Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine?

Anyone know how to taper off 5mg a day for about two months been on 10 since April

What kind of decline ?

My rheumatologist had me taper one mg monthly ... just finished. He watched my blood tests ... all normal.

Hello @leesasage, Welcome to Connect. Two months is not a long time to be on prednisone for PMR even and a starting dose of 5 mg is low if you have just been diagnosed with PMR. I have no medical training or background but both times my PMR was active I was started on 20 mg prednisone which from what my rheumatologist has told me is pretty standard.

Have you seen a rheumatologist?

I first came down with PMR in Sept 2019, a few days after my flu shot and first shingles shot. The pharmacist said I could have both at the same time, as long as they were in different arms - so I really don’t know which vaccine to blame. At any rate, it sure rattled my immune system. I successfully weaned off prednisone over 14 months, and was feeling fine until my second Moderna COVID vaccine. Then, PMR all over again March 2021. I’m reducing prednisone slower this time around. I plan to get the annual flu vaccine, but NOT the senior (4 times stronger) one. Also, I hope to get the Moderna booster when it becomes available. I figure that PMR is better than a ventilator - and I’m interested to see if being on 8 mg of prednisone will keep my body from attacking itself after the COVID vaccine. Good luck to you.

I have not had that experience - I was diagnosed with PMR in June 2015, 4 months after my 70th birthday. I have taken the flu shot every year, and have had both the first and second covid vaccine. I have never had a reaction such you have described.

I have had PMR since May, 2021 and am now taking 8mg methyprednisolone daily and 1 cc Methotextrate a week. I had both my third booster for Covid and my flu shot at the same time with no difficulties. I was concerned because I have read so many stories about people having flares with the flu shot - fortunately I suffered no ill effects.

@sbharlan I made the correction you mentioned from 40 months to 4 months.

Hi, I wanted to join this conversation because I am very sure the Afluria Flu shot caused a case of PMR in my body. I had the shot on October 23, 2020 as well. The next day I had high fever and a bout of total body myalgia - had to be laying down for relief. Stiffness like i have never had before. The myalgia focused in my arms (upper body) and my back buttocks and back thighs to my knees. It eased up after a couple of days, but the aching in my arms and legs stayed at a lower level. Then within 30 days it came on with vengeance - I could not raise my arms above my shoulders (weakness and pain) and my butt to the backs of my knees were the same. When I stood, I could not move for a second and then when I did it was painful and my legs felt week even though I knew I as in good shape (daily exerciser). I finally went to my general doctor after taking lots of ibuprofen and tylenol. He put me on prednisone and within two days, I was feeling much better. I stayed on prednisone for almost 4 months ( he had to wean me off slowly). The pain and weakness are all gone now, but I was very afraid of the Covid vaccine thinking it would do the same. It didn't thankfully. I just wanted to say this happened to me and I know in my heart it was the Flu vaccine. My doctor hesitated to say it was PMR because he said I was too young (i was 56 at the time), but he said if the prednisone knocked it out, he would be more wiling to say it was a good possibility.

Hello @dsmith337, Welcome to Connect. You are mostly correct from what I've read. I was 64 when my first occurrence of PMR hit but it just came on out of nowhere. 56 is on the younger side but it's not uncommon after age 50.

"Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is almost exclusively a disease of adults over the age of 50, with a prevalence that increases progressively with advancing age. The peak incidence of PMR occurs between ages 70 and 80 [1]."
-- Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-polymyalgia-rheumatica/print

It's good that the pain and weakness are all gone now. 4 months is a very short time to be able to taper off of prednisone for PMR. My first occurrence took me 3 and half years to taper off and the second time it took me 1 and half years. Fortunately it went into remission for six years before it came out again. My PMR has been in remission almost 2 years now from my 2nd bout with it.

I think diet and exercise play a big part in PMR and it's good to hear you are a daily exerciser. Do you mind sharing what type of exercises you do or enjoy most?