PMR and exercise: What helps you?

I never had an immune problem my whole life. Then I received a Moderna mRNA vaccine covid shot. After my booster I immediately broke out in shingles then a year later PMR. No one in my family history has had PMR or rheumatism. My 25 year old grand daughter also suffered shingles after her booster.

I just came back from a week in Phoenix where I walked quite a bit and even hiked a short mountain trail feeling good the whole time. After a delayed flight home to Alberta and a long day and night with too much sitting, I can hardly move today. Missing that heat.
I hope this is a one day flare-up. My partner of 13 years passed shortly before I went so stress may be a contributing factor. I am mentally motivated to beat this disease and live a more active life.

Same thing with me. Never had any immune problems but 7 days after my second Moderna booster, my arms, shoulders and neck were killing me. Had to wait three months to see a rheumatologist who confirmed it was PMR. I think in the future, they will eventually find a link between the vaccines and some autoimmune diseases for a few unlucky people like us.

thank you...will give it a try!

First suggestion is find a good physical therapist. I start the day with a series of stretches.
Alternate using muscle groups. Swim Pilates or Yin yoga is good for shoulders. Walking and
biking for lower muscles.

I bought one of the cheapest vibration plates on Aamazon. It came yesterday and I used it for fifteen minutes. Afterwards, I felt great, and this morning, for the first time in weeks, I could feel no PMR effects at all. It's too early to tell how useful it will be, but at the very least, it provides good exercise without taking a step!

I want to try it. Any brand or other product info? I went online and saw so many features. Did you product have variable speeds? What speed or power did you use for 15 minutes?

Yes, there are so many brands. I think they all do the same thing and have many of the same features. I'm sure the more expensive ones last longer, but I didn't know if it would be useful, so went low. The one I bought actually came from Walmart: Best Choice Products Vibration Plate Exercise Machine Full Body Fitness Platform w/ Resistance Bands - White. It was cheaper than the price listed today. There are variable speeds and you control speed and time with a remote. I am using a low speed which seems very helpful. It is really helping my achilles tendinitis as well.

@pkalkstein @jfannarbor and others, There is another discussion that might be helpful on whole body vibration even though it's not part of the PMR group. I had previously purchased an Eilison Bolt vibration plate but had to stop using it due to the feeling of my eyes being jarred around - https://www.amazon.com/EILISON-Vibration-Plate-Exercise-Machine/dp/B0928KYX4T?th=1. I think the device I bought would be considered a low frequency vibration plate which I think could be bad if you have osteoporosis and are trying to build bone strength.

--- Whole Body Vibration for Osteoporosis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/whole-body-vibration-for-osteoporosis/

@tsc referenced a few Margaret Martin articles and videos that might provide some insight into the devices, here are a couple of her YouTube videos:
--- 2023 Research Update on Whole Body Vibration Therapy: https://youtu.be/Wz4DQw2DdA0 (3:09 minutes)
--- Do Vibration Platforms Increase Bone Density?: https://youtu.be/JHx1U_KFYkU (1:25:28)

Hi @johnbishop, I think the cheaper whole body vibration plates, in the range of $150.00, are high intensity vibration exercisers that Margaret Martin has noted can be dangerous. The Low Intensity Vibration plates, developed by NASA and a Dr. Rubin, for improving the astronauts' bone density, sell for a few thousand dollars. The Marodyne LIV is one of these.

I used the Eilison Bolt for nine months, but after reading Margaret Martin's articles and listening to her podcasts, I gave it away.