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As a young doctor, I quickly learned the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure, especially the ice-cold extremities and the patient gasping for air as blood backed up in the veins of the chest and fluid leaked into the lungs, preventing them from supplying oxygen. All of that quickly and dramatically reversed within minutes of administering appropriate medication to help the heart pump the blood more efficiently.

Then, in the same way, does it not make sense that improving blood drainage in the neck veins would quickly improve the level of oxygen in brain tissue, relieve any congestion and enhance the function of nerve cells, including the autonomic fibres that control skin temperature in the extremities?

Irrespective of whether an unblocking procedure is, in any way, effective in reversing or halting the progression of MS, Duncan Thornton is not alone in experiencing a huge improvement in his quality of life. As documented recently on CTV's W5, the same type of benefit was observed by Steve Garvie and many others whose veins have been treated.

If, as is becoming increasingly evident, symptoms such as severe fatigue associated with MS can be effectively relieved by unblocking a vein, why shouldn’t a compassionate publicly-funded health care system pay for it? After all, millions of dollars are spent every day on far less justifiable therapies (inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions immediately come to mind).

If, as is becoming increasingly evident, symptoms such as severe fatigue associated with MS can be effectively relieved by unblocking a vein, why shouldn’t a compassionate publicly-funded health care system pay for it? After all, millions of dollars are spent every day on far less justifiable therapies (inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions immediately come to mind).

So yes, especially given the delay and deficiency in funding Canadian clinical trials of CCSVI, I have reversed my previously-stated belief that diagnosis and treatment of blocked veins should only occur inside such studies.

In taking this position, I have reacquainted myself with the fact that advances in understanding and treating cancer have occurred despite the enrolment of only 1% of patients in clinical trials. Do we withold cancer treatment from the other 99% who are not in a study? Of course not. Then why should MS be different?

In taking this position, I have reacquainted myself with the fact that advances in understanding and treating cancer have occurred despite the enrolment of only 1% of patients in clinical trials. Do we withold cancer treatment from the other 99% who are not in a study? Of course not. Then why should MS be different?

But for those who would like normal venous return to their brains, why should they be denied a known medical procedure?

patientx wrote: Who is denying them? Anyone can make an appointment with an IR or vascular doctor.

Compassionate Drug Use
Medical professionals use the term "compassionate use" to refer to the treatment of a seriously ill patient using a new, unapproved drug when no other treatments are available. Drugs that are being scientifically tested but have not yet been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are called investigational drugs. Being able to use one of these drugs when you are not in a clinical trial has many names, but is most commonly referred to as compassionate use.

Billmeik wrote:

If, as is becoming increasingly evident, symptoms such as severe fatigue associated with MS can be effectively relieved by unblocking a vein, why shouldn’t a compassionate publicly-funded health care system pay for it? After all, millions of dollars are spent every day on far less justifiable therapies (inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions immediately come to mind).

ya

cheerleader wrote:

patientx wrote: Who is denying them? Anyone can make an appointment with an IR or vascular doctor.

Really? Do tell, patient. How does "anyone" do that...because there are thousands of Canadians and Brits and French and Irish and Greeks and Italians and Spaniards and MS patients around the globe who would love to be able to see an IR, but cannot get a referral. That's the problem in Canada that Dr. Brandes is addressing.
cheer

cheerleader wrote:There is nothing funny about this.
Venous stenosis is a known disease and is treated around the globe. Dr. Brandes is speaking of removing MS from the equation- and allowing the venous insufficiency to be treated as such.

If MS must be part of the equation for governmental approval, Dr. Zamboni asks patients who are out of wait to request "compassionate care."

Compassionate Drug Use
Medical professionals use the term "compassionate use" to refer to the treatment of a seriously ill patient using a new, unapproved drug when no other treatments are available. Drugs that are being scientifically tested but have not yet been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are called investigational drugs. Being able to use one of these drugs when you are not in a clinical trial has many names, but is most commonly referred to as compassionate use.

I do not understand why this is funny? I'm talking to MS patients (and caregivers) around the globe everyday who do not see any humor in being denied treatment of their malformed veins.
cheer