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.

@veronixa

We need to find out where to report this because I’ve read that it’s unusual and not many cases being reported!! I want to report it so they know just how common it is!!

I know one thing for sure, no covid vaccine for me and never another flu shot!!

I saw a video that states that one of the side effects of the covid vaccine is autoimmune diseases. Beware!!

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The NIH should be very interested.

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Yes I developed PMR after receiving the Shingrix vaccine, March 22, 2021. I was a very healthy and young 59 year old who taught fitness classes daily and ate a healthy diet. No family history of PMR. Spring 2021, I had significant neck, shoulders and collar bone pain. I never had COVID. I haven’t even had the slightest cold or flu for many years. . My symptoms started a few weeks after the vaccine. They worsened over the summer months at which time I developed severe knee inflammation and pain in the thighs, hips and buttocks. I had to quit my job and all of my outdoor sports and activities. I could hardly move without significant pain. I lost mobility in my hips and knees. I was devastated. A trip to my doctor in September revealed I had elevated inflammation markers.
What else could it be. Why would this mysteriously come on in 2021. I wish I had never taken that vaccine.

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@johnbishop

Hello @kristem2020 and @veronixa, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will notice I changed the title of the discussion to better describe the discussion. I did find some information on the topic you might find helpful.

"Immunization has been reported as a rare trigger for vasculitides; a recent review of 1797 adverse events (AEs) reported across three international databases found that PMR represented 9.2% of reported AEs and was more frequently associated with influenza vaccines (3).Dec 16, 2019"
- Relapse of polymyalgia rheumatica following adjuvanted influenza vaccine: A case-based review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7002008/

- Polymyalgia Rheumatica After Influenza Vaccine: https://www.journalmc.org/index.php/JMC/article/view/2788/2121

I've had two occurrences of PMR but fortunately it's now in remission. Are you able to share a little more about your current PMR symptoms and how you are doing with the treatment?

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Thank you for posting these links, John. I'm glad to know the NIH has been made aware of the possible link between the flu vax and PMR.

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@kristem2020

Not a coincidence I’m my opinion. I was very hesitant to get my Covid vaccine and I got one last Thursday. I had a flareup three days later so bad I couldn’t get in and out of bed or use any of the bathroom facilities myself for about 48 hours. It was just awful I had to increase my prednisone to a high dose after I was down to 5 mg and I’m on the chase. So when I say no coincidence if the flu shot did this to me and then the Covid shot it’s something they’re putting in the vaccines. Just my opinion

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I had the same following my 3rd shot. But in saying that I would not recommend skipping immunization because of that. My flare up presented as bi-lateral dactilytis (sausage fingers ) then, not as severe, shoulders and hips.

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@veronixa

We need to find out where to report this because I’ve read that it’s unusual and not many cases being reported!! I want to report it so they know just how common it is!!

I know one thing for sure, no covid vaccine for me and never another flu shot!!

I saw a video that states that one of the side effects of the covid vaccine is autoimmune diseases. Beware!!

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All adverse drug reactions should be reported to the FDA adverse reaction reporting system. Here is the link to get started -
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/fda-adverse-event-reporting-system-faers
My PMR was the result of an adverse reaction to my second Shingrix vaccination. It has been reported. It is only through the FDA having data on the adverse events as they occur that valid stats can be developed and problems can be identified and measured. Us talking about them is good but reporting it is better. It is up to us to let them know about each adverse reaction.

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@juneh

Hi…my husband and I are participating in an NIEH study to look at Covid antibodies over one year. We just started but have several friends that have participating for a while. They do a blood test 5 times over the year. Each person get results on 1)if you’ve had Covid and that antibody level and 2) your vaccine antibody level. I’m hoping my antibody level is good so that I don’t need any more boosters! The lab is in the RTP near Durham, NC. Here’s the link… https://joinastudy.niehs.nih.gov/studies/antibody-detection/index.htm

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June, do you know if you had to have had a COVID infection to take part in the study?

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@colleenyoung

June, do you know if you had to have had a COVID infection to take part in the study?

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No need to have contracted covid… they look at your blood test in 2 ways. 1) yes or no if you’ve had covid . If yes…what’s the antibody level from covid
2) if you’ve been vaccinated…what’s the antibody level based on the vaccine. Neither of us have had covid so that was simply a no. We haven’t got the other results yet. I’m hoping this info will help me with decisions about future boosters.

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@veronixa

We need to find out where to report this because I’ve read that it’s unusual and not many cases being reported!! I want to report it so they know just how common it is!!

I know one thing for sure, no covid vaccine for me and never another flu shot!!

I saw a video that states that one of the side effects of the covid vaccine is autoimmune diseases. Beware!!

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I had issues beginning a few days after my second covid vaccine. Shoulder and collarbone pain, then tailbone. Took 2 months to get a diagnosis. That was in September. I’ve been ok on lower dose of prednisone but currently experiencing a flare up effecting my knees and neck. Trying 10mgs a day now. That’s my highest dose so far. I am afraid to get the booster.

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The night of getting my 2nd Covid shot I could barely get out of bed due to pain in my hips and shoulders. After a couple weeks I was diagnosed with PMR and sent to a rheumatologist. That was 13 months ago.

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@helen63

The night of getting my 2nd Covid shot I could barely get out of bed due to pain in my hips and shoulders. After a couple weeks I was diagnosed with PMR and sent to a rheumatologist. That was 13 months ago.

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I believe that my PMR was triggered by the Covid vaccine since the symptoms came on shortly after I got the shot. I initially thought I had just done too much gardening and dismissed the pain and lack of mobility. It was a number of months before I figured out what I had and saw my doctor but looking back I saw the connection between the shot and symptoms. The previous fall, 2020, after I got my flu shot I spiked a fever for 6 days straight. I thought I had Covid but did not. Throughout my adult life I have had strong reactions to the flu shot. I worked in health care and needed to get the shot every year. About 50% of the time I would feel ill for a couple of days so always got my shot on a Friday so I would not have to work if I reacted poorly. I believe that I have had low level immune system problems for a long time but the Covid vaccine was the final straw. I am not getting any vaccines for the near future.

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