Frequently, when the topic of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) comes up, it seems like that also becomes the time for berating neurologists. CCSVI fans often start with their own neuro's negative response to the whole CCSVI theory and how: 1) flabbergasted, 2) horrified, and/or angry that their patient would give credence to the whole idea, much less consider going for testing or treatment.

The anti-neurologist virtual drum-beating and sign-waving quickly moves into accusations that neurologists actually do not want to find a cure or even relief for people with MS, as they are: 1) in the pockets of Big Pharma, and/or 2) threatened with the idea that MS may actually be a vascular disease, not a neurological one, which would quickly deplete their patient base.

I certainly understand that many neurologists have less than stellar personalities (my own excluded), in fact, I have heard of some downright nasty ones. Combine that with an emotional topic that has yet to meet their definition of "science," and someone is going to be upset - probably both the patient and the doc.

However, I have also heard from a couple of neurologists who said that once they realized that their patient was going to get treated for CCSVI (venoplasty, often referred to as "Liberation Therapy"), they took a different stance. One doc said, "I wished her well and told her I would love to hear about her experience. I told her we could run her annual MRI after the procedure to see what that showed. That was months ago, and she hasn't been back."

So, let's hear from you - those of you who have actually had a conversation with your neurologist about CCSVI. What was his or her response to the CCSVI theory? Did you mention wanting treatment? If so, what response did you get to that? For those of you who have had treatment, have you been back to your neurologist? Were they interested in your progress? Tell us what is really happening out there in the exam rooms of the world - we all want to know the real story.

http://ms.about.com/b/2011/03/22/neurologists-responses-to-ccsvi.htm