1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Is it safe to get the Corona Virus (COVID-19) vaccine with PMR?

Posted by ncgal @ncgal, Nov 19, 2020

Just wondering if anyone has found out if it is okay to get the corona virus vaccine once it comes out. I'm 78, so past the 65+ age for early vaccinations, plus having the autoimmune diagnosis. I don't see my rheumatologist for another two months but guess I'll call him to find out if t comes to that. Just thought I'd see if anyone else has found out. I had no problem with the flu shot.

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

marymv | @marymv | May 29, 2021
In reply to @carteret "My husband 53 years old had the moderne vaccine in April. With in 24 hours he..." + (show)
@carteret

My husband 53 years old had the moderne vaccine in April. With in 24 hours he had severe pain in his hips and shoulders , he cannot put on his socks and shoes , is in pain when sleeping and it takes at least 45 minutes in the morning to get moving. His pain has been between a 7-10 since, off and on. He did not have these symptoms before. He did break his femur 30 years ago. His doctor did lab. Tests for PRM. The labs came back normal. He was sent to a orthopedic physician who has diagnosed him with Osteoarthritis of Hips and has scheduled hip replacement surgery in July and to see a masseuse for his shoulder pain. He is taking Celebrex twice a day and his pain is back . They are now offering valium to go with the Celebrex and to stop taking his Crestor . He did have a cortisone shot which last about 48 hours.
We at a loss and looking for some advice . His doctor does not feel the need for him to see a rheumatologist . he has seen urgent care , his general practitioner, the orthopedic surgeon, and has been to our local health department. All feel that the vaccine could not cause PMR . Where do we go from here ?

Jump to this post

I developed bilateral lumbar (lower back) pain after a high fever 36hrs post 2nd Pfizer COVID vac. Progressed to most PMR symptoms within weeks. Prednisone helped significantly in a few days. Please get another professional opinion. Best of luck!

REPLY
marymv | @marymv | May 29, 2021
In reply to @carteret "It has taken me 8 weeks but yes my husband finally agreed to contact a rheumatologist..." + (show)
@carteret

It has taken me 8 weeks but yes my husband finally agreed to contact a rheumatologist . Thank you so much for giving me confidence

Jump to this post

Great news!

REPLY
2heal | @2heal | May 29, 2021
In reply to @carteret "My husband 53 years old had the moderne vaccine in April. With in 24 hours he..." + (show)
@carteret

My husband 53 years old had the moderne vaccine in April. With in 24 hours he had severe pain in his hips and shoulders , he cannot put on his socks and shoes , is in pain when sleeping and it takes at least 45 minutes in the morning to get moving. His pain has been between a 7-10 since, off and on. He did not have these symptoms before. He did break his femur 30 years ago. His doctor did lab. Tests for PRM. The labs came back normal. He was sent to a orthopedic physician who has diagnosed him with Osteoarthritis of Hips and has scheduled hip replacement surgery in July and to see a masseuse for his shoulder pain. He is taking Celebrex twice a day and his pain is back . They are now offering valium to go with the Celebrex and to stop taking his Crestor . He did have a cortisone shot which last about 48 hours.
We at a loss and looking for some advice . His doctor does not feel the need for him to see a rheumatologist . he has seen urgent care , his general practitioner, the orthopedic surgeon, and has been to our local health department. All feel that the vaccine could not cause PMR . Where do we go from here ?

Jump to this post

I never had PMR and barely any signs of arthritis until a few days after my first Moderna vaccine. My pain was also 7-9. Because I was in the 50-70 yr old age group, my primary thought it might be PMR so he put me on prednisone 20mg/2x day. It took a couple days to kick in but the pain was soon under control, went back for labs, found the inflammation high, and I was then referred to a rheumatologist who is watching my SED labs and advising me on tapering off the Prednisone.
When reading about PMR I learned that there is thought to be a connection to viruses and vaccinations — that was noticed before covid was a pandemic. It has also been noticed that it may be connected to people of Northern European or Scandinavian descent. Those were true for me.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | May 29, 2021
In reply to @2heal "I never had PMR and barely any signs of arthritis until a few days after my..." + (show)
@2heal

I never had PMR and barely any signs of arthritis until a few days after my first Moderna vaccine. My pain was also 7-9. Because I was in the 50-70 yr old age group, my primary thought it might be PMR so he put me on prednisone 20mg/2x day. It took a couple days to kick in but the pain was soon under control, went back for labs, found the inflammation high, and I was then referred to a rheumatologist who is watching my SED labs and advising me on tapering off the Prednisone.
When reading about PMR I learned that there is thought to be a connection to viruses and vaccinations — that was noticed before covid was a pandemic. It has also been noticed that it may be connected to people of Northern European or Scandinavian descent. Those were true for me.

Jump to this post

I'm glad they were so quick to treat your pain. I hope you continue to improve. My inflammatory flares after Pfizer, and after the flu shot last year each responded to one course of prednisone.
Sue

REPLY
1 reply
2heal | @2heal | Jun 3, 2021
In reply to @sueinmn "I'm glad they were so quick to treat your pain. I hope you continue to improve...." + (show)
@sueinmn

I'm glad they were so quick to treat your pain. I hope you continue to improve. My inflammatory flares after Pfizer, and after the flu shot last year each responded to one course of prednisone.
Sue

Jump to this post

Sue, what is “one course” of prednisone?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jun 3, 2021
In reply to @2heal "Sue, what is “one course” of prednisone?" + (show)
@2heal

Sue, what is “one course” of prednisone?

Jump to this post

Oh, you are probably going to hate my answer - it depends. The answer with steroids is to use the lowest dose, for the shortest time, that will get the inflammatory situation under control.
In my case, with years of experience, my primary and I have settled on 7 days of 40 mg and 7 days of 20 mg for an inflammatory flare in back and joints - it seems to work for me. If not, we repeat once. When my lungs flare (asthma and bronchiectasis) 40 mg for 7 days usually does it. If the flare is in a single joint, a cortisone/lydocaine injection is often the answer.

Different diagnoses, and symptoms, my lead to other courses of the drug - or in other words "your results may vary"
Sue

REPLY
fel | @fel | Jul 11, 2021

Had my second Pfizer vaccine June 4 and about a week later began to feel under the skin itching and heat flushes. No problem after first dose March 2nd,2021.
I have a history of PMR and was on Prednisone for 15 months and off it completely now for about 15 months. Feel tired. Only Reactin once a day 10 mg helps. My recent blood test shows elevated sed rate but crp normal. Anyone else have this?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 11, 2021
In reply to @fel "Had my second Pfizer vaccine June 4 and about a week later began to feel under..." + (show)
@fel

Had my second Pfizer vaccine June 4 and about a week later began to feel under the skin itching and heat flushes. No problem after first dose March 2nd,2021.
I have a history of PMR and was on Prednisone for 15 months and off it completely now for about 15 months. Feel tired. Only Reactin once a day 10 mg helps. My recent blood test shows elevated sed rate but crp normal. Anyone else have this?

Jump to this post

Hello @fel, Welcome to Connect. I was really tired the day after my second Pfizer shot but was feeling normal the next day. My PMR is currently in remission although I've had 2 occurrences of the PMR, the last one ended in 2018 when I was able to stop taking prednisone. I don't think the elevated ESR and normal CRP means your PMR is back.
The regular pain from PMR will let you know it's active. Here's some information on the test from Mayo Clinic - https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/sed-rate/about/pac-20384797

Have you discussed your latest symptoms with your doctor?

REPLY
johnlo | @johnlo | Jul 13, 2021

Helllooo everyone. I have been dealing with a PMR flare up for around 6 mos. It freaking hurts! I was NOT C-19 VACCINATED and not on any PMR medications. My mind was not in a very likable place at this point...not thinking clearly at all. My Rhum. Dr. said my blood markers were normal (recently) and that I don't have PMR....which I know is false, I know for a fact I have it. That Dr. is no longer my Dr....Fired !
Anyways, I was resisting the C-19 vaccine because of the long term unknowns, I didn't need anything else going wrong with my health, I have enough to deal with as it is now. I did some research on how the Vaccine was working out in testing groups and all that stuff, but never found the info that I was wanting to find. So I to put a theory together out of all the info that I did find. IF you haven't received your first dose yet and you are in a PMR flare up, I recommend you get the shot. After I got my first Moderna Vac. shot, within 2 days my PMR symptoms went down around 50% !

REPLY
2 replies
johnlo | @johnlo | Jul 13, 2021
In reply to @johnlo "Helllooo everyone. I have been dealing with a PMR flare up for around 6 mos. It..." + (show)
@johnlo

Helllooo everyone. I have been dealing with a PMR flare up for around 6 mos. It freaking hurts! I was NOT C-19 VACCINATED and not on any PMR medications. My mind was not in a very likable place at this point...not thinking clearly at all. My Rhum. Dr. said my blood markers were normal (recently) and that I don't have PMR....which I know is false, I know for a fact I have it. That Dr. is no longer my Dr....Fired !
Anyways, I was resisting the C-19 vaccine because of the long term unknowns, I didn't need anything else going wrong with my health, I have enough to deal with as it is now. I did some research on how the Vaccine was working out in testing groups and all that stuff, but never found the info that I was wanting to find. So I to put a theory together out of all the info that I did find. IF you haven't received your first dose yet and you are in a PMR flare up, I recommend you get the shot. After I got my first Moderna Vac. shot, within 2 days my PMR symptoms went down around 50% !

Jump to this post

Posting continued: Without the vaccine, the PMR is flaring up due to it is fighting off the virus. It needs help, so get the vaccine. So far(5 days into it) the Moderna is working out for me. I couldn't find ANY info saying that ANY Rhum. Drs. know this! I pretty much stumbled on to it.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.