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Hooch wrote:The patient that Dr Sclafani treated for only Nutcracker Syndrome this time (jugulars and azygous were running freely from a previous procedure) was thought to have Chronic Fatigue before she received her MS diagnosis. This is all getting even more interesting!

NZer1 wrote:This was posted on Dr. Flanagan's thread and I think it of interest for us all;

http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/serv ... se?id=1527

September 01, 2011
Signs of Aging May be Linked to Undetected Blocked Brain Blood Vessels

Many common signs of aging, such as shaking hands, stooped posture and walking slower, may be due to tiny blocked vessels in the brain that can’t be detected by current technology.

In a study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers from Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, examined brain autopsies of older people and found:

Microscopic lesions or infarcts — too small to be detected using brain imaging — were in 30 percent of the brains of people who had no diagnosed brain disease or stroke.

Those who had the most trouble walking had multiple brain lesions. Two-thirds of the people had at least one blood vessel abnormality, suggesting a possible link between the blocked vessels and the familiar signs of aging.

“This is very surprising,” said Dr. Aron S. Buchman, lead author of the study and associate professor of neurological sciences at Rush. “The public health implications are significant because we are not identifying the 30 percent who have undiagnosed small vessel disease that is not picked up by current technology. We need additional tools in order to identify this population.”

In 1994, the researchers began conducting annual exams of 1,100 older nuns and priests for signs of aging. The participants also donated their brains for examination after death. This study provides results on the first 418 brain autopsies (61 percent women, average 88 years old at death).

Although Parkinson’s disease occurs in only 5 percent of older people, at least half of people 85 and older have mild symptoms associated with the disease.

Before the study, researchers believed that something more common, such as microscopic blocked vessels, might be causing the physical decline. The study’s autopsies found the small lesions could only be seen under a microscope after participants died. The lesions couldn’t be detected by current scans.

During the annual exams of the nuns and priests, researchers used the motor skills portion of a Parkinson’s disease survey to assess their physical abilities. Researchers observed and rated the participants’:

Balance
Ability to maintain posture
Walking speed
Ability to get in and out of chairs
Ability to make turns when walking
Sense of dizziness
“Often the mild motor symptoms are considered an expected part of aging,” said Buchman, who is also a member of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. “We should not accept this as normal aging. We should try to fix it and understand it. If there is an underlying cause, we can intervene and perhaps lessen the impact.”

Co-authors from Rush are Sue E. Leurgans, PhD; Dr. Sukriti Nag, PhD; Dr. David A. Bennett, and Dr. Julie A. Schneider, MS. The National Institutes of Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health funded the study.

Synergy Health Concepts, as well as several other centers, have found that blockages within the veins are caused by abnormal valves in the lower portion of the jugular veins. The CCSVI treatment is focused on opening these valves and restoring normal blood flow from the brain.

I chose them because they approach the procedure in a way no one else in the world does

Cece wrote:I am terribly behind on the videos.

Cinna wrote:Dr. Sclafani, I am the patient who you treated for nutcracker syndrome but did no further treatment in July as my jugulars had remained open from the 1st treatment. Hooch is a friend of mine, and yes I did have a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome for about 2 years (and was receiving long term disability because of it) prior to my MS diagnosis.

I am still doing well and as you know have recently been diagnosed with extensive venous incompetency in both my deep and superficial veins in both of my legs. I am trying very hard to walk more to build up my leg muscles and that, together with compression stockings, is helping my legs somewhat. I'm on vacation now and am walking further and with less pain. Most importantly my recovery time is much quicker-- very sore legs at night but able to walk as far again the next day. Better balance, gait, fewer spasms and my legs don't give way as I've already reported. Stenting the renal vein has definitely helped me.

THEGREEKFROMTHED wrote:I recall you telling me I had a septum in my vetebral vein. What is your assesment of that at this point in your treatment and diagnosis? Does it influence any flow? Man i have some crazy shit...no wonder I am so goofy.