This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

http://www.ocregister.com/news/patients ... veins.html

Dr. Marder makes a good point. It's a bit of cognitive dissonance to think of how important we consider the jugulars, then think of these situations where people are missing veins seemingly without consequence. HOWEVER it seems to me that the truth is that the venous system is forgiving...up to a point. I did not have just one jugular nearly entirely blocked, I had two jugulars that way. That I got this far into life is a sign that the venous system is flexible and forgiving. I did not drop dead at birth! But there is a distance between dropping dead at birth and living a full healthy life.

To me the number of MS patients with multiple blockages, such as both jugulars blocked, or a jugular and an azygous, fits with what Dr. Marder is saying. The venous system is forgiving, it can compensate perhaps for one blockage. But it starts to fail when it is asked to compensate for more blockages. Add some genetic susceptibility for immune system over-reaction and it gets even worse.

Agreed, Cece. Like you, Jeff also had 2 blocked jugular veins. He wasn't dead...but he wasn't living well, either. If the venous system is so "forgiving", than why do people with dural venous thrombosis or jugular thrombosis have ischemic strokes or edema? Obviously, the venous system cannot compensate for some normal variations....but not all. And that's what CCSVI research is trying to ellucidate.
cheer

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Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
dual stents placed 5/09
CCSVI in MS

I think this is an excellent point to explain why CCSVI isn't an acute condition, but causes chronic long term problems years in the making. When I saw my stenosed RIJV and all those collaterals, I thought to myself - there's my body, adapting and improvising. It did its best with a bad situation, but like Cece says there's only so much it can do.

In March 2010 I saw a cardiologist and asked about jugular veins having stenosis. Her response was that the collaterals would take over and do the job. Well, from personal experience I can say they do not do it as well as a 100% open jugular veins. Would it not be wonderful if all these doctors could have their jugular veins and azygous vein temporarily blocked for a month. And let us see if they change their opinions.