Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine?

Thank you, John. I'm sorry you have had to deal with the PMR more often for longer periods, I can't even imagine. As for my daily exercise, I do circuits of weights (for ex. chest flys, russian twists, pushups, crunches, bar rows, etc) I have an exercise coach who posts daily instructions and circuits to do. about 30 minutes each. I also walk/jog a couple of miles 2-3 times a week. I started doing that in 2019 so I know it would have been worse on me 30 lbs heavier and not active if i had PMR in 2019. Thanks for the information!

I am a physician, four and five years ago I’ve got PMR about a month after the flu shot in November, the last couple years I got a flu shot and did not get PMR, in January I got the Pfizer vaccine and six weeks later I had PMR flare muscle in my legs and had trouble walking in pain at night, prednisone taper over two months and I’ve been fine since, I know this is an anecdotal report but for myself I am convinced that vaccines have triggered a relapse in my PMR several times

I cannot connect my PMR with the COVID vaccines, but it did begin about a week after this year’s flu shot in October. I’ve read that adjuvenated flu vaccines are sometimes implicated, but I don’t yet know if my flu shot was adjuvenated. I’ll be checking into it.

I’ve never experienced anything like the pain this disorder entails. I am familiar with pain (childbirth, kidney stones, emergency open heart surgery) — but PMR is so “all over”!! Arms - hips - legs; walking, reaching, trying to stand up, turn over, get dressed! It never lets go. I’ve just been diagnosed after a month of steady decline and I feel so demoralized. And I am sick of thinking about myself so constantly! The emotional toll of being unable to function “normally” has been difficult to say the least. Has anyone got a recommendation as to reading material that might help me regain some composure, contain my frustration, and not feel so overwhelmed by this deeply unwanted condition? Many thanks for any suggestions.

Hello @pokey, Welcome to Connect. So sorry to hear you've joined those of us who have experienced the pain everywhere club of PMR. My PMR is currently in remission but I can relate to what you are going through. Prednisone is the magic pill to make the pain go away but it's something you want to taper off of as soon as it is possible which can take awhile (3-1/2 years my first time and 1-1/2 years the second time). Here is some information you may find helpful to learn a little more about PMR.

-- Polymyalgia rheumatica - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polymyalgia-rheumatica/symptoms-causes/syc-20376539
-- 3 Strategies for Coping with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/3-strategies-coping-polymyalgia-rheumatica-pmr

Have you seen or been diagnosed by a rheumatologist and started a treatment?

Hi Pokey, I'm sorry you are experiencing so much pain and frustration. I felt exactly the same way when my PMR was active after I received the Covid vaccine in January. Fortunately, I was able to get my PMR under control and finally into remission with the help of a skilled rheumatologist. However, it did take several months and I am still having some pain and stiffness, although I am no longer in need of treatment. I found that mild activity such as walking helped relieve the symptoms. I also noticed that any type of distraction, such as getting out in a park or something similar was also helpful. I hope you are feeling better soon.

I received shingrix vaccine x 2 in early 2020
Then I received flu shot in September.- by November I started experiencing symptoms and was DX with PMR in December 2020, subsequently developed RA. I feel the vaccinations triggered this diagnosis!! Still taking prednisone and trying to wean off under md care but pain gets worse as dose is lowered? Is there a correlation between vaccines and my diagnosis?

I could have written your post, I too feel overwhelmed by this disease. Mention it to anyone and they usually reply that they never heard of it before, so frustrating. The overall body pain is so overwhelming. I am three months off prednisone and the pain is slowly increasing. CRP 1.1 and ESR 13. - I don’t want to go back on prednisone.

It is very concerning that even with your relatively low numbers the pain is slowly increasing. I'm so sorry! The daytime pain is frustrating, but I'm finding the nighttime pain is a real nightmare. Being unable to shift myself in bed without horrendous bicep and shoulder pain is agonizing and infuriating. I had no idea we used our arms so much in our sleep. Once the nighttime pain hits (usually between 3 and 4 a.m.) there is NO going back to sleep and the lack of sleep is taking its toll. My CRP is "normal" (whatever that is) and my ESR is 46, which my doctor says is typical for this unwanted disorder. And yes, the only one of my friends and family who ever heard of it is a nurse who has a friend with it. The widespread ignorance of PMR seems odd as repeated websites all say it is a "very common" occurrence in people over 70. Well, it's clearly not as common as arthritis or even rheumatoid arthritis. I am very glad not to have RA - PMR is quite inconvenient enough. I just started with prednisone today, so haven't had to deal with the side effects yet.

I was feeling very down today about the whole RMA thing, but as I was driving along I saw two white haired, elderly men, one in a wheelchair and another standing by him. The gentleman in the wheelchair was holding a sign that mentioned God (I couldn't read most of it - but he wasn't asking for a handout) and both men were smiling and waving at drivers as they pulled up to the light. The one standing flashed me such a genuine smile and accompanied it with the deaf sign for "I love you." I felt like I'd utterly lost my smile, and he was lending me one of his, so I waved and flashed him the hand sign in return. I was SO touched. They clearly hadn't much between them by way of worldly goods, but they were giving out what they had - blessing others. Sometimes the kindness of strangers knocks me over. It helped balance me a bit.

Thanks for taking the time to write me, and to read this, which is much much longer than I intended it to be.

This article, posted by John, Volunteer Mentor above, seems to confirm connections. You can read it and form your own conclusions. You will need to scroll up to his post to use the actual link.

My symptoms came on a couple of days after my mid-October 2021 flu shot and by mid-November the PMR diagnosis was clear. in fairness, my ESR was elevated the day I got my shot, but I had no painful symptoms of any kind, and now the painful symptoms are through the roof. I am going to ask my doctor if the flu shot I received was an "adjuvant' or non-adjuvant shot. If it was, I see a strong possibility the shot triggered my system with PMR. A brief explanation of an adjuvant vaccine is as follows ,and the article explains why this even matters:

"An adjuvant is an ingredient of a vaccine that helps promote a better immune response. Adjuvants also can reduce the amount of virus needed for production of a vaccine, which can allow for greater supplies of vaccine to be manufactured."

I hope you are able to conclude whether the vaccine played a part in subjecting you to both disorders.

Thank you.