Two weeks in, frightened by meds, PMR and COVID Booster Shot

@majryan61, Some members have suggested splitting the prednisone daily dosage and taking some in the morning and some later in the day/afternoon to help with the morning stiffness. For both my occurrences of PMR I just took one dose in the morning normally between 6 and 8am before or with breakfast. I kept a daily pain log also and I was normally at 0 or 1 when I first got up in the morning and some light stretching and moving around took care of the early morning stiffness.

I’m beginning to think stress plays a role in flare ups. When my spouse was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia I had a flare up

Hi,
I developed PMR within 36hrs of receiving my 2nd Pfizer Covid Vaccine. I was 58. Have been on Prednisone since April of 2021. If u have time take a look at my story. Pain & stiffness worsens with inactivity thus the increase at night. This is one of the hallmark signs of the disease. Best of luck to you.

I also had a similar situation to yours. My PMR started before vaccine, however, there is some chance that the vaccines may prolong it. I am on second taper after 3 years, down to 3 mg. If my blood tests in 2 months still show elevation in Sed Rate and CRP I will begin Methotrexate as continue tapering off Prednisone. Monitoring bones with exercise, diet and Reclast Infusions. Had my 2 vaccines and 1 booster. Not getting a second one or the new vaccine. Some doctors pushing that having only being tested on 8 mice. Who knows, but my husband is a doctor and we all follow his lead for now. Feel better.

From what I've read it does appear that some people have come down with PMR right after having covid shots. Is it the cause for some? It appears that way but I'm not informed enough on that subject to say.
I am concerned that you have dropped your prednisone dose from 25mg to 10 in just a couple weeks. That flies in the face of any recommended reduction rate. Usually a reduction of 10% or less every 3-4 weeks is more common. This isn't a race to get off prednisone, it's reducing at whatever rate that keeps the PMR inflammation and pain under control. Reduce too fast and the pain will let you know! Don't control the pain/inflammation and you'll flare up and start over at a higher dose. Pain is usually an indicator that your dose is too low. I've read that the body introduces a new batch of inflammation every night about 3-4 am. I take my prednisone in the evening which has kept the pain at bay overnight and when I get up. The down side is prednisone is great at messing up sleep patterns at night if taken in the evening but the right dose should then keep the pain controlled. If you do have PMR this is something that is going to take time, carefully controlling the dose to avoid flares and setbacks.

I believe somewhere around 20-30% of those diagnosed are able to get past PMR in around 2 years time. The average was said to be over 5 years and I have talked to some long timers who have had it around 15 years! Doctors often seem to fixate on having one off of Prednisone in 2 years time. While that'd be great it often flies in the face of reality, that a person isn't able to control the pain and get off prednisone that quickly. The cThere's lots of valuable information at this site and healthunlocked.com for PMR sufferers.

I’m on my 3rd bout of PMR, the first when I was 57. I was on prednisone for 2 years at that time and had a 12-year remission. It recurred in my early 70’s and I tried to reduce prednisone in 10 months, however, it started up a few months later and currently on 2 mg and approaching 3 years. When I was on larger doses (10), I split the dose between morning and evening, now take the 2 mg dose in the evening. My PMR started several months before Covid. I have had all the Covid vaccines, flu shots, etc, without it getting worse. My first bout of PMR started the day after I did a 5-mile run/walk at a faster pace than usual. I was stiff the next day and it got progressively worse until I was diagnosed. It is a mystery disease in many ways. At this point, I am almost 76, on 2 mg of prednisone and will soon start decreasing to 1.5. Not as worried on the small dose

Age 71, my PMR started when I was playing excessive Pickleball in Feb. I loved getting in shape, the laughter, the friends.
I just knew I suddenly needed two hip replacements and a shoulder, which had been hurting for a year due to osteoarthritis, rotator cuff. My hips have never hurt.
When I woke up March 15 with the other shoulder as bad as the right one, I knew it was PMR. Could not get out of bed, beached whale.

My husband is an internist too, but I got my own PCP last week. I am about 2 months into this, 3 weeks since I diagnosed myself and started myself on 20mg, lol. I was out of town for 8 days, alone and I never leave home without prednisone. Labs were near normal but I couldn't get out of bed, hips and shoulders.
My Moderna shots 2 and 3 made me ill, 3rd was like a vagal collapse, faint, violent vomiting, diarrhea. I will never get another. I blame the PMR on the covid vaxes messing up my autoimmunity, had lupus in the past. I'm 71.