Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine?

Yes I had the same thing happen to me!!
Initially the pain presented itself in both my upper arms. So I went to an orthopedic Dr, he gave me 2 shots of cortisone so I was ok for 5 weeks, and then it returned!!?that’s when I was diagnosed with PMR

Did you have the flu shot before you went to the orthopedic? Ty

Yes I got the flu shot on 9/16, within a couple of days I had pain in both arms, initially I didn’t connect it to the flu shot. By 9/28 I was at the orthopedic Dr!! Surely no councidence

Coincidence!

I said the same thing. Not a coincidence.

We need to find out where to report this because I’ve read that it’s unusual and not many cases being reported!! I want to report it so they know just how common it is!!

I know one thing for sure, no covid vaccine for me and never another flu shot!!

I saw a video that states that one of the side effects of the covid vaccine is autoimmune diseases. Beware!!

I’ve received a flu shot since I was a teen. I’ve never had any issues. I feel with the number of flu cases down in the country 98% according to nightly news last night the vaccine this year was stronger. I’m not a doctor but I know my body . Something doesn’t ad up this time.

Hello @kristem2020 and @veronixa, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will notice I changed the title of the discussion to better describe the discussion. I did find some information on the topic you might find helpful.

"Immunization has been reported as a rare trigger for vasculitides; a recent review of 1797 adverse events (AEs) reported across three international databases found that PMR represented 9.2% of reported AEs and was more frequently associated with influenza vaccines (3).Dec 16, 2019"
- Relapse of polymyalgia rheumatica following adjuvanted influenza vaccine: A case-based review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7002008/

- Polymyalgia Rheumatica After Influenza Vaccine: https://www.journalmc.org/index.php/JMC/article/view/2788/2121

I've had two occurrences of PMR but fortunately it's now in remission. Are you able to share a little more about your current PMR symptoms and how you are doing with the treatment?

Thank you for your reply. I received the flu vaccine October 23, 2020 and by oct 30 , 2020 I had debilitating joint and muscle pain. I could sit on the toilet with out assistance because my left knee, quad, and hamstring were too painful. My hips were also very stiff. My left knee was the size of a softball and the leg was swollen. My SED was in the 40s. My CPR was not far behind.
Within another week my shoulders and arms followed suit with immobility. I was put on a low dose of prednisone which did not help. I suffered for weeks while the Drs
We’re ruling out other diagnoses. Cat scans, ultra sounds, and MRIs. Oh and neurological testing as well. All negative. I went to Brigham and women’s and that’s where I was diagnosed with PMR. Like others I suffered more that I could ever imagine immobility to be.
I’m 100% better but not 100% by any means. My life has changed from an extremely active woman to one who is struggling to find out what caused this so I can fix it.

No one seems to know what triggers the onset of PMR. I know that mine had nothing to do with flu shot as it was 2 months after I got one that I noticed weakness and discomfort in the muscle of my right arm. Next came stiffness and pain in the shoulders and the hip problems..Most of this I figured was old age so I put up with it. Therapy followed for months and then my right hand became swollen and then finally I was so fatigued and began having difficulty getting up from a chair. and I knew I had to see a doctor and find out what was wrong. After blood tests I started taking 20 mgs of prednisone and have .been trying to get off of it ever since. I have lost a lot of hair and my skin has suffered from taking prednisone and I would like to stop taking it one of these days but am going slowly as the last time I tried a lot of my problems returned.