CCSVI, MASSAGE AND THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
I open my main paper thus :
« An MD Dr. Farough Owiesy in southern California specializing in migraine headaches began treating CCSVI – MS as a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system as it impacts the veins of the central nervous system. It is clear to me that he has found the missing link to the Multiple Sclerosis mystery and a plausible, inexpensive treatment. »
It appears that the well known Interventional Radiologist Dr. Arata arrived at much the same conclusion in treating CCSVI. See the June 12, 2014 article by Charles Moore in Multiple Sclerosis News. « Researchers Report Alternate Explanation Discovery Of How And Why CCSVI Treatment Works In MS Patients »
https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/ ... -patients/
« However, while the debate over CCSVI and MS continues, new data suggests that Dr. Zamboni may have gotten it right in looking at the veins for treatment, but it might not be venous abnormalities that are the real problem, with a team of California-based researchers contending that it is the nerves surrounding the veins not the veins themselves that are being treated by ballooning, with expansion of the jugular vein leading to stimulation of the autonomic nerve fibers, which run alongside the jugular and are responsible for communication between the brain and the central nervous system… »
There it is, the dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system. And to my mind it is precisely this dysfunction which drives MS Progression. More quotes :
They say that ongoing research and a growing body of clinical data strongly indicate that Dr. Zamboni’s CCSVI procedure may be the first viable treatment for an even more pervasive problem — dysautonomia — which is seen not only in almost all MS patients but also in patients diagnosed with a long list of other diseases and conditions. As a result, they believe the CCSVI procedure is better described by the term TVAM (Transvascular Autonomic Modulation)… The new study, published in the June, 2014 edition of the Journal of Endovascular sheds light on the positive effect of CCSVI on the sympathetic nervous system, explaining how researchers were able to pinpoint how the procedure improved abnormal sympathetic function found in patients with many chronic conditions including Multiple Sclerosis.
Titled “Transvascular Autonomic Modulation: A Modified Balloon Angioplasty Technique for the Treatment of Autonomic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Patients” (Journal of Endovascular Therapy: June 2014, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 417-428), the study coauthored by Newport Beach, California based Interventional Radiologist, Michael Arata, MD, and his research associate, Zohara Sternberg, PhD, compares the efficacy of the TVAM procedure vs. traditional balloon angioplasty in improving cardiovascular autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Drs. Arata and Sternberg report that they found using an angioplasty balloon to stimulate vein-associated nerves increased sympathetic activity shows promise for patients who suffer from MS…
The coauthors observe that in this instance, TVAM involved the coupling of balloon angioplasty of the internal jugular veins with application of external manual compression and dilation of the azygos and renal veins; unlike traditional angioplasty for CCSVI, which treats only abnormal veins (50% stenosis or static valve), all targeted vessels were treated with TVAM regardless of the presence of an abnormality…
Drs. Arata and Sternberg conclude that the combination of balloon angioplasty of anatomically normal veins coupled with external compression during dilation of these veins can improve indicators of ANS dysfunction, reporting that the safety and efficacy of TVAM in MS patients observed in this pilot study is encouraging, paving the way for the treatment of dysautonomia in pathological states other than MS…“The current study demonstrates the procedure’s effect on autonomic function, offering an explanation for why patients may see symptom improvement with venous ballooning even though separate studies have failed to show a relationship between venous obstruction and Multiple Sclerosis. The mechanism of symptom improvement is improved autonomic tone rather than relief of flow obstruction,” says Dr. Arata.
There it is. Improved autonomic tone rather than relief of flow obstruction. Note that the treatment includes « external manual compression. » Akin to Shiatsu Massage, for example? (Though my first major « attack » ceased subsequent to a Shiatsu Massage, no one apparently wants to believe it or act upon it.) In Dr. Arata’s treatment, no doubt specific veins are targeted. I simply wish to point out that my massage solution to getting the fluids flowing, and now, the autonomic nervous system stimulated, may be as good as any. This means help is immediately available even if one can’t access a specialized treatment center.
The following quote is from my site :
« Dr. Owiesy has observed that when the middle layer of the vein composed of smooth muscles go into spasms, blood flow is obstructed. Again the problem resides “exterior” to the vein, not “interior”. The veins may be weak or somehow defective, but the mechanism which shuts off the blood flow isn’t “intima”. This corresponds completely to my experience. The treatment? Dr. Owiesy administers a mixture of dexamethasone/lidocaine/thiamine in the area around the Internal Jugular Vein. Outcomes have been impressive, risks and expense minimal. »
I confess I have been a bit cavalier about the potential risks of dexamethasone which is a corticosteroid – an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant. It can weaken the immune system and should not be used if one has a fungal infection etc. Lidocaine is used to numb tissue. Thiamine is Vitamin B1. All are inexpensive.
Should one focus on the smooth muscle layer of the veins or the autonomic nerve fibers themselves which apparently run alongside the jugular ? I don’t know. I am neither a scientist nor an M.D. I’m simply trying to understand how to find the best treatments for myself, based in large part on my experience. All of the above makes sense in light of that experience.
One final observation. Toxicity (glutens, sugar, dairy, inflammatory foods in general) leads to body tension, muscle spasms and cramps, which in turn impact the autonomic nervous system, therefore blood flow. That's how the varied MS "solutions" (diet, supplements, CCSVI etc) interact.
I open my main paper thus :
« An MD Dr. Farough Owiesy in southern California specializing in migraine headaches began treating CCSVI – MS as a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system as it impacts the veins of the central nervous system. It is clear to me that he has found the missing link to the Multiple Sclerosis mystery and a plausible, inexpensive treatment. »
It appears that the well known Interventional Radiologist Dr. Arata arrived at much the same conclusion in treating CCSVI. See the June 12, 2014 article by Charles Moore in Multiple Sclerosis News. « Researchers Report Alternate Explanation Discovery Of How And Why CCSVI Treatment Works In MS Patients »
https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/ ... -patients/
« However, while the debate over CCSVI and MS continues, new data suggests that Dr. Zamboni may have gotten it right in looking at the veins for treatment, but it might not be venous abnormalities that are the real problem, with a team of California-based researchers contending that it is the nerves surrounding the veins not the veins themselves that are being treated by ballooning, with expansion of the jugular vein leading to stimulation of the autonomic nerve fibers, which run alongside the jugular and are responsible for communication between the brain and the central nervous system… »
There it is, the dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system. And to my mind it is precisely this dysfunction which drives MS Progression. More quotes :
They say that ongoing research and a growing body of clinical data strongly indicate that Dr. Zamboni’s CCSVI procedure may be the first viable treatment for an even more pervasive problem — dysautonomia — which is seen not only in almost all MS patients but also in patients diagnosed with a long list of other diseases and conditions. As a result, they believe the CCSVI procedure is better described by the term TVAM (Transvascular Autonomic Modulation)… The new study, published in the June, 2014 edition of the Journal of Endovascular sheds light on the positive effect of CCSVI on the sympathetic nervous system, explaining how researchers were able to pinpoint how the procedure improved abnormal sympathetic function found in patients with many chronic conditions including Multiple Sclerosis.
Titled “Transvascular Autonomic Modulation: A Modified Balloon Angioplasty Technique for the Treatment of Autonomic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Patients” (Journal of Endovascular Therapy: June 2014, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 417-428), the study coauthored by Newport Beach, California based Interventional Radiologist, Michael Arata, MD, and his research associate, Zohara Sternberg, PhD, compares the efficacy of the TVAM procedure vs. traditional balloon angioplasty in improving cardiovascular autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Drs. Arata and Sternberg report that they found using an angioplasty balloon to stimulate vein-associated nerves increased sympathetic activity shows promise for patients who suffer from MS…
The coauthors observe that in this instance, TVAM involved the coupling of balloon angioplasty of the internal jugular veins with application of external manual compression and dilation of the azygos and renal veins; unlike traditional angioplasty for CCSVI, which treats only abnormal veins (50% stenosis or static valve), all targeted vessels were treated with TVAM regardless of the presence of an abnormality…
Drs. Arata and Sternberg conclude that the combination of balloon angioplasty of anatomically normal veins coupled with external compression during dilation of these veins can improve indicators of ANS dysfunction, reporting that the safety and efficacy of TVAM in MS patients observed in this pilot study is encouraging, paving the way for the treatment of dysautonomia in pathological states other than MS…“The current study demonstrates the procedure’s effect on autonomic function, offering an explanation for why patients may see symptom improvement with venous ballooning even though separate studies have failed to show a relationship between venous obstruction and Multiple Sclerosis. The mechanism of symptom improvement is improved autonomic tone rather than relief of flow obstruction,” says Dr. Arata.
There it is. Improved autonomic tone rather than relief of flow obstruction. Note that the treatment includes « external manual compression. » Akin to Shiatsu Massage, for example? (Though my first major « attack » ceased subsequent to a Shiatsu Massage, no one apparently wants to believe it or act upon it.) In Dr. Arata’s treatment, no doubt specific veins are targeted. I simply wish to point out that my massage solution to getting the fluids flowing, and now, the autonomic nervous system stimulated, may be as good as any. This means help is immediately available even if one can’t access a specialized treatment center.
The following quote is from my site :
« Dr. Owiesy has observed that when the middle layer of the vein composed of smooth muscles go into spasms, blood flow is obstructed. Again the problem resides “exterior” to the vein, not “interior”. The veins may be weak or somehow defective, but the mechanism which shuts off the blood flow isn’t “intima”. This corresponds completely to my experience. The treatment? Dr. Owiesy administers a mixture of dexamethasone/lidocaine/thiamine in the area around the Internal Jugular Vein. Outcomes have been impressive, risks and expense minimal. »
I confess I have been a bit cavalier about the potential risks of dexamethasone which is a corticosteroid – an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant. It can weaken the immune system and should not be used if one has a fungal infection etc. Lidocaine is used to numb tissue. Thiamine is Vitamin B1. All are inexpensive.
Should one focus on the smooth muscle layer of the veins or the autonomic nerve fibers themselves which apparently run alongside the jugular ? I don’t know. I am neither a scientist nor an M.D. I’m simply trying to understand how to find the best treatments for myself, based in large part on my experience. All of the above makes sense in light of that experience.
One final observation. Toxicity (glutens, sugar, dairy, inflammatory foods in general) leads to body tension, muscle spasms and cramps, which in turn impact the autonomic nervous system, therefore blood flow. That's how the varied MS "solutions" (diet, supplements, CCSVI etc) interact.