PMR auto-immune diseases and Physical Stress

[Matua]

Does anyone have any good information on this? In 2019 after a 10 day period of extremely heavy physical work I developed Guillaume Barre Syndrome and was hospitalised for 4 weeks and had to learn to walk, feed myself again etc etc. I was 73 strong and fit (maybe??)

In 2020 after I spent a week wheelbarrowing on 11 tonnes of lime onto my garden paths I developed PMR ( by then 74 and still strong and fit😇)

I am now 76 and still dealing with PMR!Grrrrr.

GBS and PMR are both auto immune diseases and I have always wondered if the heavy physical work contributed to my auto immune response in some way? I know that GBS is often triggered by campylobacter or other stomach problems. In my case I had nothing wrong..GBS came out of the blue just like my PMR did.

Any information is welcome

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There have been experts who have said they believe that any form of stress, including physical stress, can trigger the immune system into going haywire so it could be the final straw sending an already stressed immune system into freefall. Physical stress has been shown to be associated with the development of autoimmune disease - though I'm struggling to find the references since google seems unable to distinguish between physiological and psychological!!!

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/181...

Moderate physical activity is regarded as beneficial for autoimmune disease sufferers but it is also well known that professional athletes do have considerable problems with their immune systems due to the level of training they undertake. A body that is already affected by a immune-mediated disorder then has a lower tolerance of physical exertion - so doing too much when you have an autoimmune disorder is quite likely to contribute to a flare.

[Flivoless in reply to PMRpro]

I first started feeling the PMR pains shortly after moving a number of heavy paving slabs, but I had also just received my first Covid jab. So, the jury is still out on the actual culprit.

[PMRCanada]

I developed PMR symptoms after attending our new gym and doing three very strenuous workouts after having been inactive for a couple years. Woke up the morning after the last workout with painful knees. I didn’t have a doctor at the time and both trips to the ER of our local hospital resulted in the attending physician saying the pain was due to overdoing it. It made the diagnosis process confusing and lengthy until the pain moved up my body into hip girdle and eventually shoulders, neck and upper arms. Finally my new GP diagnosed me within weeks after bloodwork was completed.

Of note, I was also recovering from a nasty upper respiratory infection at the same time I moved and started working out in the gym. Likely all too much for my immune system that ended up going haywire.

[Hidden]

I was diagnosed with Adult Onset Stills Disease aged 17 after a UTI that went untreated for several weeks. The consultant said often these types of infections can be a trigger. I was also suffering intense emotional stress for a year leading up to the illness.