PMR, but I do have inflammatory flares after vaccines. I am one month past y second Pfizer injection, and my arthritis and bursitis are flaring like it hasn't for months. My primary doc is of the opinion that jolting the immune system can set up an inflammatory reaction. Had to up my meds - interestingly my husband, who has RA, is having a flare right now too...
Sue

@sueinmn. My hip bursitis has definitely flared up! I cannot take any anti inflammatory drugs or OTC drugs either because I'm on blood thinner. Tylenol just doesn't do it. I guess I just have to wait it out. Any suggestions?

I use a topical rub made of anti-inflammatory essential oils - have to find the list I use. Also, believe it or not, there are stretches that help hip bursitis - I will look a couple up later & post them - on my way out the door right now. The two, used in conjunction with ice, usually keep me moving.

Sue

I believe you are correct. One of the side effects of the covid jab is autoimmune problems.