PMR Flair up From a Virus?

I found the same thing. I found, because I wasn't paying attention, that I was taking prednisone that was a year out of date, and wondered why I was feeling worse. I am back on 3mg too now. Still, over all, I do feel like I am doing much better and can see a time when I might be pain free. So hang in there, there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm going on 3 years now with PMR and down to 2-1/2 mgs Prednisone. All was going well. Yesterday I tested positive for Covid and the aches and pains have started again. I don't know if it is from the Covid (hard to get out of bed) or if it's a resurge of the PMR. Has anyone else had Covid with PMR?

Hi @ncgal, Sorry to hear you tested positive for COVID. You are not alone... you will notice that we moved your post to an existing discussion so that you can connect with others who have similar experiences. If you click on the link, it will take you to the beginning of the discussion:
--- PMR Flair up From a Virus?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/flair-up-from-a-virus/

Yes. Your ESR and Crp will go up too. Mine was over 100. Still going down. Waiting for results today on blood. Had to go up on pred.

Hope your test results have come back and are still going down. I was supposed to go the the Rheumatologist tomorrow for my check up, but due to Covid I'm in self-quarantine. Trying to drink as much water as my body will allow, but it just comes back up. Have to watch for dehydration. The aches from the PMR seemed to have abated to where it can be handled, for which I am very thankful.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading and I have come across reports of people that possibly developed PMR after getting a COVID 19 vaccine. I developed mine about one month having had COVID 19 right after a New Years Eve party.

Does anyone here feel that they fall into the same situation?

Hi @wilckdds, I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled: Flair up from a virus, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/flair-up-from-a-virus/.

I did this so you could meet members talking about experiences with flare ups after or during viruses such as the flu, cold or Covid. @ncgal, @marilynredder2367 and @bradninchgirl discussed some flare ups and may be able to share some insight. It may not feel like it to any us, but Covid is still so recent that it is difficult to find thorough research on how it is affecting individuals at large long-term. Is this the article you were referencing, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10115741/? It does say that there is a potential link, but only in extremely rare occasions and the article even states far more research is needed.

@wilckdds, how are you doing and coping with your PMR diagnosis?

Yes, I am confident that I developed PMR about 10 days after my 3rd Covid-19 (Moderna) booster last spring (April 2022). At the time, I was a 55 year-old extremely healthy and active woman, and about 10 days after my vaccine, I suddenly started experiencing a host of disabling muscle pains, stiffness, fatigue in my hips, quads, glutes and upper arms (bilateral) that kept me from being able to do the most basic activities. I was unable to do simple poses in my yoga classes, I could barely reach down to pick up something off the floor, I could not tolerate siting for more than a few moments, I could barely get out of bed in the morning, and I could barely get dressed. I saw my PCP right away, and of course he was mystified. Long story, but it took over 9 months to finally get a referral and get to "see" a rheumatologist (all my appts with him have been via TeleMed on my phone). In those 9 months I was doing my own research on what my symptoms could mean and that is when I discovered PMR as I had never heard of it before (of course!). I had even had a neurological consult that was negative. After I figured out I likely had PMR I next started researching any connections between Covid vaccines and PMR and I found a couple of NIH articles. As soon as I read those I knew that is what happened to me. When I had my first appt with my rheumatologist, he was reluctant to diagnose me with PMR (since I was young-ish and healthy), asking me about 40 minutes' worth of my medical history, but after I explained everything he finally agreed and came around to diagnosing me with PMR. He started me on 20mg of prednisone with a tapering dose for the next few weeks with a follow-up scheduled in 3 months. I immediately felt relief with the prednisone after a day or two, and over the next four months I was able to successfully taper down the prednisone to my current does of 4mg per day. Unfortunately, I have been unable to taper down any further, and I still have slight pain on this dose, so just this week he has prescribed Kevzara for me. I have been approved for it, but I am waiting for my provider to actually fill the Rx and for me to find out how much $ this is going to cost me with my private insurance. The plan is for me to start the Kevzara and taper off the prednisone, but we will see if that works. He did agree that my PMR was very likely caused by the Covid-19 vaccine (Moderna) and he suggested that I avoid any future Covid vaccinations going forward.

I am so sorry to hear how long you have suffered and that you had to make your own diagnosis. Also that you had to wait so long to get treated. Of course it’s great that you are feeling so much better.

If you reread my post you will see that I am aware of the fact that it is very likely that many people have developed PMR from vaccines. I am actually trying to find someone that developed PMR after having COVID 19, not the vaccine which I think might be how I got it. I have found no literature discussing this.

I hope that continue to feel better.

I contracted PMR within a week after my second mRNA Pfizer vaccination (note that Moderna was also an mRNA vaccine). It took over 4 months to diagnose because it was such a mild case that only affected me while I was in bed. As soon as I got up, I was pain-free! I am a registered dietitian and eat a whole foods, organic, primarily plant-based diet, focused on anti-inflammatory foods. If you choose a whole foods diet, you will be eating far more fiber, which feeds your gut microbiome and your gut flora is your first defense for your immunity. Seventy percent of your immunity starts in your gut!
I managed to taper off of my 10-mg. dose of prednisone in about a year, but my PMR flared up again when I caught COVID a few months later. I then had to taper off of a 2-mg. dose of prednisone, which took a few months. I have been pain free for months now.
I definitely will never get an mRNA vaccine and probably won't get any other vaccinations, as well. BTW, I had a friend die from Guillain-Barre syndrome after having a flu shot. I've never had a flu shot in my life and have only had the flu once in the past 30 years!