Had first astrazeneca vaccination mid February and felt a bit off for a day of so which I expected. About a week later I felt old M.S. symptoms returning including dizziness, numbness down right side and mouth neuralgia which is awful. I guess I’m in the throes of a relapse and can’t help worrying that it’s been brought on by the vaccination. Due to see my Neurologist in a few weeks time but now very worried about vaccination number 2. I believe in the vaccinations but feel that my immune system has gone into overdrive causing me to relapse.
Has anyone else had a similar reaction?
Hello
I had the pfizer jab and no side effects at all.
However as we know from experience, relapses happen with very little warning.
So how can anyone tell if a vaccine caused it?
Anyway run it by your neuro and let us know.
Not me. After the Astrazeneca vaccine, 1st dose, I felt like someone had punched me in the arm for a few days along with lightheadedness coming and going and that was it. I did have Covid at the begining of the year though and Covid Fatigue plus my MS fatigue = zzzzzzzzzz. Sure a low mood also doesn’t help with fatigue 
I know the vaccine has not cause me to relapse. Not even a small amount as I had my yearly MRI a 2 weeks later and there was no activity or changes compared to my previous MRI. My Relapses tend to start slow and build for weeks and peek 2-4 weeks into it so zero activity 2 weeks after the vaccine tells me the vaccine did not cause a relapse, least in me. It also didn’t cause any of my daily MS symptoms to intensify or change in anyway.
This is from the Barts Blog.
DOES COVID-19 CAUSE MS TO RELAPSE?
You may be aware, or not, that about a third of relapses are preceded by an infection, which are typically viral infections. The observation that infections trigger relapses was made in the pre-DMT (disease-modifying treatment) era and possibly doesn’t hold for pwMS who are on a DMT. Therefore if you have MS and are not on a DMT I would think coronavirus infections, like other viral infections, could trigger relapses. However, I suspect if you are on a DMT, in particular a high-efficacy DMT, then COVID-19 won’t trigger a relapse.
MS-Selfie - Q: Does COVID-19 cause MS to relapse? (google.com)
The second Oxford jab is supposed to be milder, if that helps.
“Adverse reactions reported after the second dose were milder and reported less frequently than after the first dose. Adverse reactions were generally milder and reported less frequently in older adults (65 years and older) than in younger people.”
Coronavirus vaccine - weekly summary of Yellow Card reporting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Thank you all for your replies. I really hope this ‘flare up’ calms down soon. I have a few weeks before my second vaccine is due and am hopeful the side effects are milder this time round too!
I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago and my M.S has been pretty stable for the last few years. I’ve been on Copaxone for around 15 years.
Thanks all
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I had the AZ jab a fortnight ago. Had no side effects at all.