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Sad to see how much this forum has devolved into an us vs. them, let's club each other over the head war zone. This may wind up being one of my last contributions here. Both sides need to ratchet it back a bit, and allow rationality rather than emotionality to rule the day and the discourse. Very few things in life are black-and-white, including the issue of CCSVI. The hypothesis is likely to prove neither the hoax that its most ardent detractors would make it out to be, nor the panacea that those most enamored with it wish it to become.
As for Dr. Embry's paper, just a few comments. While the crab drugs most probably do not slow progression (and many mainstream neurologists have been admitting this for quite some time now), to say they are worthless overstates things a bit. The fact is, they do reduce relapse rates, which does improve the quality of life for patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. While an improvement in quality of life might be less than was hoped for, it is still of considerable benefit to those afflicted with the disease. Certainly the drugs have been overhyped, and overpriced, but patients who had been experiencing four or five relapses a year before being put on one of the DMD's, and only one or two after, would argue that their taking the drug hasn't been without value.
I'd also quibble with Dr. Embry's contention that the liberation procedure has benefited "almost every one of the 1500+ patients that have had it". From personal experience, and contacts I've had with those who have undergone the procedure, through my blog and in "real life", a substantial percentage of those who have undergone liberation have failed to see significant benefit. What the percentages of those benefiting vs. those not benefiting is unknown, since the vast majority of the 1500+ have not been tracked in any way. We've actually only heard from several dozen of those 1500+, and predictably, those who have reported most fervently are the ones who have seen dramatic results. It's understandable that those who haven't would be much quieter about their experiences.
I'm excluding myself from these calculations, because even though I did undergo the procedure, my blockages were unable to be addressed. Once again, I'll remind everybody that I am a CCSVI advocate, who believes that the hypothesis will prove be a major part in the MS puzzle. I don't think it's the whole story, but it's at least a few vital chapters.
With that, I'll likely take my leave from this place. See you in the funny pages...
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