Covid jab and return of PMR symptoms

[simps999]

I had successfully reduced to 3mg after a year of taking pred. A week after having the covid jab as I was supposedly vulnerable my PMR symptoms are bad again. Neck ,shoulders and buttock pains as before. Have gone upto 5mg for the past four days on GPs recommendation but no relief . Had blood test this morning.

Anybody else experience similar and how long did it last for ?

So frustrating as was starting to feel really good and free from pain even after spinal decompression surgery back in February.

Any advice welcomed please.

.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You probably would have been better served following advice contained in this link for dealing with a flare - an increase of 2mg is really not enough -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

The increase of 5mg for 7-10 (14 at most) usually does the trick -and then you can drop back to slightly above previous dose.

[simps999 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your reply. Do you think it is too late to try that now ? I did request to the GP that I did that as had remembered reading about this advice but she didn't think it was a good idea !

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to simps999]

Not too late - just go up to 8mg and see if it makes a difference - you can counts the days you’ve been on 5mg in the equation - so another week or so should tell you.

If it works, perhaps you could tell her it worked better than her suggestion….politely and not too smugly, of course..😊 hope it does.

[simps999 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank youWill try and keep everything crossed it will help

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to simps999]

Aye well - she's not got the pain and the PMR does she!!

The vaccines can trigger immune system upsets, even triggering PMR itself - was your initial onset related to a jab then?

[simps999 in reply to PMRpro]

No it came on after having covid a year ago. I nearly didn't have the latest vaccine and so wish I hadn't but have to deal with where I am now and hope increasing the pred will help. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to simps999]

Much the same difference I suspect,

[Mayadill]

Six months in my case, the life of the jab. I think most side-effects do not last that long. I so sympathize. I was right down to 5 mg, I'd had both cataracts done, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, everything in the garden is lovely, then I was pronged. The whole thing was bizarre. if you're sure yours are the same old PMR symptoms you know well then follow the advice of DL and Pro! My situation was complicated by different symptoms.

[simps999 in reply to Mayadill]

Thank you for your advice. Hope you are feeling better now and this flare doesn't last another six months !

[RT18]

my mum flared after last jab. Symptoms resolved overnight with increase in pred.

[simps999 in reply to RT18]

Thank you for your encouraging comment .

[spikyPMR]

I have ignored my Covid Jab invitation as I have a jiggly feeling my PMR onset was triggered by a Covid Jab - although I did have the last one I was invited to.

[simps999 in reply to spikyPMR]

It's a difficult one, but really wished I had gone along with my initial instinct not to have it this time.

[PUMC]

I took my last 1 mg prednisone February 20,. 2021 and had my first COVID (Moderna) vaccine the same day. I felt great for 30 days until I had the second vaccine March 19, 2021. Within days, I couldn’t raise my arms, turn over in bed; all the classic markers of PMR that I prayed would go away. Mid April I had blood tests that confirmed tge PMR was back. Took 20 mg for 3 weeks, and have been very slowly reducing ever since. (At 4.5 mg right now). I have had no difficulty with COVID boosters, as they are “half loads.” I also have opted for the regular flu shot yearly vs the Senior one which is 4 X as strong.

[PUMC in reply to PUMC]

I should add that my initial PMR developed 4 days after having the new Shingles vaccine and the Senior flu vaccine same day.

[simps999 in reply to PUMC]

Interesting ! That's why they call it an autoimmune disease ! Didn't know that there was a difference in the flu vaccines.

Hope you don't have any more flares

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to simps999]

Sorry - don't understand what you mean by that?

An autoimmune disease is caused by the immune system becoming dysregulated and it becomes unable to recognise your body as self. As a result it attacks body tissues and causes inflammation and potentially damage. No-one knows what really causes the dysregulation but it is felt likely to be an accumulation of insults to the immune system throughout life and eventually something is the straw that breaks the camel's back and tips the immune system over the edge. It can be anything that stresses the immune system - events like illness, trauma, bereavement, overwork, substances both chemical and environmental. No two people have the same history, there is no single cause, and a vaccine of any sort can be that final trigger- but so could any of the factors I mentioned.

[jls93]

Covid booster set me off with PMR flare. Lesson learned. Hang in there.

[simps999 in reply to jls93]

Thank you

[jls93 in reply to simps999]

Sure. Full disclosure initial covid vax: no problem, 1st booster:hmm? Niggle something not right, 3rd outright fell into the toilet. Used to work in healthcare. lol. Pursue your health and know your body... take care. Best to you. Experience is quite a teacher huh

[BLUEPMR]

I had my third Covid Jab November 2021 they used Astra Zenica instead of Pfizer like they did on the first two since then I've had a flare up of M.E, PMR and I get itchy rashes if I get cold or too hot and am totally weak and exhausted no signs of getting any better yet. Not having any more boosters. Sorry not to be able to give a better report.

[simps999 in reply to BLUEPMR]

So sorry to hear this. Hope things improve for you soon.

[BLUEPMR in reply to simps999]

Thank you simps999 today I had more energy than I've had in ages after 13 days on Histamine/SIBO diet so hopefully this will help.