LauraV wrote:Happy Poet, one of the considerations you mentioned was Vascular surgeon vs. Interventional Radiologist. Do you think that one is better than the other? Do think that they have different approaches to CCSVI and the liberation treatment? You chose a vascular surgeon to do your treatment. Any particular reason?
Thanks for all your posts!
Laura,
You're welcome.
You ask excellent questions worded perfectly.
1. No, I do not think one type of doctor is better than the other, but I can say that while both types can do endovascular catheter procedures, a vascular surgeon (VS) is trained in
vascular surgery whereas an IR is not.
I can also say that VSs can surgically correct conditions that IRs cannot, such as CTOS/TOS* (Cerebellar Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) which has identical symptoms to MS/CCSVI, but these symptoms are due to nerve compression by bone/muscle (subclavian level) instead of, for a recent forum example, vein compression by an artery as in May-Thurner Syndrome which VSs can also correct. (*Please see important Reference section at bottom.)
2. Yes, I think that they have different approaches to CCSVI and the liberation treatment. These specialists have vastly different patient experiences and lengths of patient-doctor relationships from each other which causes them to see the same things differently, from a different viewpoint, such as with contrast: long-term relationships with patients allow the VS to see problems caused by contrast that the IR might usually only read about.
3. I chose a VS based on the advice of my primary care physician of the past ten years who works in consultation with my PAIN management doctor. They know my overall history best.
Our top concern is me avoiding relapses (worried about very large, mostly afferent thoracic lesion now marching into the efferent cord fibers) by avoiding PAIN, travel and illness.
All is good. Having a VS on board is good for CCSVI.
Cheerleader's ball continues to roll . . .
~HappyPoet
Reference section:
TOP 5 SYMPTOMS OF TOS* - Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
1. Constant pain in R forearm, hand, shoulder, side of neck and shoulder blade.
2. Feeling of swelling in R arm, especially hand. Feeling of swelling in both hands, forearms, neck, cheeks, ears and ear areas, back of head, shoulders (all of this bilat), less when in bed propped with multiple pillows and more with any physical movement.
3. Tired. Extreme fatigue daily, requiring daily multiple naps, interspersed with nights of inability to sleep due to pain, sleep is usually only several hours at most due to pain.
4. Inability to use R hand / arm normally. Right hand trembles, loss of use almost completely after initial exertion. Left hand has some use, but with extended exertion also loss of use.
5. Headaches, especially related to the neck muscles and behind the right eye. Headaches are still daily, disabling, and include several migraines per month, and include pain to the jaw, (bilat), behind the eyes, up the side of the face, and ears.
*Borrowed from NeuroTalk, 8/06