Can PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) be induced by vaccine?

Posted by kristem2020 @kristem2020, Jan 2, 2021

Good evening, I’ve recently been diagnosed with PMR. It came on a week after my flu shot October 23, 2020.

Has anyone experienced the same diagnosis after a flu shot?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

bohobama | @bohobama | Jul 13, 2023

The CDC is now calling some cases of PMR “vaccine injuries.”

vellen | @vellen | Jul 13, 2023

In reply to @bohobama "The CDC is now calling some cases of PMR “vaccine injuries.”" + (show)

Just wow.
I would be so angry if this was the case with me. I was concerned with how quickly they rolled out the shots (I don't refer to these as a vaccine because they are not).
And giving the approval knowing it can induce PMR on us older people? Unforgivable.
NIH Study:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8694785/

jboylan | @jboylan | Jul 15, 2023

In reply to @bohobama "The CDC is now calling some cases of PMR “vaccine injuries.”" + (show)

Interesting. I was diagnosed with PMR in April 2015. My symptoms started in the fall of 2014 near the end of an allergy shot 'build-up' . . . two shots (one in each arm) twice a week . . . for several months. The onset was over less than a week.

When I brought it to my allergist's attention she said there was no way my allergy shot build-up would have created such intense pain (this was pre-PMR diagnosis). She was a lousy doctor and I didn't have a very high opinion of her in the first place. Fortunately, my primary care physician took me seriously and I ended up in the hands of a great rheumatologist. I just wish there was more that could be done to help with the pain . . . although, I can manage it now.

vellen | @vellen | Jul 16, 2023

In reply to @jboylan "Interesting. I was diagnosed with PMR in April 2015. My symptoms started in the fall of..." + (show)

Is the pain from PMR or the allergies? I'm just wondering if the rheumatologist treated you with Prednisone.

douglwuoregonedu | @douglwuoregonedu | Jul 16, 2023

I contracted PMR within a few weeks of my third COVID vaccine. I was never sure if there was a correlation. My rheumatologist said "no".

jboylan | @jboylan | Jul 16, 2023

In reply to @vellen "Is the pain from PMR or the allergies? I'm just wondering if the rheumatologist treated you..." + (show)

The pain is from PMR. The rheumatologist suggested Prednisone by saying "The only thing there is to treat PMR is Prednisone." (This was in 2015) I passed since I know too many people that struggled to get off of Prednisone.

When I followed up with my primary care physician after I received my PMR diagnosis and that I had passed on being treated with Prednisone, her response was "Good! It can be an evil drug." She also mentioned she had been treated for something (she didn't say) with Prednisone and had a difficult time with it.

My primary care physician suggested two Aleve twice a day (which, according to her, takes it to a prescription dose). I did this for a while and it did help. I ended up switching to Zyflamend, an herbal anti-inflammatory, which I purchase from Amazon (the reviews are interesting to read). It's a turmeric-based anti-inflammatory. I take two in the morning. If I am having a bad PMR day (about once a month or so), I will take two Aleve. I'm never 100% out of pain, but I can get it to a point where it's tolerable.

vellen | @vellen | Jul 16, 2023

In reply to @jboylan "The pain is from PMR. The rheumatologist suggested Prednisone by saying "The only thing there is..." + (show)

The problem with not treating the inflammation is developing Giant Cell Arteritis. (GCA). That can cause priblens including blindness. Yes, prednisone is a strong drug and some experience side effects, mine after six weeks are minimal but I no longer have any PMR pain.
I hope you look into this a bit more. And best of luck to you.
GCA:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/giant-cell-arteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372758