This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

UprightDoc,

Regarding your Tour De Force of a book "The Downside of Upright Posture".

I am a strong believer in Zamboni's, Schelling's, etc. belief in CCSVI as being the root cause, or playing a hugh role in MS. So with that said it looks like your are seriously batting 1 for 3 so far in your hunch that to solve the puzzle of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis one need to study the anatomy and flow of CSF and blood through the neck. Well done sir, bravo. Too me your theory has been proven correct concerning MS.

You are either a genius or clairvoyant. For the folks here that suffer from any of these diseases or may in the future I thank you.

There are so many big picture take aways in your book. The first for me being how CSF is created in your brain. Absolutely fascinating that pressure differentials are key to this process. An item that OneEye, Cheerleader, and Dr. Zivadinov agree with you completely on.

Also, how you go through the symptoms of Alzheimer's and can explain them through pressure problems leading to CSF being in the wrong spot or wrong amount or wrong pressure at the wrong time are just amazing theories.

Sorry I am such a dummy but if your correct this latest WSJ article on Tau and AD

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20121107-917275.html?mod=crnews

will just prove to be another road that may at best, lead to, a DMD, not a cure. Ok fine, but it gets us no closer to understanding the disease process. Your book lays out a very elegant theory. Which if I am reading it correctly would state that yes brains with folks with AD are full of the protein Tau, but how it got there was through degeneration and the degeneration started because of pressure problems with the CSF in the brain and these pressure problems are a result of anatomical issues in the neck.

Ok sorry to be rude and cut to the chase but tell me, are shunts reducing symptoms or degeneration yet in people with AD? Should I suggest this yet to my friends' parents with AD? From TIMIS it truly sounds like your upper cervical spine chiropractic adjustments are helping folks with PD. This makes so much sense. Are there any doctors in the Seattle area you would suggest for my friend with PD?

Are the FONAR images or PET scans or fMRI or Dr. Haacke images confirming your theory? Your theory is so elegant and testable. I have been reading about devices being invented in Europe that can non-invasively prove your theories by reading peoples intercranial pressures through the eye. Again your insight into the eye being a window to the brain is genius.

Thanks again, I can't wait to finish this book!

"One of the types of changes found in essentially all neurodegenerative diseases is the over-expression of oxygen free radical compounds (oxidative stress) that cause lipid, protein and genetic structural changes. In addition to structural and genetic changes it is thought that nutritional deficiences, head trauma, environmental toxins, chronic bacterial and viral infections, autoimmune-immunological responses, vascular diseases, accumulation of fluid in the brain (CSF/edema), changes in neurotransmitter concentration (actelcholine in AD, dopamine in PD) and other causes are involved in various neurodegenerative diseases...An attractive model for neurodegeneration resulting in neurodegenerative diseases involves the toxic products produced as a result of chronic viral andor bacterial infections..."

I consider about a third of all the cases of MS I have examined as migraine and autoimmune-inflammatory conditions. As mentioned in the study above they can have many different triggers and causes, especially oxidative stress, as well as internal and external toxins and vascular diseases. Internal toxic products can be initiated by oxidative stress (glutamate cascade). External toxins can come from viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites, plants, snakes, spiders, bees etc.. They can also come from foods we eat that don't agree with out particular physiology such as milk sugars, wheat, corn, soybeans, nightshades, etc.. Some patient have multiple factors due to weak chi which, among other things, includes digestion (complement immune system) and immunity. I saw the most cases of Parkinson's disease when I first when into practice, which was in the heart of farm country. I also the most and worst cases of disc herniations, broken bones, missing fingers and amputated extremities in my career. It was obvious to me way back then that the PD was probably due to pesticides that are known neurotoxins. At the time, scientists (funded by the chemical industry) disputed a connection. Alcohol is another common neurotoxin. All anesthetics are likewise neurotoxins. Toxins are interesting to study. Treatment involves identifying the toxin.

There are obvious causes of vascular diseases such as athero and arterisosclerosis as well as heart disease. Vascular malformations and aneurysms are mechanical problems in the blood vessels that can also affect blood flow. Structural problems such as carpal tunnel and thoracic outlet syndromes can also impinge and decrease blood flow. Many structural conditons of the spine can similarly affect blood and CSF flow in and out of the cord. What these vascular conditions all share in common is that they can result in chronic oxidative stress, which in turn can lead to autoimmune-inflammatory conditions due to the toxic products released from degenerating cells.

Thanks for the kudos Rogan. You will probably find my next blog and website posts interesting. Among other thing I will cover the third ventricle and hydraulics in the brain.

I believe that Drs. Zamboni and Schelling have a great deal to bring to the discussion. I believe the procedure and its durability can be improved. I also believe it should also be used more selectively to decrease failure rates, but it also should be used more extensively to include cases that don't meet Zamboni's criteria. Instead, it should be used to increase the drainage capacity of the brain along with other methods such as shunts and treatment of the spine.

Upright MRI scans are confirming by theory. More and more engineer's and physicits are getting involved in the research. We need the input of engineer's to devise better programs for MRI imaging as well as to do computer modeling based on scan data.

The link between the brain and the eyes is a fascinating topic. It goes way back in my research. Unfortunately, you cannot accurately assess intracranial pressure through the eye. It would be very helpful in hospital and surgical settings if you could. Although they are related, intracranial pressure can go up without increasing intraoccular pressure. It can also take several day for papilledema (bulging optic disc) to show up following traumatic brain injuries and strokes. Sometime they don't swell despite increased intracranial pressure.

Some reseachers now suspect that tau proteins, as well as pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, can accumulate in the brain due to poor "wash out" caused by sluggish CSF flow.

Some patients with Parkinson's can benefit from upper cervical and other types of treatment of the spine. It depends on the cause. Secondary PD, called Parkinsonism can be caused by toxins.

I don't know of any AO upper cervical doctors in the Seattle area but there are NUCCA upper cervical chiropractors.

For those of you who have expressed interest in participating in the Upright MRI and Cine CSF and Blood Flow study being done by Dr. Rosa in Latham, NY, the next study is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of January 4th and 5th depending on Dr. Rosa's schedule, as well as the availability of the scanner. Let me know if you are interested.

Good day uprightdoc,

I have been «dancing» with MS for the last 25 years. I have been treated for CCSVI three times. I am currently being treated by Dr Reney a NUCCA chiropractor up here in Laval, Quebec. He ajusted my upper cervical alignment which corrected my shorter left leg which in turn brought me better balance. I also began physical therapy: the strength and flexibility in my legs, lower back and abdominal muscles are better. Thanks for your suggestions on this forum.

I am now thinking of going to a chiropractor whom uses the Cox technique. I have found one such doctor in Montreal : Dr Hoang.
I also found a chiropractic doctor in Montreal whom uses a decompression technique and a special computerised chair: his name is Dr Robidoux. I would like to have your opinion on those two approaches and doctors and which is susceptible to be of more help to me.

Bonjour Petebou,
Your welcome. I am glad I could help. I used several different types of traction and spinal decompression tables in practice including flexion-distraction tables. Traction can be very effective for correction and rehabilitation of a multitude of problems in the lower spine. The flexion-distraction tables offer the advantage of being able to incorporate up and down (flexion-extension), side bending (lateral flexion) and rotation (circumduction) along with long y-axis distraction that rhythmically pulls the spine apart and releases it. The gentle and isolated segmental stretching motion of the spine strengthen and rehabilitates connective tissues and cartilage. When it is combined with the up and down pumping motion it creates pressure gradients that move fluids in and out of the lateral and central spinal canals as well as in and out of the cartilage. This reduces inflammation and edema. Moving fluids in the spinal canal can similarly help to move fluids in the cranial vault. The table can also be used to gently free and rehabilitate tethered segments in which the meninges of the cord and nerve roots become adherent to spurs in the lateral and spinal canals (Lhermitte's sign). I have also used it on patients with cysts and syrinxes. In my opinion, the best flexion-distraction table available is the Cox 7 or 8. These latest models have a headpiece similar to the tailpiece for working on spondylosis, stenosis and connective tissue and cartilage problems in the cervical spine, which many MS patients have.

The link below is to page I just published on the third ventricle. I will be covering the thalamus and ETV as separate topics.

http://www.upright-health.com/third-ventricle.html

I'm interested in Dr. Rosa's study. PM sent.

Hello SaintLouis,

I got your message. I will PM you.

UprightDoc, the CCSVI Alliance has just released a summary of research regarding blood and CSF flow and neurodegenerative disease.


http://www.ccsvi.org/index.php/the-basics/ccsvi-in-other-neurological-diseases

Not all of the listed research talks about neck issues being the root cause, but all of this research seems to support your hunch that flows and pressures of vital fluid's in the brain are the key to these horrible diseases. Thanks much...


From a study in Spain....

Cortical hypoperfusion in Parkinson's disease assessed using arterial spin labeled perfusion MRI


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811911011979


"Perfusion comparisons between the two groups showed that Parkinson's disease is characterized by wide-spread cortical hypoperfusion. Subcortically, hypoperfusion was also found in the caudate nucleus."

Thanks Rogan,
My theory regarding the cause of AD, PD and MS and why they show up in the order they do at different ages, as well as why females get AD and MS more frequently and sooner than males is different than CCSVI, which is about malfunctioning internal jugular veins. My theory has to do with design of the skull and spine the impact of upright posture on blood and CSF hydrodynamics in the brain and cord. Inherited design issues in the skull, spine, brain and cord show up early in life. Whiplash and many other types of injuries to the spine breakdown slowly and problems start to show up in mid life. Degeneration of the spine from aging causes problems that show up much later in life. I have thousands of citations to support my theory that go back decades. There was also tons of evidence regarding hydrodynamic stresses in the thousands of normal, pathological, artificially deformed and comparative anatomical skulls and spines I studied.

The link below is to my latest page on wordpress regarding the role of pressure waves and pulsatility in neurodegenerative conditions. Mathematicians, physicists and engineers are now using computer modeling to investigate the potential role of hydraulics and hydrocephalus in neurodegenerative conditions such as AD, PD and MS.

http://uprightdoctor.wordpress.com/

I just read the paper and I am wondering if there is any surgical treatment for this. You know I am in Dr Rosa's study and with every adjustment I get improvements but unfortunately I lose the adjustment with a few days.

Hello Dania,
As I mentioned previously I will be covering shunts soon on my website. My next page will be on the thalamus which will be followed by shunts. The first order of business, however, is recognizing the hydraulic problems caused by obstruction to blood and CSF flow.