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Hello Dr. Flanagan,

I'm very glad you and Dr. Woodfield were able to meet with Drs. Haacke, Mehta, Dake and others. The sooner researchers, neurologists, IRs, and VSs look at your work, the sooner more pwMS/CCSVI can be properly helped. I look forward to more people becoming aware of how your theories relate to CCSVI theory -- a presentation would be a terrific idea.

I wish I had been able to attend the Roundtable -- the missed opportunity to meet in person many people from TIMS is one I hope can be remedied at V-Aware's next CCSVI Roundtable in Albany. Did you get a chance to meet anyone from CCSVI Alliance?

Here is the abstract of Dean Falk's article, "Evolution of cranial blood drainage," American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 1986 (Article first published online: 7 JUN 2005)

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Abstract

Physiological studies of cranial blood flow in humans in reclining vs. upright postures suggest that selection for bipedalism was correlated with the establishment of epigenetic adaptations for delivering blood preferentially to the vertebral plexus of veins, depending upon momentary respiratory and postural constraints.

The frequencies of vascular/osteological channels used to deliver blood to the vertebral plexus of veins were determined for samples of African pongids, various taxa of fossil hominids, and extant Homo sapiens. These channels include an enlarged occipital/marginal (O/M) sinus system, multiple hypoglossal canals, and foramina that conduct emissary veins: posterior condyloid, mastoid, occipital, and parietal.

The African pongid, and therefore presumably the ancestral prebipedal hominoid, condition is characterized by low frequencies of all of these routes except multiple hypoglossal canals. The earliest Known bipeds (Australopithecus afarensis) and robust australopithecines are characterized by fixation of enlarged O/M sinus systems.

Robust australopithecines are also characterized by apparently low frequencies of mastoid and parietal foramina, and high frequencies of multiple hypoglossal canals and posterior condyloid foramina. In gracile australopithecines and subsequently living hominids, trends towards increased frequencies of mastoid and (later) parietal emissary foramina coincide with a trend towards decreased frequencies of an enlarged O/M sinus system and multiple hypoglossal canals.

These findings suggest that selection for bipedalism initially resulted in epigenetic adaptations for routes to deliver blood to the vertebral plexus including an enlarged O/M sinus system and hypoglossal canals, but that the pressures underlying these adaptations relaxed as bipedalism became established, and other routes for delivering blood to the vertebral plexus of veins were either directly or indirectly selected for, perhaps in conjunction with a changing architecture of the skull. A systematic implication of this study is that robust australopithecines are descendants of A. afarensis rather than of A. africanus.

The latest post on his site from Dr. Flanagan;

Skull Design and CCVBP
uprightdoctor | November 13, 2010 at 5:29 pm | Categories: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ccsvi, multiple sclerosis, physical anthropology | URL: http://wp.me/p11lYi-Cv



The picture on the left is a life-like cast of an artificially deformed skull from the former indigenous people of Peru. Permission to use the picture was granted by Bone Clones. I began my research into role of venous drainage problems in neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and cord about thrity years ago while studying an artificially deformed craina nearly identical to the one on the left. In addition to upper cervical cervical strains, the certain designs and deformation of the skull can affect the drainage system of the brain.

No one knows exactly why the former people of Peru and Bolivia chose to intentionally deform a child's skull, but they did they it to quite a few them. I won't elaborate on all the different theories as to why they did it, nor will I offer my own theory at this time. For now, suffice it to say, what caught my attention was the altered shapes and open state of the special joints that link the bones of the cranial vault together called sutures. The sutures were so named by early anatomists because they are typically shaped like stitches. In contrast to stitches, if you click on the image you will see the sutures in the rear are smooth and open and don't look like the usual stitch shapes. What's more, this person was old enough that the sutures should have started to close on the inside.



In this case the severe deformation caused a change in the normal pitch and layout of the drainage system of the brain, including the dipolic veins. As you recall from previous posts, the diploic veins of the skull are located between the inner and outer layer of the skull bones.

The shapes of the sutures are actually similar to a seismic recording of fluid mechanics in the brain etched into the shapes of the bones. In the case of the artificially deformed skulls, the change in the shape of the skull caused chronic craniocervical venous back pressure and increased venous pressure in the diploic veins inside the diploe causing the sutures to stay open and altering their shapes.

There was still a hitch though. Except in some rare pathologies, the sutures of most skulls, even those associated with venous drainage problems, start to close on the inside regardless of whether or not they stayed open on the outside.

In some of the artificially deformed skulls, as in the example above, they were open all the way through and not even close to uniting. That suggested to me that, in addition to venous drainage problems, design problems and deformation of the of the skull can cause an increase in pressure inside the skull, called intracranial pressure (ICP). Aside from tumors and strokes, hydrocephalus in children causes an increase in the volume of CSF and ICP, which causes the sutures to stay open.

CSF flow as you recall flows from the ventricles in the core of the brain where it is produced, to the superior sagittal sinus vein at the top of the skull where it mixes with venous blood to exit the skull. Consequently, an increase in venous pressure in the superior sagittal sinus decreases the CSF pressure gradient, which decreases CSF flow. A decrease in CSF outflow increases CSF volume in the brain. The problem is that when adults get hydrocephalus later in life the sutures are closed so when CSF volume increases then either the brain or blood have got to decrease in volume. In this regard, the brain is more compressible than blood. The closed sutures also keep a cap on ICP similar to a counter-weight on a pressure cooker. Consequently, in contrast to children adults get low or normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).

The above skull shows how gross deformation of the skull can affect the venous drainage system. There are many different types of normal and pathological variations in the design of the skull, as well as different types of strains and deformation of the skull and spine. Some problems we inherit, others are acquired through disease, aging and injuries. Some are clearly visible, others are not so easily seen or recognized. One thing is becoming readily clear with modern MR angiograms, venograms and cine MR however; that is, strains and deformation of the upper cervical spine and base of the skull can cause chronic venous back pressure (edema), decreased arterial blood flow (ischemia) and decreased CSF flow, which has been linked to NPH, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Hello Poet,
No we didn't get to meet anyone from the CCSVI Alliance. Dr. Haake rescheduled the meeting place so plans were slighty altered. Nonetheless, although far from perfect the meeting was good for breaking the ice and as I said, Haake is turning out to a super valuable asset. He threw some numbers at Dr. Woodfield for the cost of studies that made Woodfield smile. It would have been better to speak with Haake separately as he is more up to speed on the fluid mechanics in the brain. On the other hand, it was very interesting hearing their discussions about their vascular findings. Unfortunately, Woodfield and I had to leave and face Albany rush hour but Drs. Lenihan and Mahte live nearby so maybe we can arrange something.

It's great you posted the abstract so others can see it. I actually have a copy of the 1986 AJPA journal with Falks paper in it. I started my investigation several years before it came out. The journal is in a 5x7 inch format but I prefer and 8x11 for an exhibit. The complete paper is excellent as it covers all the anatomical variants used for upright posture. I also have the original copy of the 1926 monogram Dr. Harry Shapiro gave me called, A Correction for Artificial Deformations of Skulls. It was a discussion with Shapiro on artificial skull deformation that got my investigation into the role of venous drainage problems in neurodegenerative diseases. It is also the subject of my current post.

HappyPoet and NZer1,

Thank you for the postings - really interesting!

Dr. Flanagan,

Thank you for all that you are doing - its very exciting!

Drury

great nzer1 and happy poet. all you guys amaze me. thanks. i wish i could really explain things as professionally but i'm more of a plain jane "oops." i'm just so happy this connection to ms is being brought to light too. i think that people that have their bodies weakened so badly but yet show such a strong will when it's needed is a force to be reckoned with. and dr. flanagan recognizes this and is going to the front line in our behalf.

if we think ccsvi zambonni style is hard to get recognized by mainstream this ought to really ruffle the neuro.'s feathers. but that's ok.

i just hope i can get things together here enough if possible to be one that is a testimony like happypoet is doing. and it couldn't be happening to a nicer person.

uprightdoc wrote:ConstableComfortable,
I have got to learn to use the quote function on this blog, but anyway using a heel lift is not the way to correct an upper cervical misalignment or pelvic misalignment. Classic misaligned segments are stuck by definition. The frame of the body is much more complex than a simple leaning structure built from the ground up. The frame is also suspended form the top down by paraspinal ligaments and muscles. The curves of the spine are also complex.

The affect of a lift is altered by the joints of the ankle, knee and hip and has only a fractional effect on the pelvis. It is further altered by the curves of the spine. I used to use Dr. Barge's method of heel lifts along with 14x36 x-rays for scoliosis and other conditions for years. I used permanent rubber lifts and disposable cork ones of all different sizes. I also had them built into custom made orthotics. In my opinion their long-term impact is negligible as they fail to correct pelvic or upper cervical problems. But it's actually a lengthy academic discussion that deserves much more time and space than I can provide here.

Thanks for the reply. I thought it may be a bit of a long shot. But hey you don't ask...
Reason being, my physio measured the length of my legs and found one to be shorter and I'm now trying out a lift in one shoe.

I am also being treated, with a different physio, for a long-standing neck problem (I can look further round to the right than I can left) and wondered if there was any chance of a knock-on effect.
This physio hasn't taken any x-rays but given me stretching exercises to do and is giving me accupuncture. I've been seeing this guy for a few months and nothing is really improving. Any advice?

PS: There is a "Quote" button on the top right of each comment, click that and it will paste the comment automatically into a "Post a Reply" window.

Thanks for the tip on quotes, I didn't know that either, I didn't ask any one either so I guess nothing was going to change until you kindly offered advise, Thank you.

ConstableComfortable wrote:

uprightdoc wrote:ConstableComfortable,
I am also being treated, with a different physio, for a long-standing neck problem (I can look further round to the right than I can left) and wondered if there was any chance of a knock-on effect.
This physio hasn't taken any x-rays but given me stretching exercises to do and is giving me accupuncture. I've been seeing this guy for a few months and nothing is really improving. Any advice?

I believe I have got the hang of the quote procedure now. There are no stretches that I know of that will correct a misaligned segment anymore that stretching your toes will correct a bunion. Accupuncture doesn't correct joints either. In Traditional Chinese Medicine tui na is used to manipulate joints. I used it on shoulders, hip and knees but not the spine. Tui na is also a form of joint attacks in martial arts that uses pressure points and arm bars.

Correcting the spine is a complex subject much too lengthy to go into here. In brief, stuck joints usually need a little persuasion in the form of a counter-strain corrctive force in some fashion or another. Some chiros use their hands, some use little hammers, others use speical tables and blocks. Some prefer quick snappy little forces, while others use slow sustained forces. If you have MS or any neurodegenerative disease you need to very selective about choosing a good chiropractor.
Chiropractors use a multitude of methods to make corrections.

blossom wrote:great nzer1 and happy poet. all you guys amaze me. ... i think that people that have their bodies weakened so badly but yet show such a strong will when it's needed is a force to be reckoned with... i just hope i can get things together here enough if possible to be one that is a testimony like happypoet is doing. and it couldn't be happening to a nicer person.

That's because despite having a brain illness all of you still have a brain to fight with. Other's with severe neurodegenerative diseases cannot advocate for themselves as you can but you are indirectly helping them as well.

Blossum, you need basic x-rays to rule out pathology right now more than to determine misalignments. You also have wheelchair and bathroom access issues. Forget about getting a special referral from your physio and the chiro. Get your GP to send you to an orthopedic surgeon and tell the doctor about your history of multiple traumas and especially the last one where you fell hard on your knee and have him check your neck and low back pain and take some basic x-rays. Maybe then we can figure out what to do with you.

Hi Dr, had the consultation and xrays done. I believe I have found a good chiropractor and in his words he believes if he could only adjust two joints it would be the top two spine joints. He is very learned in the effects that alignment has on the nervous system and unfortunately a little light on his knowledge of MS. I'll work on that at my appointment to view the xrays on Thursday morning. I left him my packet of MRI's and other xrays to look through and have not mentioned your book or Vascular involvement in MS yet!

I had my treatment and straight off good things to report....

First may I back track to my x-rays Dr Heidi did take an x-ray of my neck I thought because the x-ray was not taken via the mouth I thought it was not taken - It was taken
I lay on my right side on a floor level bed, light pressure was applied to under my ear and a flick of Dr Heidi wrist was the treatment this was done a number of times I never counted. Treatment was painless.
My MS is good DX 18mts ago after a big attack prior to MS DX I always had migraines on/off these went after my attack not had another one -
one of my biggest most annoying problems was the constant cracking in my neck , I always had soreness in my neck for years everyday all day the best way I can explain I know I have all my limbs but I don’t feel them e.g. I don’t feel my elbow but I know it’s there I always felt my neck slight pain , cracking , tender sore I just lived with it but hated the cracking crunching in my ears. After Dr Heidi treatment I never noticed it at the time I was in the middle of House of Frazer stopped dead in the middle of the Isle on a( Friday evening) my husband said are you nuts move , in which I replied my neck is not cracking the sound is gone and I can't feel my neck for me this is good. 48 hours with no sound pain from my neck
Prior to treatment- always dull ache, pain to the right side of my body shoulder, upper back (right side) and right shoulder
48 hours and I still have no pain ache stiffness.
During the treatment I felt a flutter on my left in between my breast bone
And after treatment had a bit of heart burn (20 mins later) which went later that evening without any medication.
I spent another 3 hours shopping on Oxford Street after treatment with no ill effects of the treatment.
I hope this next bit makes sense - the top of my head feels tighter along with my neck its like when you hang a shelf and that final turn on the screw makes the shelf that bit firmer - my neck feels more together and the top of my head feels right but I never thought the top of my head never felt odd.
Dr Heidi said I had one leg shorter that the other and I was not aligned I will be picking up my films next week and will post them.
My x-rays showed that I had whiplash trauma.
Treatment plan
A visit this Friday I may or may not need another adjustment.

Apologies my grammar is just awful. My comprehension of some of the more intellect posting is low this is not an MS thing but just me.

My next adventure -Today I start my oxygen therapy every day for four weeks. A big commitment hour or so in the chamber ( ive not seen one of these before and this time Im not scared0 I plan to bring Dr Flanagan's book in for company as I am a bit thick Im kinda hopeing the O2 will support the understanding/comprehension .

Please feel free to ask questions

I have had CCSVI venoplasty Aug -LIJV it was 60/70 % blocked. I have since six weeks later had a scan and alls well. My next scan January.

The Vision for me -I hope all my treatments , vitamins will slow down my MS I am female age 43 with a fantastic husband of (22 ? years) and two teenage chrildren 17 & 19

Twisted Sister,

That's good news and you are just getting started. I look forward to seeing your x-rays. You should expect some ups and downs as you progress and your body adjusts to its new position. Your problems are migraines that trace back to a motor vehicle accident twenty-five years ago. Migraines affect oxygen flow to the brain and chronic decreases in oxygen flow can lead to neurodegenerative processes and subsequent diseases. Getting your neck straightened out will make a huge difference in slowing down if not halting and even reversing some of the damage.

NZer1,
What's your take on all the different pithecine Australian species that Falk describes and what does she mean by "robust" Aussies?

uprightdoc wrote:Twisted Sister,

That's good news and you are just getting started. I look forward to seeing your x-rays. You should expect some ups and downs as you progress and your body adjusts to its new position. Your problems are migraines that trace back to a motor vehicle accident twenty-five years ago. Migraines affect oxygen flow to the brain and chronic decreases in oxygen flow can lead to neurodegenerative processes and subsequent diseases. Getting your neck straightened out will make a huge difference in slowing down if not halting and even reversing some of the damage.

Hey Dr Flanagan

Thank you - migraines I had them for 24 years or more untill I had an attack 18 months ago and I have not had another one why was that ?

I awoke this morning to find the rug on the floor spinning but soon stopped after I got moveing about.

silverbirch wrote:

uprightdoc wrote:Twisted Sister,

migraines I had them for 24 years or more untill I had an attack 18 months ago and I have not had another one why was that ?

I awoke this morning to find the rug on the floor spinning but soon stopped after I got moveing about.

Your migraines were caused by chronic decreases in blood flow to the brain. Your upper cervical misalignment created constant pressure on the veretebral-basilar arteries which meant your blood supply was only borderline at best or even below what it should be. You may have done something 18 months ago to further aggravate the condition. Maybe you slept funny with your neck kinked. The room spinning is a sure sign of vertebral-basilar artery problems as they supply the cerebellum and ear.

In a way it was a good thing the MS happened because the problem should have been taken care of long ago after the accident. This would only have gotten worse with age. Fortunately, you are young and you'd be surprised how much the brain can recover.

Read the book for fun and to get the big idea. Study the pictures as they illustrate key points perfectly. The book was written for laypeople but there is enough in it to interest research scientists. You will see why upright MRI is the wave of the future.