Understanding CCSVI – Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insuffciency


CoverSurvivingLymeCCSVI – Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency is a condition that in the last four years has been discovered to be associated with Multiple Schelorisis (MS) by Dr. Paulo Zamboni in 2008 after 10 years of research. It is so new; they are not sure what causes it and how to prevent it. The supposition in regard to Lyme is that the bacteria or a co-infection causes some sort of sticky material that cinches down the venous flow out of the brain.

In the United States, the first case of CCSVI treatment protocols were pioneered by Dr. Michael Dake of Stanford University. Dr. E. Mark Haacke of Wayne State University, McMaster University, the Brain Body Institute, and the MRI Institute for Biomedical Research, is at the forefront of developing CCSVI imaging protocols, and, particularly iron quantification. Dr. Robert Zivadinov of the Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center at the University of Buffalo is leading clinical trials testing the relationship between CCSVI and MS, and the efficacy of CCSVI treatment (from CCSVI Alliance).

These architects on the cutting edge of medical breakthroughs have designed the MRI software and ultrasound components to find and diagnose CCSVI. So why couldn’t I just walk into any MRI facility and ask them to look for CCSVI? Well, first of all they would have to know what it is and how to look for it. Even if they were familiar with CCSVI, their MRI machines are not “programmed” to find it.

Depending on where you are in the country, it will be difficult to find a doctor who has even heard of this issue. Finding someone who can then actually find it is another challenge entirely. So many people asked why I not only had to go all the way to Las Vegas to correct it, but to also an MRI facility to find it. Because I had to find a place that spoke the “language” and understood what they were even looking for in the first place. Research the places performing this intervention and protocol and call and ask questions. The MRI software used to find CCSVI is only used in a few facilities in the country.

The treatment center I went to in Las Vegas was designed and programmed by Dr. Haacke. They work in conjunction with an outpatient surgical facility where the CCSVI surgeon who got her experience on MS patients in Buffalo, NY.

There are only a few surgeons in the entire country (Newport Beach, CA, Las Vegas, NV and Atlanta, GA) actually correcting CCSVI and in the last 2 years or so, they realized there was a crossover from MS to Lyme and other neurological conditions. The surgeon in Las Vegas who performed my surgery has performed the surgery on thousands of MS patients, but only a scant handful of Lymies. It is that new. But, it was that successful.

Now enter Lyme into the CCSVI conundrum with the introduction of Dr. Dietrich Klighardt. Dr. Klinghardt MD, PhD, is Founder of the Klinghardt Academy (USA), the American Academy of Neural Therapy, Medical Director of the Institute of Neurobiology, and lead clinician at the Sophia Health Institute, located in Woodinville, Washington. He is also Founder and Chairman of the Institute for Neurobiology (Germany) and (Switzerland). Klinghardt Academy (USA) provides teachings to the English speaking world on biological interventions and Autonomic Response Testing assessment techniques.

In “A Deep Look Beyond Lyme” from 2011 in Redmond, WA. – Dr. Klinghardt spoke on CCSVI and LYME.

– Dr. Klinghardt has seen CCSVI in 100% of his tested MS patients, autism patients, Parkinson’s patients, ALS patients, and Lyme patients.

– There are 5 parameters that are looked at during a CCSVI evaluation. In MS, 2 of 5 are often observed. In Lyme, it has been closer to 4 of 5 and in autism, it is often 5 of 5. The best Lyme patient thus far was 3 of 5. Lyme patients, on average, test worse than MS patients.

I was improving but continually backsliding and the heart palpitations and chest pain was getting incredibly intense the better I felt. It wasn’t until after I had this surgery performed in 2012 that my true recovery began, because the Lyme treatment was not reaching my brain due to the insufficient blood flow.

Take this very seriously and find a doctor who understands it. I don’t know the actual percentages, but quite a few of the Lymies I’ve met have CCSVI and another handful of those have had it bad enough like me to need treatment.

Specifically, Dr. Zamboni hypothesized that CCSVI could damage CNS tissue in a variety of ways, notably by breaching the blood brain barrier of stressed, dilated, and inflamed blood vessels, and leaking iron and other antigens into nearby tissues. His team began treating MS patients with a technique known as Percutaneous Balloon Angioplasty (PTA).

Today, based on Dr. Zamboni’s findings and his theory of CCSVI, doctors in the United States, Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East have begun treating venous obstructions by using either PTA, stents, or both. Further, independent research is currently underway attempting to confirm, or refute, the link between CCSVI and MS as well as the efficacy of CCSVI treatment.(from CCSVI Alliance)

I don’t regret for a single minute having this procedure done. It saved my life. I truly believe my body was able to recover from the Lyme after my blood flow was restored.

Blessings and healing,
Janice Fairbairn – The Lyme Evangelist

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