This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Dear TiMS,

I would like to discuss my experience with what I have termed positional therapy, but first a bit of background on me. I was diagnosed with RRMS in about 2000. I had one episode of optic neuritis that completely resolved followed by episodes of partial transverse myelitis that recured about 1-2 times per year. My EDSS is is 2-2.5 and I remain quite functional, still being able to play a good game of tennis. Fatigue is present but not severe.

I had a doppler done in Montreal by Baranayai that showed clear reflux in the left VV's and IJ. This corresponds to the side of all of my lesions which are all on the left. I have about 3-4 in the brain and multiple lesions from c1-c6. What was interesting is that flow in the VV was position dependent. It completely occluded with my head turned to the left.

I proceeded to have an MRI at False Creek which was read as normal. The report however spoke of a narrowing of the lower left jugular, but it was thought to be hemodynamically insignificant. I did not have the doppler there.

As my obstruction was position dependent, I thought I would try to sleep with my head positioned to the right. To be sure I did this during sleep, I taped a shoelace from my chin to to my right should which prevented me from tuning my head past the midline to the left. Perhaps it is a bit early to report on my progress (3 days) but I have noted a significant improvement in the quality of my sleep and my energy level during the day. I also noted that my face is less swollen in the am, although I acknowledge this is very subjective. Handwriting also seems more fluid. Looking forward to to see what happens over the next week.

Also, FYI, I did try IBT for about one month by with no clear results. I in fact thought I was more fatigued, so I stopped it.

North52, it sounds like it's helping and the right thing to do with your particular positional-dependent occlusion.

This fits with my belief of why it's so important for us to find out what's going on in our own individual necks. This is information gained from a scan that can be put immediately into practice (no looking left!) even before looking for a possible surgical intervention. The other group like this is those with bone infringements on the veins (seek chiropractic atlas adjustment!).

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"However, the truth in science ultimately emerges, although sometimes it takes a very long time," Arthur Silverstein, Autoimmunity: A History of the Early Struggle for Recognition

When you stoipped IBT did you feel less fatigued?

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