Athletes - who else thinks they may have overtrained and ended up with an auto-immune disorder

[Cyclo5]

I know I over-analyse my illness (PMR). I also know that I have, to an extent, as an amateur athlete over-trained for many years. Conventional wisdom suggests that aerobic heart rate sessions should form 8/10 of workout sessions, at circa 65% max heart rate (MHR). I can recall training for the 2015 Mountain Running World Champs and doing big 5 week blocks with 1-2 very high anaerobic sessions per week, along with 4 other sessions, weight training, cycling and zone 2 (heart rate) HR runs (aerobic). In the 90s I specialised in long-distance mountain bike racing, again at a very high level, and again with too much intensity in training.

Is anyone else aware of training to excess, not recovering correctly or sleeping enough and then suffering from auto-immune illnesses?

[I have had vasculitis (1999), Sarcoidosis (2005) and now PMR (2019) ]

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There are experts who believe that physical over-exertion can trigger PMR, certainly a relapse. However, they don't think it is the single event but it, like everything else it is the cumulation of stress on the immune system.

scielo.mec.pt/scielo.php?sc....

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/235...

Again, a case of moderation in all things ...

[Cycleman in reply to PMRpro]

In my case over exertion definitely triggered PMR. My GP felt that I had been suffering from PMR for some time, despite no apparent inflammation. His rationale being that I had had an unexplained weight loss (7%) over the previous year.

[Cyclo5 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro, I shall read avidly later this evening. As others have said, no direct known cause but possibly one of many contributory factors stressing the auto-immune function.

[Maisiek]

Yes ! I’ve often wondered: I took up jogging aged 70- did the couch25K- and was running 5K s at Parkruns. .... 😰

[SheffieldJane]

No not me, pity it sounds rather noble. I succumbed to mental stressors happening one after another. I was trying to be perfect though, always the road to trouble. Lockdown has enabled my Graves’ disease flare up, including prominent eyes and a goitre. It has lain dormant for 20+ years. It may not have helped having all my grandchildren and daughters emigrate. A private Opthalmologist spotted it, I’d gone about cataracts.

[nickm001]

I think it might have been a factor in my PMR. At age of 66 I was prepping for triathlon after long pause and doing long endurance sessions (30+ min) at 85% of max HR just before I got symptoms. In fact the first diagnosis was over-training and Dr wanted me to just rest for at least a week. Several weeks later, when symptoms got worse, I insisted on second, detailed analysis, when finally PMR was suspected and I was referred to rheumatologist, which did more tests and confirmed that indeed was PMR.

Having said that, I also want to mention another possible trigger - my kid got chickenpox about that time too. Could that be the reason?

Human want to explain things and sometimes overthink. It could have been either one of them or neither. Keep in mind that cause of PMR is unknown. Best to focus on how to recover from it...What caused it really does not matter now :).

[Cyclo5 in reply to nickm001]

Thanks yes, agree with that sentiment.

[Bro-]

Your post is interesting to me because I feel the same way. I have always worked out - weight training and cardio snd during the pandemic I was following an intense weight training program and was feeling better than I ever felt at 54. Then July and august I just couldn’t recover from my workouts. I just thought it was overtraining. I was icing my neck- foam rolling my back. Taking Advil everyday until I became too sick to workout snd was diagnosed with PMR- GCA. It’s been debilitating snd I miss working out so much! I feel your pain . I keep thinking I did something to cause this from my training but I know that’s not the cause

[Cyclo5 in reply to Bro-]

Interesting, as I was 53 when diagnosed, had spent Winter doing Olympic weight training/weightlifting with a great coach. It was really helping my overall fitness too.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bro-]

Though continuing to train at that level by using painkillers SHOULD have been something of a warning!! Pain is there for a reason.

[Bro- in reply to PMRpro]

I agree!! Was thinking it was arthritis and blaming it on my age-

[Coffeebeans]

I wonder if was a factor with me. I was a runner, happy doing half marathons and generally ran 3-4 times a week with a weights session too.

I generally run at a high heart rate - always have and have never managed to bring it down. Never had any signs of overtraining other other than RHR sometimes went up and I would cut back a bit. Always listened to my body though.

Suppose we will never know.

[Cyclo5 in reply to Coffeebeans]

That's a good point about RHR, mine has always been pretty low avg RHR of 46. It went up quite a lot in the early days of PMR, pré pred treatment, to c 75-85bpm. Then once on pred, it came down to about 62, so still higher than my "normal" RHR.

[Coffeebeans in reply to Cyclo5]

Mine also shot up from around 48 to 70 ish. Now hovers around 60 which is far higher than in my fit days. Probably because I'm heavier too!

[Capprice]

I initially put my (PMR) symptoms down to having worked out gently but all-day-every-day whilst at home during lockdown. Although always having been fit and active .. I'd never actually worked out in my life until then. I'd complained of feeling lethargic to my son (who lives away from home) so he sent me a work-out regime which I took to the extreme! I loved doing the exercises so much I'd even do them whilst walking from lounge to kitchen and bedroom to bathroom 🤣

Anyway, almost a month into this I woke after a very uncomfortable nights sleep (not being able to turn in bed) and found I couldn't actually sit up without effort and discomfort nor get out of bed 😭

Put it down to over working my limbs and rested. 4 weeks later, getting progressively worse symptoms, I contacted GP who suggested Pred. Within 48 hours I was cured of the symptoms 🤔

I am 55

[Cyclo5 in reply to Capprice]

Perhaps that was the piece of extra stress that stretched the auto-immune response too far?

[Capprice in reply to Cyclo5]

What was interesting to read was that another PMR sufferer suggested it may have already been in my system (previous major incidence) and my over-exercising tipped me over the edge .. I'm not looking for a cause anymore, just how to get out of this 'hell hole' but got excited at the mention of overdoing it being the cause .. as that was my initial thought 🤎

[Cyclo5 in reply to Capprice]

From all I have read and the information shared here, especially via PMRpro, there is no one cause. There is no known cause at all. For some, like me, it is interesting to peruse and consider contributory factors. What we do know is that, on the whole, exercise and maintaining muscle mass is hugely beneficial, esp into older age. Supports bones, helps with heart health, reduces risk of cancer, stroke, osteoporosis etc, I still try to exercise now but need far more rest, far less intensity Eg much lower HR, shorter sessions, Eg much shorter cycles., Walks rather than runs. I always feel better after some form of exercise, even if I have a slight ache in a shoulder or something. Certainly helps with hip mobility.