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Even prior to learing about the CCVI theroy related to MS I have always felt a connection between getting a back and/or neck massage and having flair up of symptoms. Once a year I go to a spa with my colleagues and I always have a relapse after. I always found it to be strange and just thought that maybe it was from the heat in the sauna or hot tub but last time I didn't go in and the next morning work up with new symptoms. I am just wondering how if this fits with the CCVI theory and if others have experience such a thing.

Thanks!

I have the opposite symptomology...the back and neck massage seems to loosen things up and i will have greater range of motion. too bad it is only temporary

I could never go into a sauna or hot tub

I just got on to post and Peek beat me to it. I have a massage once a month and it helps a lot. Granted, it's only temporary, but I'll take it. My massage therapist treats a lot of people with MS and we always start with questions about how I'm feeling, what's tight, what's wrong, and occasionally what's right with me!
Ditto on the sauna or hot tub. I could never do them. Oddly, though, hot showers are OK. Go figure...

Javaneen...
Looking at this thru the CCSVI prism, it really depends where your blockage is. If you have an internal jugular vein with stenosis, a neck massage in the area where collateral veins are swollen might lead to more leakage of blood into tissue, more inflammation and an increase of MS symptoms. People with azygos blockage won't be bothered as much by massages, since the veins are covered by more muscle and tissue.

Jeff never liked neck massages...now we know why. He enjoys hot tubs and jacuzzis, but only if the temp in 96deg. or lower...the jets relax leg spasms.
cheer

Cheer wrote:

massage in the area where collateral veins are swollen might lead to more leakage of blood into tissue, more inflammation and an increase of MS symptoms.

Leakage? I have been reading all the posts on this thread, but I must have missed this part. So I get that there is blockage which is causing the veins to back up and swell, but I wasn't fully understanding how that edema might lead to lesions. Are the veins (in theory) swelling AND leaking? What ,then the "crap" in the blood is causing the lesions? I'm sorry if I am a little slow on the uptake, I have had "the fog" all week.

FYI - Earlier this week Lew mentioned that his head felt full, and I thought ,"Hmm, my head feels "full" too". Now its all I can think about. Thanks Lew!

Heather

My massage therapist is also a physical therapist which is wonderful because she is able to move and adjust the bone structure and then massage the muscles. I would not miss an appointment - in fact, massage has been a part of my personal treatment plan to help with my MS.

Javaneen... I am sorry that you do not get some relief from a massage - they can be so calming to the body.
S

Javaneen, when I had my first MS episode that led to my diagnosis, I kept saying that when I had a massage, which I tried then because I was trying everything to feel better, it made me feel much worse. We couldn't put the pieces together at the time, but now it makes sense that while lesions were lit up, so to speak, a massage was aggravating. Since then, I have enjoyed massages but do typically shy away from having my neck handled. Hope you are doing better. - Randi

You probably have a blocked or defective vein which can't be opened through massage. The massage probably exacerbates the blood reflex, hence the symptoms. You may be a candidate for angioplasty which could actually open the veins and rid you of the disease. But until then you have to do whatever necessary to minimize the brain damage. Also use diet and supplements to optimally nourish the brain cells.
"Apparently one third of MS cases experience a spectacular recovery after the blocked veins leading from the CNS are opened with angioplasty.This means a Cure. Unfortunately, the improvement doesn't always last, the veins may close up again. And each time the vein is re-opened, it is damaged. So now there is an effort to replace the damaged vein in the neck with a vein taken elsewhere in the body (jugular bypass surgery). I don't know how successful that procedure has been. Up to 25,000 angioplasties for CCSVI on MS patients have been performed worldwide; their success rate isn't known.

According to Dr. Gary Siskin the remaining two thirds of MS patients obtain little or no relief from angioplasty. The jugular vein "restenoses" after being opened 50% of the time. If the vein collapses so easily, it may open easily as well. I have found a neck massage pushing the blood down towards the heart is enough to stop an “attack”. I believe the various vein abnormalities (wall membrane too thin?) can be more subtle than a mechanically treatable stenosis. Blood circulation can be restricted by a weakened vein which narrows intermittently or collapses because of stress and can be kept open without angioplasty by removing the stress (e.g.glutens, aspartame, mercury fillings, mother, food intolerances, cold, flus, toxins, ambition) and enhancing blood circulation (massage, acupuncture, acupressure, kinesiology, homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, swimming, massage.) For these patients toxic MS drugs may aggravate the problem. This means Controlling MS. Individual solutions for the venous blood circulation problem can be as varied as the multiple stress factors which trigger it. That is why what works for one MS patient may not work for another.
See my info post MS Cure Enigmas.net