1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Did statin cause PMR?

Posted by vfaye @vfaye, Nov 29, 2019

I’ve recently been diagnosed with PMR. Initially primary care doc suggested my pain might be from statins and recommended I stop them to see if there is improvement. After stopping the statin there was some improvement, but not enough to keep the rheumatologist from diagnosing it as PMR.

I’m not convinced. I have found some research that suggests a link between statins & PMR. In the meantime, I’ve refused to take Prednisone (other medical issues complicates using it) and am trying alternate treatment for the pain.

Did you take statins prior to PMR?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

queenie2030 | @queenie2030 | Nov 5, 2021
In reply to @pitbull "I had PMR for a couple years (maybe more) before I could no longer stand the..." + (show)
@pitbull

I had PMR for a couple years (maybe more) before I could no longer stand the pain. I was started on 35mg of Prednizone, down to 20 mg after 1 month, down to 15mg after 6 weeks. Sayed at 15mg for another 18 months, then tapered off over the next 6 months. The pain never totally left. I used a CBD/THC balanced oil, both orally and topically till Mid October this year. When I got my second Pfizer shot, I went into remission. NO PAIN. October 20 I had pains on/in my back and some in my left arm. Went to emergency, was treated as if it was a heart attack, it was not. Now the cardiologist has prescribed a water pill, Amlodipine and Atorvastatin. I am OK with the Blood pressure and water pill but the warnings on the Statin worry me. My cholesterol is not extremely high, and I can usually control it with diet. Has anybody dealt with this

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I too had PMR
Pain for a few years before it increased to the point I could hardly walk. Then I got the diagnosis. Twenty mg of prednisone and slow tapering. After 9 months of tapering and down to 15 mg. I was put on MTX. I am now down to 10/11 mg on alternating days. I am a 75 year old female in the US. I have been on a statin Med for 25 years. If I had not been I doubt I would have been cleared for MTX to help me get off prednisone. The Dr took me off statin for a few weeks at the beginning and there was no change in pain. Statin has been good for me. It is the least scary drug to me compared to prednisone and methotrexate. Best of luck on your treatment. I have had three full doses of Modena COVID vaccine and saw no impact on PMR. Just had regular flu shot and saw no change.

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1 reply
pitbull | @pitbull | Nov 5, 2021
In reply to @aspine "I am new to this group. Diagnosed with PMR about 6 weeks ago. I don't know..." + (show)
@aspine

I am new to this group. Diagnosed with PMR about 6 weeks ago. I don't know if statins contribute to this disease, but I can tell you I've been on statin drugs for the last 20 years or so. To my knowledge, they have never caused me any problems. Removing the statin drug was the first thing my doctor did for 2 weeks, to see if there was any improvement in the pain. No change. So, the next thing was blood work. And three tests were all elevated for inflamation. So, no, I don't think the statin was the culprit in my situation. I tend to believe it has something to do with the Covid vaccine.

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My sister was diagnosed with PMR after her second Covid19 shot.

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maryannhaller | @maryannhaller | Nov 6, 2021

Hi Faye,
I was diagnosed with PMR spring of 2018. Before the diagnoses I was on statins for about year. My care giver kept increasing the dose. I fought taking statins for years because of all the bad effects I had read but gave in to my care givers persistent pushing. As soon as I started feeling pain in my leg I stopped the statins thinking it was causing my leg pain. As soon as I stopped them all the bad side effect stopped as well. Weight gain, depression and a weird pain in my kidneys but the leg pain got worse in fact 6 weeks later I could not function without massive doses of ibuprofen. At that time I was finally diagnosed with PMR. Three and half years later I'm still battling PMR and am convinced it was triggered by the statins! There are studies ongoing to this belief.
Yes, Statins can trigger PMR.
I am 69 yrs old, in shape at 5'2" 105lbs. very active and eat well. I cut gluten, dairy and sugar. I'm doing what I can to beat.PMR.
MaryAnn

REPLY
1 reply
maryannhaller | @maryannhaller | Nov 6, 2021
In reply to @pitbull "I had PMR for a couple years (maybe more) before I could no longer stand the..." + (show)
@pitbull

I had PMR for a couple years (maybe more) before I could no longer stand the pain. I was started on 35mg of Prednizone, down to 20 mg after 1 month, down to 15mg after 6 weeks. Sayed at 15mg for another 18 months, then tapered off over the next 6 months. The pain never totally left. I used a CBD/THC balanced oil, both orally and topically till Mid October this year. When I got my second Pfizer shot, I went into remission. NO PAIN. October 20 I had pains on/in my back and some in my left arm. Went to emergency, was treated as if it was a heart attack, it was not. Now the cardiologist has prescribed a water pill, Amlodipine and Atorvastatin. I am OK with the Blood pressure and water pill but the warnings on the Statin worry me. My cholesterol is not extremely high, and I can usually control it with diet. Has anybody dealt with this

Jump to this post

I am convinced statins triggered my PMR!

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bknysz | @bknysz | Nov 4, 2023

Yes - And I strongly believe the statins caused my PMR. None of the medical community would agree with me.

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nowforyou | @nowforyou | 4 days ago
In reply to @vfaye "Hello John, This is the 18th day of the “alternate treatments” since the Rheumatologist diagnosed me..." + (show)
@vfaye

Hello John,
This is the 18th day of the “alternate treatments” since the Rheumatologist diagnosed me with PMR. I awoke this morning with the lowest pain level in my shoulders since September - a notch above “stiffness”.

I doubted the diagnosis, since none of the blood tests confirmed PMR. Despite the doctor’s recommendation I won’t risk taking prednisone (hypertension, kidney disease, depression — and a plan to have surgery in February.). An integral medicine doctor I trust suggested taking LDN, which I started 17 days ago. In addition (my idea), I have been taking CBD oil (without THC), using CBD salve on my shoulders with heat in the morning, and take a bath in Epsom salts every day.

I continue to feel fatigued, and the shoulders & hips are not exactly normal. But the improvements beg the question, did I even have PMR - or are these symptoms the result of the statin?

I don’t find others trying anything other than prednisone, so I’m pretty much alone on this. I have to admit, the promise of activity without pain was certainly tempting me to take prednisone, so I don’t fault anyone for that. I’m hopeful my condition will eventually be resolved, praying that the one to two years prognosis doesn’t fit my case.

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Hello,
Looking through these threads and conversations and came across yours. Can you give an update as to how your pain is now? And What is LDN?
Thank you.
Kate

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nowforyou | @nowforyou | 3 days ago
In reply to @maryannhaller "Hi Faye, I was diagnosed with PMR spring of 2018. Before the diagnoses I was on..." + (show)
@maryannhaller

Hi Faye,
I was diagnosed with PMR spring of 2018. Before the diagnoses I was on statins for about year. My care giver kept increasing the dose. I fought taking statins for years because of all the bad effects I had read but gave in to my care givers persistent pushing. As soon as I started feeling pain in my leg I stopped the statins thinking it was causing my leg pain. As soon as I stopped them all the bad side effect stopped as well. Weight gain, depression and a weird pain in my kidneys but the leg pain got worse in fact 6 weeks later I could not function without massive doses of ibuprofen. At that time I was finally diagnosed with PMR. Three and half years later I'm still battling PMR and am convinced it was triggered by the statins! There are studies ongoing to this belief.
Yes, Statins can trigger PMR.
I am 69 yrs old, in shape at 5'2" 105lbs. very active and eat well. I cut gluten, dairy and sugar. I'm doing what I can to beat.PMR.
MaryAnn

Jump to this post

Hello MaryAnn,
I have so many similar symptoms after being on a statin for 7 months. Medical community is of no use and I cannot afford naturalists, etc. Insurance won't pay for me to go to Mayo, yet it is okay for me to apparently wait 11 months to see a NeuroMuscular dr locally. System here is a mess, farmed out to doctors but I have to be so proactive and research and study and request my referrals and what I want. Been going on 3 1/2 years!
Now I am on Hydrocortisone 15mg a day because I have insufficient Adrenal glands (tested using the gold standard test) and Cortisol level is "dangerously" low most likely because Adrenal gland is sluggish and not working properly because of the Prednisone injections I received for a few years for the terrible pain.
Wish there were ways for people to discuss more personally over zoom, FB, or otherwise, rather on this somewhat impersonable forum?...

Thank you and I wish you the best.
Kate

REPLY
glinda47 | @glinda47 | 3 days ago
In reply to @queenie2030 "I too had PMR Pain for a few years before it increased to the point I..." + (show)
@queenie2030

I too had PMR
Pain for a few years before it increased to the point I could hardly walk. Then I got the diagnosis. Twenty mg of prednisone and slow tapering. After 9 months of tapering and down to 15 mg. I was put on MTX. I am now down to 10/11 mg on alternating days. I am a 75 year old female in the US. I have been on a statin Med for 25 years. If I had not been I doubt I would have been cleared for MTX to help me get off prednisone. The Dr took me off statin for a few weeks at the beginning and there was no change in pain. Statin has been good for me. It is the least scary drug to me compared to prednisone and methotrexate. Best of luck on your treatment. I have had three full doses of Modena COVID vaccine and saw no impact on PMR. Just had regular flu shot and saw no change.

Jump to this post

Maryann,
I don't know what statins are doing to me, but they have kept my genetic cholesterol in check for years. Maryann, I don't like to take medication at all, including supplements, unless I understand the true need for it and it doesn't cause too many side effects.

My brother, himself a physician, stopped his statin years ago, opting for low chol diet and increasing his running. His numbers skyrocketed and calc deposits were found on his heart. He had to increase his Lipitor to 80 mg from 20. Or so science says. I read interesting articles about the relative danger of cholesterol so often, I'm sure there is more to the story that Big Pharma doesn't want us to know. Just my 2 cents on that.

I TOTALLY hear you on pred. I am in the process of being diagnosed for PMR and have done a huge amount of homework on what I consider trusted sites, and I'll do whatever I can to not take prednisone due to the side effects. I already have all of them and won't subject myself to a double or triple dose of heart issues, lifelong ghastly anxiety, insomnia, osteoporosis (diagnosis '17) and more. NO. I am also turning 75 next month and the way I see it, there are things worse than death. For me, prednisone is one of them. If my doc won't work for me with LDN, I'll have to find something else.
Wish you the best...we are of the same mindset.

REPLY
2 replies
lashley75 | @lashley75 | 3 days ago
In reply to @glinda47 "Maryann, I don't know what statins are doing to me, but they have kept my genetic..." + (show)
@glinda47

Maryann,
I don't know what statins are doing to me, but they have kept my genetic cholesterol in check for years. Maryann, I don't like to take medication at all, including supplements, unless I understand the true need for it and it doesn't cause too many side effects.

My brother, himself a physician, stopped his statin years ago, opting for low chol diet and increasing his running. His numbers skyrocketed and calc deposits were found on his heart. He had to increase his Lipitor to 80 mg from 20. Or so science says. I read interesting articles about the relative danger of cholesterol so often, I'm sure there is more to the story that Big Pharma doesn't want us to know. Just my 2 cents on that.

I TOTALLY hear you on pred. I am in the process of being diagnosed for PMR and have done a huge amount of homework on what I consider trusted sites, and I'll do whatever I can to not take prednisone due to the side effects. I already have all of them and won't subject myself to a double or triple dose of heart issues, lifelong ghastly anxiety, insomnia, osteoporosis (diagnosis '17) and more. NO. I am also turning 75 next month and the way I see it, there are things worse than death. For me, prednisone is one of them. If my doc won't work for me with LDN, I'll have to find something else.
Wish you the best...we are of the same mindset.

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Prednisone weakened my bones, made me lightheaded and dizzy and gain tons of weight in the 5 mos I took it for PMR. Went off three wks ago.

I am trying things to help with pain. Right now CBD oil and cherry pills for muscle pain.

Some days it works - some not. Today hurting all over.

Did laundry yesterday, always pain the next day when more active than the day before.

Frustrating as heck, I am a walker, hiker and bicycle rider… had to give up all but walking.

I am 74 -75 in August. I used to be so active. So bummed.

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