Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine?

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 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 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.

I also believe that the second COVID Pfizer vaccine sparked my PMR. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were of the mRNA type, which is uncommon for vaccines. I've never had a flu vaccine because they are only 18% effective and feed big pharma. I've had a shingles vaccine before Shingrix one came out--I'm still on the fence about getting this "newer and improved one." It is questionable that I ever had PMR since my new rheumatologist believes that the fact I only had symptons while laying down is not indicative of PMR. I was a extremely healthy prior to the onset of my night pains-- I rarely ever got sick. If I ever get another vaccination, I will avoid the mRNA type.

I absolutely think the Moderna vaccine triggered PMR. After the second vaccine, I got PMR symptoms about a month later. I do not take any vaccines nor boosters by advice of my rheumatologist.