jenf wrote:Hi everyone,
I've been racking my brain trying to fit together the CCSVI pieces as it relates to MS, and my MS more specifically. Yesterday morning, I had an epiphany. My MS presented itself this past January, after a vigorous aerobics routine, followed by a neck injury. Three days later, my double vision started. I was convinced the double vision was as a result of the neck injury, also because I knew nothing of MS at the time. After months of symptoms and several hospital stays, I was finally diagnosed. Funny thing was, I didn't fall into some of the "typical' onset categories. I've never had Epstein Barr; I hadn't been under any stress; there was no virus prior to my symptoms; no family members have MS; the list goes on and on. The ONLY thing was my neck injury. Ironically, the left side of my neck still bothers me. I realize this may be grasping, but I can't help but think it's connected somehow.
As this reseach moves forward, I wonder if the connection to the dots will become clearer? I am convinced CCSVI is the answer, primarily because it FITS. Interesting stuff...
Hi Jen, I was definitely thinking about everyone and jawlines and such abnormalities as relates to respiration, and of course venous flow, our hot topic of the decade. (Well next decade wink wink). Referencing back to the paper posted this morning(
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-9285.html) (and probably talked about long ago in here), "Jugular Venous Reflux", which I feel every person investigating this should print out and read and keep handy. While one doesn't *have* to be an expert on brain stuff, looking up words like "Distal" and "Proximal" and keeping track of all the acronyms like IJV, IJVV, IJVVI, etc etc will help with the shorthand when digesting some of these papers. In fact that paper this morning is great, because it gives pictures, and pipefitters like pictures and drawings and blueprints and such.
That being said, since so much in the paper revolves around different valves and such in the Internal Jugular Veins, and what occurs when those malfunction, stick open, don't shut properly, whole nine yards, well, THAT is something that is a VERY integral part of this discussion. If those itty bitty valves (if they are there) malfunction, OR, are "overcome" by positive pressure by Valsalva-LIKE maneuvers, read: heavy exercise, exertion, among other choice um, "activities", the result can be reflux back into the brain. Nevermind my ramblings, here's a quote from the paper.
(RECAP: IJV=INTERNAL JUGULAR VEIN.
IJVV=IJV VALVE.
IJVVI=IJVV INCOMPETENCE)
In physiologic situations, most frequently encountered reversed pressure gradients result from many Valsalva-like activities which increase intrathoracic pressure.
These activities include coughing,straining to defecate, sexual intercourse, and heavy lifting, etc. During these activities, JVR will occur if the IJVV is incompetent. This transient, episodic venous reflux might impede cerebral venous outflow or transmit back venous pressure into the cerebral venous system [39,40,42–45].
Long-term repeatedly increased pump back pressure by these Valsalva-like activities may damage the venous valves, leading to valve degeneration and eventually incompetence [58,62,63]. This explains the high frequency of IJVVI seen in the elderly [55].
Furthermore, this episodic venous hypertension in the IJV following Valsalva-like activities might be exaggerated by conditions which chronically increase the central venous pressure, such as congestive
heart disease [59,60], tricuspid valve regurgitation [59,60], primary pulmonary hypertension[61], and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
[61]. Therefore, there is a higher frequency of IJVVI in these conditions
However, beyond a straightforward Valsalva type initiation (remember, Valsalva is basically pushing blood back out of the heart and up the jugs) this can be initiated by external pressures (such as arterial pulsation localized to the vein), and by a number of other diseases (according to the paper) , which contribute to very same valve becoming incompetent, such as: congestive heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, list goes on, as obviously the thrust of the paper was that brain problems are initiated by reflux. No major earthquake there for us on the boards, but combined with the rest of what we are learning, doesn't bode well for a strict immunity-based modality for MS.
My opinion is, and emboldened with every jot and tittle I run across now, that the neuro community has been beyond incompetent, especially after dumb pipefitter here can read this and *get it*, if for nothing else, their obstinate refusal to even LOOK at anything like this in the past, or for refusing to colloborate with others for the benefit of US and the people they watch degenerate, and HAVE watched degenerate through the years, with nary a thought beyond the AI model. It's disgusting and it REALLY pisses me off the more I learn and read and understand.
Course that's a call to action not spite, but had to toss in a little passion at the same time... Arghhhhhh.

Better days ahead.
Mark.
And for posterity, this paper is in the research thread
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-7098.html