I got the 1st dose of Moderna on 1/22/21 and within several days experienced severe inflammation in shoulders and hips. Diagnosis was PMR with SED rates @ 50. I fit the profile for PMR (female, late 60's, of Northern European descent), but I feel it was definitely triggered by the vaccine. Neither my Rheumatologist nor my primary physician knew whether to recommend I take the 2nd dose of Moderna, so I haven't. The catch is that I know the prednisone reduces my immunity, and I guess with only 1 part of the Moderna therapy I may have a lesser degree of immunity to the virus.
Have been taking prednisone 2x daily since then, trying to reduce it from 40 mg/day and am now at 22.5mg/day. My reactions to the prednisone seem worse than to the PMR, but my Rheumatology doctor hasn't been able to see me since I saw him in mid February. I am suffering shortness of breath, my face is very swollen, my eyes bother me, my skull feels swollen. I was reducing prednisone every 5 days, but my SED rate increased from my post original therapy of 50 to 22 with Rx, and to 41 during that period when I was reducing it. Pain was not too remarkable in the process though I could feel that shoulder pain was beginning by the time I woke up each day. Since then, on basis of SED rate, I was told to stop reducing prednisone until I could get my first follow up appointment since diagnosis. I'm uncomfortable with the prednisone and really want it reduced as quickly as possible.