PMR symptoms drastically improved during COVID/Omnicron infection.

Posted by marymv @marymv, Jan 6, 2022

Hello,
I developed PMR Jan 26th of 2021 a day & half after my 2nd Pfizer vaccine. Dx in Apr /2021 started Prednisone 20mg now on 8mg. Weaning under 10mg has been a return to more stiffness & a limp until mid to late day. Developed cold like s/s Monday. I tested positive for COVID Monday night via PCR. Shockingly I woke up Monday with 75% less stiffness, pain & no limp. Its day 4 & PMR is still greatly improved. Is it possible that since developing PMR after my 2nd Pfizer vac a yr ago that having COVID has effected my immune response to PMR? Thank you.
Best,
Mary M

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

aspine | @aspine | Jul 27, 2022

In reply to @girastancil "have you tried celebrex or it's generic. I have an it's better I think that Ibuprophen...." + (show)

Celebrex is one of only 3 medications my records show I'm allergic to.

maureen158 | @maureen158 | Jul 28, 2022

I asked my Rheumatologist about whether THC would help and he did not think so but if others have tried it and seen any benefits, I would be interested

ajf | @ajf | Jul 29, 2022

THC might help relieve some symptoms however personally I use a compound containing CBN that seems to help my body normalize a bit more than just THC. Also there is much more involvement with other chemicals and properties in varied types of mm. Should get a mm specialist to advise your particular situation

jfannarbor | @jfannarbor | Jul 29, 2022

I have found THC to be very helpful, but I can't take it due to the side effects of paranoia and dizziness.

girastancil | @girastancil | Jul 30, 2022

In reply to @colleenyoung "Such an intriguing situation and good questions for research to help answer, @girastancil. Did the vaccinations..." + (show)

after stopping the Paxlovid, right back to pain central but did not like the effects the oral anti-viral presented, insomnia, restlessness, etc. So trying different combos to relieve the pain. Like celebrex, a combination of Aleve and Ibupropen which sounds redundant but I did feel better afterwards. Any other suggestions welcome. thanks, Ira

12345chris | @12345chris | Apr 27, 2023

I got PMR 4 months ago in my hips. It was not initially diagnosed and my doctor diagnosed it as austio arthriti.s But over time ( 3 months) I got stiff shoulders, fingers and muscle weakness especially in my legs.
Still un-diagnosed as PMR I caugtt covid and for 2 days I was 75% better. I found it very strange ! Then it returned to as it bad as it was before covid. My physio suggested it could be PMR. Eventually.my Doctor prescribef prenistone and i am now 95% better no pain no stiffness. I am on 15mg and reviewing with Doctor medication reduction next week. I am convinced the phizer jab caused the PMR and confirm catching covid dramically reduced my symptons for the first worst 2 days !

janiceem | @janiceem | Apr 28, 2023

In reply to @12345chris "I got PMR 4 months ago in my hips. It was not initially diagnosed and my..." + (show)

My PMR started soon after my second COVID Pfizer vaccination back in 2021 and was limited to my thighs and upper arms, but only while in bed! I was able to wean off of my low dose of Prednisone in October of 2022, but then I caught COVID in December 2022 and it came back. I only have pain in my deltoid muscles and only at night while in bed. I've been on 1.5 mg for a couple of months and slowly tapering off at .5 mg/month. Sending you healing thoughts!

rainmaninwa | @rainmaninwa | May 5, 2023

Hello MaryMV:
I have had a somewhat similar experience to share with you. I have had PMR for over 30 years now. Originally was treated with Prednisone for several month with a gradual taper off at the end (almost a year). Had to quit the Prednisone due to severe weight gain (50 Lb.) Pain returned after stopping and I entered into a long standing bout with PMR using diet/supps/exercise etc. I still had it with mild/moderate pain but manageable. Then enter Covid. 2020 was my first infection which was mild. Didn't notice any changes in PMR before/during /after. Then this December got it again (Ormicon, I believe) and this time it was moderate/severe. Over that now, but I found that as my Covid symptoms came on, my PMR symptoms went down. When I was in the depth of the Covid, I had NO PMR pain that I was able to identify. Interestingly enough, as the covid severity decreased, the PMR pains returned in kind and the same rate as the covid diminished??? Covid is gone now but "long covid symptoms remain which include much increased "background" PMR pain issues. I'm still trying to figure out a remedy. My naturopath agrees with me that while I had Covid, my autoimmune system was fully involved dealing with it, with nothing "left over" so to speak to fuel the PMR autoimmune issues. Info.... Who knows at this point...

chrissieg | @chrissieg | May 6, 2023

In reply to @rainmaninwa "Hello MaryMV: I have had a somewhat similar experience to share with you. I have had..." + (show)

I find the concept of our autoimmune system being distracted from PMR to deal with Covid (or other viral infections) fascinating. Could there be something in this? Anyone out there with more info?
I’ve found that taking just 1 x 256mg Nurofen (NSAID) tablet. during the night (around 3am) usually leads to much less pain & much improved mobility when waking in the morning. I’m on 5mg of Prednisone (taken around 9am). Maybe the medications used to alleviate Covid symptoms are the reason PMR symptoms are reduced too?