1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine?

Posted by kristem2020 @kristem2020, Jan 2, 2021

Good evening, I’ve recently been diagnosed with PMR. It came on a week after my flu shot October 23, 2020.

Has anyone experienced the same diagnosis after a flu shot?

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

skiing | @skiing | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @jpowell649 "I also think the flu vaccine is responsible for my PMR symptoms, and I am heartened..." + (show)
@jpowell649

I also think the flu vaccine is responsible for my PMR symptoms, and I am heartened to find a community where this is considered a possibility.
On Oct. 18, 2021, at the age of 71, I had the high-dose (senior) flu vaccine. At a doctor's appointment on Oct. 20, I was pronounced "healthy" with normal blood pressure. A week later, I started to have PMR symptoms, which I blamed on a new exercise program. By the time I realized this was much more serious, and I went to my doctor again in early November, I was a different person — constant pain in shoulders and hips, stiffness and weakness, unable to raise my arms, walking upstairs one step at a time — although the test for PMR inflammation markers was negative. I was fortunate to see a rheumatologist in December. He gave me two cortisone shots that relieved most symptoms for several weeks. But now (Jan. 30, 2022) I am taking Naproxen in order to get through the day — get dressed, drive, work on the computer. I would like my doctor to report this as a negative reaction to the flu vaccine. I am also looking for some way to get past this without taking prednisone. Any suggestions would be more than welcome. Thank you.

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Jpowell649 I was the same age and really healthy a golfer and expert skier. That all changed very quickly in weeks. From all the doctors I have spoken to and all the info I have gathered and being in this chat room and one in the UK prednisone appears to be the best treatment. There are some other suggestions by they appear to have various side affects and not as successful. None of us like this drug but it does give us back our life. The tapering is a constant reminder of our challenge but this disease is treatable and the drug is cheap. There are so many other diseases that we could get that are far worse and some have ended my loved ones and friends lives.

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1 reply
jpowell649 | @jpowell649 | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @skiing "Jpowell649 I was the same age and really healthy a golfer and expert skier. That all..." + (show)
@skiing

Jpowell649 I was the same age and really healthy a golfer and expert skier. That all changed very quickly in weeks. From all the doctors I have spoken to and all the info I have gathered and being in this chat room and one in the UK prednisone appears to be the best treatment. There are some other suggestions by they appear to have various side affects and not as successful. None of us like this drug but it does give us back our life. The tapering is a constant reminder of our challenge but this disease is treatable and the drug is cheap. There are so many other diseases that we could get that are far worse and some have ended my loved ones and friends lives.

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@skiing Thank you very much for your kind, thoughtful and encouraging reply. I will go back to my doctor with this information, and some other points I have learned from this group. You are right — there are far worse diseases, and I can learn to manage this. Wishing you the best of health!

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laurelr | @laurelr | Jan 31, 2022

I originally joined this chat group last spring, with concern over PMR being triggered by the Covid vaccine. I had the J&J last April, and I have been on prednisone since May - (10 mg, now at 4mg.) I had the standard flu shot in December. My Rheumatologist has not authorized a Covid booster, and I have no intention of getting one. I am 75, in excellent health - except for PMR. My energy level, muscle mass and strength, and some cognitive issues have deteriorated in spite of regular exercise. PMR or prednisone or both? I also asked my doctors to report the Covid vaccine/PMR link.

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1 reply
alexmemphis | @alexmemphis | Jan 31, 2022
In reply to @jpowell649 "I also think the flu vaccine is responsible for my PMR symptoms, and I am heartened..." + (show)
@jpowell649

I also think the flu vaccine is responsible for my PMR symptoms, and I am heartened to find a community where this is considered a possibility.
On Oct. 18, 2021, at the age of 71, I had the high-dose (senior) flu vaccine. At a doctor's appointment on Oct. 20, I was pronounced "healthy" with normal blood pressure. A week later, I started to have PMR symptoms, which I blamed on a new exercise program. By the time I realized this was much more serious, and I went to my doctor again in early November, I was a different person — constant pain in shoulders and hips, stiffness and weakness, unable to raise my arms, walking upstairs one step at a time — although the test for PMR inflammation markers was negative. I was fortunate to see a rheumatologist in December. He gave me two cortisone shots that relieved most symptoms for several weeks. But now (Jan. 30, 2022) I am taking Naproxen in order to get through the day — get dressed, drive, work on the computer. I would like my doctor to report this as a negative reaction to the flu vaccine. I am also looking for some way to get past this without taking prednisone. Any suggestions would be more than welcome. Thank you.

Jump to this post

I know there are many possible side effects of Prednisone, and I would rather not take it. However, after starting at 10-12 mg Prednisone, I was almost PMR symptom free within 48 hours. Now, 6 months later, I am at 2 mg. I have not had any serious side effects (except perhaps tinnitus). I am starting to feel some stiffness again, but hope that my body will adjust. I feel like the Prednisone has given me a new lease on life. Best of luck!

REPLY
1 reply
jpowell649 | @jpowell649 | Jan 31, 2022
In reply to @alexmemphis "I know there are many possible side effects of Prednisone, and I would rather not take..." + (show)
@alexmemphis

I know there are many possible side effects of Prednisone, and I would rather not take it. However, after starting at 10-12 mg Prednisone, I was almost PMR symptom free within 48 hours. Now, 6 months later, I am at 2 mg. I have not had any serious side effects (except perhaps tinnitus). I am starting to feel some stiffness again, but hope that my body will adjust. I feel like the Prednisone has given me a new lease on life. Best of luck!

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Thank you very much for your reply and the encouraging story of your experience! Best wishes!

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milld835 | @milld835 | Feb 1, 2022
In reply to @laurelr "I originally joined this chat group last spring, with concern over PMR being triggered by the..." + (show)
@laurelr

I originally joined this chat group last spring, with concern over PMR being triggered by the Covid vaccine. I had the J&J last April, and I have been on prednisone since May - (10 mg, now at 4mg.) I had the standard flu shot in December. My Rheumatologist has not authorized a Covid booster, and I have no intention of getting one. I am 75, in excellent health - except for PMR. My energy level, muscle mass and strength, and some cognitive issues have deteriorated in spite of regular exercise. PMR or prednisone or both? I also asked my doctors to report the Covid vaccine/PMR link.

Jump to this post

Ditto. I'm not boostering up at this point, even though they say it's "okay". I am 71.9 and in excellent health except for the PMR. Same with the energy levels, strength and cognitive issues. I'm a young 72 but either the PMR or the prednisone make me act really kind of numb. I'm usually wired for sound and so seem a little "high" and act a litte more - if I can use the word - elderly or not such a quick thinker as I normally am and this is really bugging me. Math skills are still excellent, but words sometimes escape me. It's really difficult to describe actually. Thanks for sharing and I know in my knower this started with the vaccines.

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v2dave | @v2dave | Feb 13, 2022

Hi all, and thank you for this site.
I’m 51yo M and am expecting a diagnosis soon. One GP has indicated her opinion that I have PMR. Everything I can find is certainly pointing that way. As I’m not fully diagnosed (by a Rhumatologist) I wait in pain. Shoulders, neck, upper arms and hips. I never get flu vaccines as i rarely get sick. But I got the Covid vaccine as it’s not a common flu. The whamo! I can no longer get by without ibuprofen (200 when I wake up, 2-400 mid afternoon, 200 before bed) and that keeps on top of it.
I have no doubt that the Covid vaccine started this. The week before I was lifting 25kg boxes daily, Now I can only do admin as I can’t lift a thing.
Scary times. But encouraged to see it’s not fatal (if it is PMR). Again, thank you for being here and sharing your experiences.
Dave

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2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 13, 2022
In reply to @v2dave "Hi all, and thank you for this site. I’m 51yo M and am expecting a diagnosis..." + (show)
@v2dave

Hi all, and thank you for this site.
I’m 51yo M and am expecting a diagnosis soon. One GP has indicated her opinion that I have PMR. Everything I can find is certainly pointing that way. As I’m not fully diagnosed (by a Rhumatologist) I wait in pain. Shoulders, neck, upper arms and hips. I never get flu vaccines as i rarely get sick. But I got the Covid vaccine as it’s not a common flu. The whamo! I can no longer get by without ibuprofen (200 when I wake up, 2-400 mid afternoon, 200 before bed) and that keeps on top of it.
I have no doubt that the Covid vaccine started this. The week before I was lifting 25kg boxes daily, Now I can only do admin as I can’t lift a thing.
Scary times. But encouraged to see it’s not fatal (if it is PMR). Again, thank you for being here and sharing your experiences.
Dave

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Hi @v2dave (love the username. Does it mean version 2 of Dave?)

You’ll notice that I moved your post looking for others who may have had experience with PMR being induced by a vaccine. See here:
- Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kristen/

I did this so you can more easily connect with others. Do you plan to get the diagnosis confirmed by a rheumatologist and to discuss a treatment plan?

REPLY
2 replies
v2dave | @v2dave | Feb 14, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @v2dave (love the username. Does it mean version 2 of Dave?) You’ll notice that I..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @v2dave (love the username. Does it mean version 2 of Dave?)

You’ll notice that I moved your post looking for others who may have had experience with PMR being induced by a vaccine. See here:
- Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kristen/

I did this so you can more easily connect with others. Do you plan to get the diagnosis confirmed by a rheumatologist and to discuss a treatment plan?

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Hi Colleen, thanks for that. Lol, no it stands for the engine configuration V2 = VTwin, I love Italian v twin engined motorcycles.
Yes, absolutely. Still some hoops to jump through to get to a Rhumatologist here in New Zealand. By the sounds of it, mine is a mild/medium attack so far. Eating and exercising as well as I can
.Thanks again

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priscillat | @priscillat | Feb 15, 2022
In reply to @v2dave "Hi all, and thank you for this site. I’m 51yo M and am expecting a diagnosis..." + (show)
@v2dave

Hi all, and thank you for this site.
I’m 51yo M and am expecting a diagnosis soon. One GP has indicated her opinion that I have PMR. Everything I can find is certainly pointing that way. As I’m not fully diagnosed (by a Rhumatologist) I wait in pain. Shoulders, neck, upper arms and hips. I never get flu vaccines as i rarely get sick. But I got the Covid vaccine as it’s not a common flu. The whamo! I can no longer get by without ibuprofen (200 when I wake up, 2-400 mid afternoon, 200 before bed) and that keeps on top of it.
I have no doubt that the Covid vaccine started this. The week before I was lifting 25kg boxes daily, Now I can only do admin as I can’t lift a thing.
Scary times. But encouraged to see it’s not fatal (if it is PMR). Again, thank you for being here and sharing your experiences.
Dave

Jump to this post

The first time I got PMR, symptoms started shortly after getting the Shingrex vaccine and the Senior (4 X stronger) flu vaccine same day. I don’t blame the vaccines……..it was just my body’s response. I was in remission when I got my second COVID vaccine - and my immune system jumped into overdrive again. Back on prednisone. Last fall I opted for the regular flu shot; no bad reaction (but then I was taking 8 mg of prednisone at the time). Same story with the COVID booster. Unfortunately, I got a mild case of COVID January 1. My hands, arms, shoulders, and neck got progressively achy. Dr. ordered a CRP test; inflammation had doubled, so I’ve increased prednisone from 6 to 10 for a couple weeks. Will start a very slow taper from there. Good luck on your journey.

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