Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine?

I also reported to VAERS that my PMR came after my 3rd Moderna vaccine.

I can’t seem to get below 11mg of prednisone so he upped my methotrexate to 8 tabs once a week.
My primary says no vaccines while active PMR

Hi~
I am curious about this as well.
I have PMR, and I am on injectable methotrexate, and Methylprednisolone.
I wondered if I could take the antiviral, if I get Covid.
And, could it cause a flare up?

Froehlich! I also would like to know about antivirus meds or anything to relieve this terrible leg pain and fatigue! Thanks 🙏

Hi, I am just discovering this page. About a week after I got my second shot, I began to feel sick. I thought that Lyme had come back, and the doctor put me on doxycycline. In early May I told her it was not working so they put me on a prednisone script. I was fine, and shortly after I was walking rather weekly. Got another script so I could walk my daughter down for her Wedding. About 20 days after that I ended up in the hospital and have been on prednisone ever since. The good news is I am down to only 4 mg, however, it has been a crazy rollercoaster ride. I get tired, have pain, and if I forget my meds or when I reduce - the pain comes on like running into a brick wall.

Thank you for saying that, because I am still dealing with PMR, and do not want to get another shot. What is the methotrexate?

Hello @npostusa, Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear your vaccine started your PMR symptoms. It can be a crazy rollercoaster ride. In my experience with PMR it's really not something that a few weeks of prednisone is going to fix. Normally people who are diagnosed with PMR are started on an average dose of 15 to 20mg prednisone and work with their rheumatologist or doctor on a tapering schedule as your body symptoms allow. My first bout took three and half years to taper off. The second time it reared it's ugly head it only took a year and a half to taper off. What I learned from the first round with PMR was to exercise more as my body would allow (not overdoing it) and to eat healthier (less sugar and inflammatory foods). I believe this was the reason I could taper off sooner.

Do you mind sharing a little more about your diagnosis and what starting dose of prednisone you were given?

Hi John, I am glad that I found this page and for your reply. To begin, I had a severe case of Lyme Meningitis years ago, so when PMR reared its ugly head, my wife and I thought we were dealing with Lyme. After about two months of trying to figure out what it was, I had to walk my daughter down the aisle to get married. My wife and I both went to see the doctor as my conditioned had worsened and the doxycycline was just making me sick. Still on the Lyme thing, we thought I may intravenous treatment again. After my daughter’s wedding, I went about 3 weeks before asking my wife to bring me to the hospital. There they gave me a spinal tap, did not feel it, to test to see if the Lyme had come back. My condition at that point was that I could barely stand, or walk, but had to go to the bathroom about every 20 minutes? Anyway, they had to roll me on a bed once in the hospital, and I loss a lot of muscle. A year and a half later, I have not fully gained my strength, and sometimes I am stronger that other times. Anyway, in the hospital they gave me pain med, intravenous for the Lyme, and 1000mg of prednisone- I later confirmed with my rheumatologist. When I came home, they taken me to 40 mg a day it took me about a month to see a rheumatologist, and then he kept me on the 40 and slowly weaned me down. Currently I am at 4 mg and struggling at times our goal is to keep me at 4 mg for about a month in the last eight months. I came down from about 11 or 12 milligrams, and it was a roller coaster ride. Every time I’ve made a change with the exception of of one to twice where it was easier. In addition, if I forget to take my medicine, it is like running into a Stonewall. My diet is pretty decent and I’m trying to stay away from things inflammatory I have a question for you is beer inflammatory? If so, I have tried to cut down a fair amount. finally I work for a pharma company as an IT generalist and hence was somewhat reluctant to talk about it publicly. I hope this answers some of your questions, I struggled to submit a Vaers report but did so yesterday. After I got better, not knowing, I took a third shot, Moderna. The only thing that happened here was I got a lot of breakout on my back side - bumps - pimple like, and they would break and bleed. It was not monkeypox, but I had to go see a doctor then Dermatologist who gave me medicine and it eventually went away - do I know if it was the third shot - not sure.

Love your profile photo @npostusa! You've had quite a struggle and it sounds like you are doing all the right things to help. Not only that you helped me by asking is beer inflammatory. I didn't have a clue but I stopped all alcohol after being diagnosed with small fiber peripheral neuropathy as I know that alcohol can make neuropathy worse. Thought I would miss the beer but I don't. Back to your question, I always try to learn at least one new thing a day. Admittedly, I sometimes relearn the same thing more than once 🙂 Beer is good for you!

"Clinical studies have suggested that the moderate consumption of beer is beneficial for human health, mainly due to the phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties."
-- Redox and Anti-Inflammatory Properties from Hop Components in Beer-Related to Neuroprotection: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8226943/

What helped me when tapering down on prednisone was keeping a daily log and writing down my level of pain when I got up in the morning and what dose I was taking that day.
It also helped me when I was following up with my doctor or rheumatologist on any tapering problems I had.

Have you tried keeping a daily log of your pain and dosage?

I just started a journal today, as I have not kept one in a long time. The journal was more for studying the Bible and personal stuff. That said, I can incorporate a pain chart. BTW, I really did well these last couple of months and went from 7 to 4mg. We are in a holding padding for a month before I drop 1 mg.