My mobility problems not due to MS?

I just came back from an EMG session with my neurologist.  After the tests, which showed that most of my nerve conductivity in my (weak) left leg is at the borderline of normal, she reminded me that in my previous MRI's I had shown evidence of degenerative bone disease in my lower spine.  This means that a good part of my foot-drop, mobility and left-leg weakness problems could be caused mostly by that, not my MS!  If that is the case, I'm not sure what it means with respect to therapy and lifestyle, but perhaps it means I need to develop different coping techniques than what I was using.  Now I have to wait for a new MRI to see...  Of course, lower back problems don't explain my weak left arm, but who knows, maybe I have some upper spinal problems, too.

PS: It's great having a neurologist who is willing to look beyond my MS to see if some of my symptoms don't have other causes!

A Path to Recovery: Daryl Bryant

I was sent this letter by someone who has found another path to recovery from many of the symptoms of MS, one that does not depend solely on prescription drugs or CCSVI treatment.  I have not read his book, yet, so can't vouch for what's in it, but thought people would like to know about it.  If anyone has read it, perhaps you can send me a review.

Dear Ted,

My diagnosis with MS has led me down a bumpy and winding road that I am proud to say has finally brought me to where I am today, a happy and fulfilled man.

Outsiders would probably never be able to guess that at my lowest point with the disease, I actually lost the ability to walk. And now I find myself running at full speed, managing my own business and building a life with my wonderful wife and newborn.

I want people to know that they can once again regain control of their lives the way I did. But it is going to be a fight. Those suffering from the disease or have loved ones with multiple sclerosis understand the lows and the obstacles.

My story is here to give hope. My life was literally turned upside down and once I worked past my denial, I found my way. No two cases of MS are alike, it is up to each individual to listen to their bodies and find the regimen that brings the greatest success.

A combination of dietary and exercise changes along with holistic and pharmaceutical medication—this is the formula for my triumph. Dedication to proactive positivity is what helped me find my way.

At my darkest moments with MS I was extremely depressed and suicidal. I have never been prone to those tendencies prior to my diagnosis. I was an athlete throughout my life and when I learned I had MS, the rug was literally pulled out from under me.

It is my hope that my story will offer you inspiration and remind you that there are others out there battling this disease and winning.

This is why I published my book MS Book - MS Living Symptom Free, because I can proudly say that I won. And you can beat it too. I divulge into what has helped me and other options for MS patients.

Each chapter explains healthy diet options, exercises specific for strengthening where we are weakest and medication. I share my story while trying to touch on all the important parts of recovery.

Thank you Ted for listening and helping me share my story. And I can’t explain how grateful I am for your blog and support!

If any of your readers would like to know more about my book it can be found here: MS Book - MS Living Symptom Free.

Wishing everyone the best of luck in their MS journey!

- Daryl Bryant

My results after 16 months

This is the graph of my results 16 months after my treatment:

CCSVI Links to Parkinsons, other Neuro Diseases?

It's not a new idea for those familiar with the CCSVI discussions, but some of the discussion boards and Facebook pages have recently been referring to a story about Parkinsons patients who have seen their symptoms somewhat alleviated after CCSVI treatment.  If I see something more definite, I'll post it. 

A Cardio-Vascular Surgeon Responds

Earlier this week some Calgary neurologists "expressed concern" that CCSVI treatment was "dangerous" given the fact that some liberati had developed serious complications (Montreal Gazette story), though when you actually read beyond the top few paragraphs you quickly realize that the headline is misleading: there is no real "study" and the actual complication rate is low.  Now a Toronto cardio-vascular surgeon has responded to these "findings": CCSVI Ontario note.

We find no smoking gun on the genetic level

A study of sets of exact twins, one with MS and the other without, found no genetic differences between them, casting some doubt on the interpretation of results of an earlier study where the researchers appeared to say "it's all about the genes, and specifically those genes related to autoimmune diseases": Twins Gene Study.

A strong argument for CCSVI treatment made in Alberta

A fairly good story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKV7W_VAMqo.  Tim Donovan and others speak of improvements and hope.

Blood Flow and MS: the Physics of Fluid Dynamics

It will take you 40 minutes to watch all three parts, but it will be well worth your while if you want to understand how CCSVI may contribute to MS symptoms... and perhaps may be the initiating cause:

1. Blood fluid dynamics Part 1
2. Blood fluid dynamics Part 2
3. Blood fluid dynamics Part 3

 This hypothesis makes a lot of sense to me.  It's good to have physicists and fluid dynamics scientists working on this problem. This is a complex disease... we need diverse teams of experts looking at this problem, not just drug company researchers.

Genetics 101 for MS

Still confused by the "remarkable" study announced with great fanfare a few days ago, the one where the researchers said that MS is "definitely" an autoimmune disease and that their study "proves" that CCSVI has nothing to do with MS?  Well, here is a short article by Joan and Marie that explains why these researchers are full of it, and how full of it they are: Genetics 101 article.

Does this disprove an autoimmune connection to MS?  Of course not, but it sure does shine a different light on some of the most outrageous of the scientists' claims.

Hmmmm... I wonder who paid for their "research"... could it be... drug companies?  I wonder how much it pays to be a shill for Big Pharma?

Don’t discount Zamboni, advocate says

This is a good story, one worth reading, in the St. John’s Telegram: http://bit.ly/pnGMjr.

MedHelp Health Chat on living with MS: Today

This evening  Dr. Jonathan Howard from the NYU Multiple Sclerosis Center will be answering patients’ questions and providing tips for managing MS symptoms in a live conversation.  I have never listened in on one of these and probably won`t have time to join this one, so perhaps someone can let me (and others) know how valuable it might be: 

MedHelp Health Chat

Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding the Disease and Managing the Symptoms

Tuesday August 16, 2011 6:00-7:00pm (EST)

Can Myelin be Repaired?

It would be an exciting development for MSers if this really pans out: http://exm.nr/oJUL6q.

TAMSI: Alberta makes a move

This is not really new, but this is the first time I've seen the details of the Alberta study following up on MSers who have been “liberated”: https://tamsi.ca/survey/.  It looks like it might be quite comprehensive and worthwhile if it`s done well... anybody know any Albertans who've done the survey and could comment on it?