This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi TiMS !!!

Today I want to share my experience with you about Vasalva.
In March I had my Doppler ultrasound in Frankfurt. After this test I felt some changing in my symptoms.
I try to explain you what it was.
Frankfurt is from my hometown almost 200 km, It was a very cold day. On my way return to home, I didn´t feel any disturbance to drive, after a long time I driven Frankfurt to home with out any stop.
It was a wonder , I just thought what happened???After a long day I don´t have headache why???
What Happened??
During the test, Dr. found that my Right Jugulars Vein have no flow, He asked me to take a long breath and hold it and He found that now Blood is flowing.
From that day, I am doing regularly Vasalva daily 2,3 times. My Symptoms are better.
1. My chronic headache is not more
2. Numbness of my feet 90% better
3. Numbness of my Hands 70% better
4. Much active
5. No more Chronic fatigue

GuRu

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We must learn our limits. We are all something, but none of us are everything.
GuRu
RRMS Dx 07/09

Very very interesting, I'm posting from my phone so I can't link it but if you look for my thread posting my wifes ultrasound there are very telling images showing valsalva opening her veins...

I think I'll have her try adding valsalva to her physical therapy routine.

EDIT: Here is the thread with ultrasounds images showing the effect of Valsalva on the stenosed portion of my wife's jugulars.
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopic-10862-0- ... rasc-.html

How long do you hold your breath? Is it a "full full deep breath"? I can't hold my breath more than ~30 seconds anymore

30 sec are enough, more then 30 sec is also not good.

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We must learn our limits. We are all something, but none of us are everything.
GuRu
RRMS Dx 07/09

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver

Wiki's link...

I'm gonna try it right now!!! lol

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If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Al Einstein

Be careful, I was doing this before I got my attack of vertigo.

There are many things that could have caused my vertigo (nystatin, infection, osteopathic treatment on my neck) but I was also doing the valsalva maneuver so don't know for sure which one was connected to the vertigo but I suppose it is possible for it to shift particles in the ear or something.

Maybe for me it just exposed an inner ear issue which had nothing to do with my MS.

Can someone post exact steps to do this. I am an yoga person anyway and this would fall easily in that routine ...

BTW, moderators I have been thinking for a long time now - should we add a sub topic for exercise

GuRu,

Do you just hold your breath or do what the wiki article says? ("The Valsalva maneuver or Valsalva manoeuvre is performed by forcible exhalation against a closed airway, usually done by closing one's mouth and pinching one's nose shut. ")

eg. take a deep breath, close your mouth + plug your nose and blow out hard to equalize the pressure in your ears,etc.. ?

Sounds promising

And how long do you think your veins stayed clear for?

People who have stents put in place better avoid this (for a fortnight.) It would be useful if people who have imaging done in the future could try this out at the end of the session themselves and see if it works for them too.

Thanks for the information.

I just take a long deep breath, close my mouth, just lightly try to press upwards, NOT STRONGLY. IF YOU WILL DO IT STRONGLY YOU WILL GET NECK PAIN.

_________________
We must learn our limits. We are all something, but none of us are everything.
GuRu
RRMS Dx 07/09

It's great that you had a positive experience with it, but in general I have the impression that the valsalva maneuver is not such a good idea. Personally, it makes me feel dizzy and awful. I was told to do it by my cardiologist only as a last-ditch option when I have tachycardia, because there's something about doing it that affects your cardiac system. That aspect of it would make me feel uncomfortable doing the traditional valsalva regularly. Maybe there's a gentle yoga version of it?

You are absolutely right people with stents MUST AVOID this.

I don´t know how long my veins stayed clear but when I feel some problems, I just do it again

_________________
We must learn our limits. We are all something, but none of us are everything.
GuRu
RRMS Dx 07/09

The yoga exercise which comes close to this is called anulom vilom but it is gentler than valsava ...

http://www.yogawiz.com/pranayama/anulom-vilom.html

"I just take a long deep breath, close my mouth, just lightly try to press upwards"

I don't understand this. Press what? How is it done?? Sorry for being so dense - maybe it is due to languageproblems....

As if you are on the toilet, and trying to poop... or yelling,, even singing. Take a deep breath, and hold it, push the breath, without breathing out.

I do not think this is a good thing if you have CCSVI, or are at risk of stroke. The Valsalva manoeuvre basically pushes the blood back into the brain. This is why it is not uncommon for people to have strokes, blow out aneurysms, etc. while sitting on the toilet.

I have been wanting to comment on this, but my brain cannot think, or explain more than that (I have been singing to my 3 year old...).

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My name is not really Johnson. MSed up since 1993