This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Has anyone ever had a relapse triggered by a massage?

I had a deep tissue on Monday, mostly to my hips and butt, but he did a fair amount of work on my neck.
When I got up from the table I had overpowering vertigo, which is typical. But it didn't go away, and three days later I think I have accept that this is my first relapse in 4 years.

I have a big ole' lesion on my brain stem, which caused a pretty powerful spell of vertigo 4 years ago. This would be the third time this bad boy has acted up.

My first-ever relapse was also triggered by a neck massage; that one was sensory but also caused by the lesion on my brain stem (I don't recall the details but the inflammation spread over to an area that affects sense of touch). I was undiagnosed so went to the ER and the docs thought I have a compressed or torn artery.

I also wonder if it could be related to blood flow or release of toxins such as lactic acid? I'm going to drink as much water as is humanly possible.

I'm also freaking out because in two weeks I am launching a new magazine, the highest point in my career to date. F@#k.

Sorry I haven't been on the boards in so long - I'd been living in a blissful bubble of denial until now.

I had a massage a few months ago and also felt terribly afterward. I was very disappointed because I was hoping that a massage would provide some relief from spasticity. I also have a brainstem lesion.

Yes! I have had 3 relapses after 2 osteo treatments and one deep massage.
There is no doubt in my mind that these were brought on by the treatments.
I also got vertigo real bad after my last trtmnt it lasted 3 months

Just wanted to add that you might want to go to a professional who knows how to do the epley manoeuvre.
It might help a bit with vertigo if crystals in your ear have been dislodged due to thdm massage

Yes! I'm glad you brought this topic up. My worst ever relapse so far was triggered, or worsened, by massage of the neck.

This was several years ago. I had actually already started relapsing already, I had vertigo feelings for several days. But kept on working and tried to carry on normal activities. I had a massage of the back scheduled on Friday. The massageur did also my neck area, quite intensely. The next morning my symptoms were significantly worse. Had to go to the hospital to get the steroid treatment eventually. MRI showed a giant plaque in my brain.

I have also had an exacerbation triggered by sex...but that´s another story.

Acupunction has for me triggered an exacerbation of ms as well, by the way. What is in common for these triggers (massage, acupuncture, sex), however is that every time there was an underlying active inflammation already present (=mild emerging symptoms) before the trigger. The "trigger" then escalated the symptoms.