Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story

So good to hear that; I have been wondering. I was 1 month off prednisone and doing great, when I got my second Moderna shot. Four days later, I knew I had a PMR flare up, although it was not reflected in CRP and ESR counts for a month. Started 20 mg of Prednisone 6 weeks after Moderna vaccine, so I’ve been hoping I had a chance to develop antibodies to COVID-19.

Hi,
I’m Steve, 67, still working. I was diagnosed with PMR almost 6 years ago. I’ve had been on 2 mg of Preds for a while it seems to be my threshold. I just recently went up another half to 2.5 after some shoulder pains. What brought me to this site was I took the 1st dose of the Moderna vaccine for protection against COVID 19. I was good for about 4 days after the shot then came what seems to be a relapse of PMR. I thought that any side effects would be the next day after the vaccine. Just wondering if anyone has had PMR related side effects from the Moderna vaccine. I’m thankful the this site is available, it kinda lessens the effect of being stranded on the PMR island. Thanks in advance for any input.

I'm new to this medium and a bit lost. PMR since January. Seeing a rheumatologist in Indy. Feeling fine after starting with 40 mg Prednisone, now tapering back to just 2 mg daily this month. I both attend and occasionally teach Yoga practice which helps tremendously. Walk about two miles daily. Scared to death of possible temporal arteritis. My stress level is in the clouds. Feel best when very busy and engaged in physical activity such as yard work. Looking for comments and support.

Hello @cgent, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience with PMR. It's great to hear you are down to 2 mg prednisone since diagnosed in January. Slow and easy is a good way to taper and exercise really helps. Stress can make things worse so I'm guessing staying busy helps keep your mind away from worrying about temporal arteritis. From what I've read about 15% of people with polymyalgia rheumatica also have temporal arteritis which is about 1 in 5 odds of developing temporal arteritis if you have PMR.

I think it's important to keep doing what you are doing and be able to recognize the symptoms of temporal arteritis (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/giant-cell-arteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372758) so that you can address it early. When I first was diagnosed with PMR my rheumatologist and my primary care doctor would always ask me if I had any pain or tenderness in the scalp area or temples which would be an indicator among other symptoms.

It sounds like you live a pretty healthy lifestyle, have you made any other changes since being diagnosed with PMR?

Thanks for the reply ... Tom here. What bothers me most currently is that I have tiny but noticeable sore spots above my left ear, think they are just pimples from an oily scalp as a result of Prednisone. I worry too much about constant details. Thank you for replying John. Like to hear more from you to discuss beginning and ... hopefully ... ending of PMR

Hello—I was diagnosed with PMR in Aug 2019. Started with a blast of pred— dramatic results—could raise my arms, turn my head, get out of bed—a miracle!! Went on 20 mg pred—tried to taper off too fast—@ 11.5 had to go back up to 15mg to address symptoms. Now @ 10 mg—was on 10 mg when I received both Moderna shots—had flare 2weeks after #2 shot, but it was manageable & didn’t increase pred dosage. Just received results from antibody test & good news—I did develop antibodies!! Thought I’d pass this along. Take care.

Hello @cgent, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience with PMR. It's great to hear you are down to 2 mg prednisone since diagnosed in January. Slow and easy is a good way to taper and exercise really helps. Stress can make things worse so I'm guessing staying busy helps keep your mind away from worrying about temporal arteritis. From what I've read about 15% of people with polymyalgia rheumatica also have temporal arteritis which is about 1 in 5 odds of developing temporal arteritis if you have PMR.

I think it's important to keep doing what you are doing and be able to recognize the symptoms of temporal arteritis (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/giant-cell-arteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372758) so that you can address it early. When I first was diagnosed with PMR my rheumatologist and my primary care doctor would always ask me if I had any pain or tenderness in the scalp area or temples which would be an indicator among other symptoms.

It sounds like you live a pretty healthy lifestyle, have you made any other changes since being diagnosed with PMR?

Yours is the first I’ve read to mention being tested for antibodies after vaccination. Was that test ordered by your Dr because there was a concern you might not have made antibodies? Was that question about antibodies a concern because you were still on Prednisone? I guess the prednisone suppresses an inflammatory response so it may hinder the creation of antibodies?! I am still on 15-20mg and Considering getting the second Moderna shot. ( First shot in Jan triggered my initial PMR episode.)

I'm new to this medium and a bit lost. PMR since January. Seeing a rheumatologist in Indy. Feeling fine after starting with 40 mg Prednisone, now tapering back to just 2 mg daily this month. I both attend and occasionally teach Yoga practice which helps tremendously. Walk about two miles daily. Scared to death of possible temporal arteritis. My stress level is in the clouds. Feel best when very busy and engaged in physical activity such as yard work. Looking for comments and support.