Anyone diagnosed with PMR after the Pfizer vaccine?

Posted by mellee @mellee, Feb 28, 2023

I received the Pfizer covid vaccine and had horrible joint pain 8/10 as a side effect. I reported it online. 7 months later I developed horrific joint pain in my shoulders, hips and knees(same pain after the vaccine, but worse). I was ultimately diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I wish there was a site to go to and report these things.
I am only 57 and was a runner most of my life up to the age of 51, so I am not in horrible shape for my age. The pain from that PMR was very disabling. I am now on Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg BID and Prednisone 10 mg a day. Not happy about having to take more medications.

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

@besmith57

My symptoms didn't develop right away, but I still think the shots had something to do with it. My pharmacist said I should get the shingles vaccine and the RSV vaccine now that I am taking methotrexate. I just read this morning not to get the RSV vaccine because they don't know enough about it. It sure is frustrating dealing with this painful disease.

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I’ve already had the shingles vacs. No more vacs for me except the flu shot annually. Hoping to be off steroids by the end of the year.

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I had the original shingles vaccine a few years ago. Now I am told I need the 2 dose vaccine. I see my PCP next week so I will talk to her about this.

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@seajaa

I’ve already had the shingles vacs. No more vacs for me except the flu shot annually. Hoping to be off steroids by the end of the year.

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I hope you can get off your steroids by the end of the year. I just had to increase my dosage of steroids and methotrexate. The steroids don't seem to be relieving my pain. Wishing you good luck!

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@besmith57

I hope you can get off your steroids by the end of the year. I just had to increase my dosage of steroids and methotrexate. The steroids don't seem to be relieving my pain. Wishing you good luck!

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Actually I just saw my rheumatologist yesterday, she has me increase the dosage from 5 mg to 15 now as I'm in so much pain & swollen. I can barely function.

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I had all the recommended Covid vaccine shots on schedule (Canada). Mine were all Pfizer. The last one was October 2023. I was diagnosed with PMR in February 2024 but the symptoms certainly began in November 2023. My understanding is that the type of vaccine, mRNA, may be linked to occurrence of PMR. I have never had Covid. How concrete is this correlation between an MRA vaccine and PMR?

Also, my osteoarthritis, primarily in my knees, is much worse than before PMR, is there any evidence that PMR worsens osteoarthritis?

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I don't know the answers to your questions. I'm just guessing it was the covid vaccines. I just woke up one day in pain and starting researching inflammation. I had my PCP order blood work and all the markers came back showing high inflammation. The pain was so bad I had to start using a walker.
She put me on a high dose of prednisone and I felt instantly better. My rheumatologist said that dose was way too high so she lowered it. I have tried weaning but at 10mg the pain is still here. I got down to 5mg but then went to 7.5mg, then to 10mgs. I'm at a lost as to what to do next. The dr increased my methotrexate to 6 pills weekly. I will start the 6 pills on Friday.

Good luck with your research.

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My story is much like yours, high inflammation results, terrible pain, walker needed and condition immediately responsive to prednisone, not perfect but tolerable discomfort. After 3 months on 20 mg I have begun today to reduce by 2.5 mg. If that goes okay, another reduction by 2.5 mg after 30 days, and so on every 30 days to find lowest possible dose.

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@besmith57

I don't know the answers to your questions. I'm just guessing it was the covid vaccines. I just woke up one day in pain and starting researching inflammation. I had my PCP order blood work and all the markers came back showing high inflammation. The pain was so bad I had to start using a walker.
She put me on a high dose of prednisone and I felt instantly better. My rheumatologist said that dose was way too high so she lowered it. I have tried weaning but at 10mg the pain is still here. I got down to 5mg but then went to 7.5mg, then to 10mgs. I'm at a lost as to what to do next. The dr increased my methotrexate to 6 pills weekly. I will start the 6 pills on Friday.

Good luck with your research.

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I tried the methotrexate, it did nothing.

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I'm new and unable to post a link, Google CUREUS PFIZER AND PMR

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@thefishlady

I'm new and unable to post a link, Google CUREUS PFIZER AND PMR

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@thefishlady, I noticed that you wished to post a URL to an article with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe.

Here is the Cureus article outlining the case study

- An Unusual Side Effect of the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Possible Trigger of Polymyalgia Rheumatica (2022) https://www.cureus.com/articles/100523-an-unusual-side-effect-of-the-covid-19-vaccine-a-possible-trigger-of-polymyalgia-rheumatica#!/

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