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.

I have come to the conclusion that my PMR was triggered by covid. Last November I went on a bus trip to New England with a friend who had what appeared to be a cold. She assured me that she had tested negative for covid, but within five days I had the same "cold." By the end of the week, I had pain in one arm and my pelvic girdle. In retrospect, I also lost my sense of taste and smell. Apologies to the fine people in New England, but I complained that their food had no taste! When I returned home, my doctor immediately diagnosed PMR, and I have been tapering down prednisone ever since. I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience?

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My husband had his 2nd Pfizer booster July 11. He began feeling extreme joint pain in Aug. He has been to his doctor and orthopedic doctor and no one has mentioned PMR. In searching for answers I came across this as a possible diagnoses. Prednisone has helped then his prescription ends and he is waiting for tests or answers. How long after vaccine did others have debilitating pain start? Is this a known link for PMR? What tests should be done for diagnosis and what Doctor should be seen? Rheumatologist or endocrinologist? We have mentioned Mayo. Looking for recommendations please. His CRP was 56. TSH 4.63

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@mary4

These comments have been very helpful for me. I have been treated for PMR since December 2020. I have had all 4 covid vaccines available. I thought it was my imagination when following each shot I experience an increase in severity of PMR symptoms that.lasted 6 weeks. I am really reluctant to take the latest vaccine when it.comes available but I am in the high risk category and support the.vaccine.program generally . I will have to talk to rheumatologist, but may decline for as.long as.possible.

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I took my flu vaccine 2 weeks ago. No problem. I took the newest booster last Thursday and I felt I had a PMR flare up. Two days later, I felt better. I am on 20 mg of Prednisone and had the Moderna vaccine

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@janiceem

I'm curious if all respondents had the Pfizer vaccine, like me. Regardless, I suggest you report your reaction to the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System): https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html

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I had the Moderna. My PMR came after my 3rd shot.

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@herderc

My husband had his 2nd Pfizer booster July 11. He began feeling extreme joint pain in Aug. He has been to his doctor and orthopedic doctor and no one has mentioned PMR. In searching for answers I came across this as a possible diagnoses. Prednisone has helped then his prescription ends and he is waiting for tests or answers. How long after vaccine did others have debilitating pain start? Is this a known link for PMR? What tests should be done for diagnosis and what Doctor should be seen? Rheumatologist or endocrinologist? We have mentioned Mayo. Looking for recommendations please. His CRP was 56. TSH 4.63

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I had my first Moderna vaccine 1/21/21 and within about a week I could barely move. My primary tried meloxicam with no relief, then ordered tests: Westergren Sedimentation and C-reactive protein (CRP) both of which indicated high inflammation. In early Feb '21, I was started on 40mg of prednisone and referred to a rheumatologist .
I believe the Moderna vaccine definitely triggered the onset of my PMR. I am still taking 5 mg prednisone now and trying to wean down as pain allows. It has been a costly medical year and a half and my body is still suffering with PMR and various side effects. I think the vaccine should have a warning on the label.

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@herderc

My husband had his 2nd Pfizer booster July 11. He began feeling extreme joint pain in Aug. He has been to his doctor and orthopedic doctor and no one has mentioned PMR. In searching for answers I came across this as a possible diagnoses. Prednisone has helped then his prescription ends and he is waiting for tests or answers. How long after vaccine did others have debilitating pain start? Is this a known link for PMR? What tests should be done for diagnosis and what Doctor should be seen? Rheumatologist or endocrinologist? We have mentioned Mayo. Looking for recommendations please. His CRP was 56. TSH 4.63

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My first Moderna vaccine in late 1/21 and I was soon suffering with terrific joint pain -- could hardly move. My primary doctor referred me to a rheumatologist after my blood tests for CRP and Westergren Sedimentation Rate came back with rates indicating very high inflammation. Diagnosis was PMR and I started on 40 mg prednisone. It's now 1.5 years later I'm down to 5 mg of prednisone.
These COVID vaccines should come with a warning label. Looks like there's a lot of evidence among us with PMR that it can be triggered by vaccines among those over 60.

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@annettetompkins

I have come to the conclusion that my PMR was triggered by covid. Last November I went on a bus trip to New England with a friend who had what appeared to be a cold. She assured me that she had tested negative for covid, but within five days I had the same "cold." By the end of the week, I had pain in one arm and my pelvic girdle. In retrospect, I also lost my sense of taste and smell. Apologies to the fine people in New England, but I complained that their food had no taste! When I returned home, my doctor immediately diagnosed PMR, and I have been tapering down prednisone ever since. I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience?

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I also think my PMR was triggered by my mild case of COVID, although it took several months of malaise for the PMR to fully present itself.

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@johnbishop

When my PMR was active and I was tapering, I would wake up with a pain level between 1 and 2 with stiffness but it would go away shortly after getting up and moving around and also taking my prednisone dose for the day. The rest of the day was relatively pain free. My Mayo rheumatologist told me the goal for the prednisone treatment was to help the pain as well as inflammation.

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John,
Thanks for your help in this area. How do I get a My Mayo rheumatologist?
@donstuber

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I had 3 Pfizer shots but for my 4th shot decided to “mix it up” and got Moderna. I have had aches and pains after each shot that lasted several months but nothing like I experienced after the 4th shot. Within a week I started feeling aches and stiffness - and it got much worse. Especially in my hips, pelvis, and knees. Had problems sleeping and whenever I was stationary for 1/2 hour or more (gardening, driving) it was difficult to move. Told my doctor about symptoms- he ran a ton of blood tests and my C reactive protein came back very high indicating inflammation. He diagnosed PMR (fortunately no GCA). I started at 40 mg, dropped to 30 mg and am now at 20 mg. Rechecking CRP in a couple weeks. Prednisone has eliminated symptoms but I want to get off it ASAP. I am convinced the Moderna shot ( which has 3X the amount of rna as Pfizer shot) triggered my PMR. I am not getting the current Covid shot or my flu shot until I’m off prednisone. I am 64.

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@dstuber

John,
Thanks for your help in this area. How do I get a My Mayo rheumatologist?
@donstuber

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My primary care doctor got me a referral to a Mayo rheumatologist when I had my first occurrence of PMR. If you are not currently a Mayo Clinic patient, you can contact one of the appointment offices. The contact information for Minnesota, Arizona and Florida can be found here http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.

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