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Okay--I'm new here and honestly, my eyes cross at some of the science underlying the theories (but believe me--I get the theory--that part seems amazingly simple!!). But I stumbled across this article and thought I'd throw it out there for those wiser than me to comment on. I apologize if this is old news....

There's a lot more in this article but this is what captured my attention, below.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articl ... id=1847929

In some patients with DVT, there is underlying venous disease. Left common iliac vein stenosis frequently occurs where the vein crosses beneath the right common iliac artery. Chronic, repetitive compression at this site causes fibrosis of the vein, with synechiae and spurs that result in stenosis or even occlusion of the lumen. This condition, which is becoming increasingly recognized, is called iliac vein compression syndrome, or May-Thurner syndrome.

Dr Simka said once that his doppler readings on MS stenosis areas were similar to May THurner signals. This is early thoughts and we will hear more as things go forward. There is actually a bit of discussion on that somewhere in the big thread.

But you are right, it is the venous insufficiency in legs that gives us the idea that stenosis in the chest/neck is possibly a cause for MS lesions. Since such stenosis and resulting insuffficiency in legs causes lesions in legs, it is reasonable to assume it is possible that stenotic lesions in the head area also causes lesions. The body works the way it works, in other words if venous insufficiency causes lesions in one area of the body it can do it elsewhere too. The body had one set of "rules"....

What I thought was interesting was the bit about repeated compression by the adjacent artery possibly causing the stenosis. Contributes to the whole stenosis comes first model, perhaps? I wonder if in some of us the jugulars aren't repeatedly compressed if not by the artery but by other repetitive forces whatever those may be....(chewing????)

Anyway, I'm just so excited about this whole subject I guess I'm looking for answers now not to just whether or not stenosis is involved in MS but what causes the stenosis in the first place. I realize that may be a long way down the road...but "hope is a thing with feathers"--hard to keep it from singing...

May thurner can almost be thought of like a "callous" --not really a callous but conceptually-- it gtes whacked there repeatedly and the tissue fiboses.

SOme lesions in CCSVI may be such a type, but my jugs are simply squashed flat. Like a kid with crowded crooked teeth there simply is not enough room.

The bottom line is I believe that these stenoses can be caused by a myriad of things, the only thing that matters is that they be in the drainage of the cerebrospinal system.

I'm with you it is exciting and cool to follow!