Jeff’s amazing craniocervical instability story indicated that a damaged brainstem can produce all the symptoms of ME/CFS/FM/POTS. He’s not the first to believe that.
Michael VanElzakker, the author of the Vagus Nerve Hypothesis, has believed that for years and in a review article tells us why. Find out why the brainstem could be it in ME/CFS,why most research has missed it, (how one Australian researcher has not), and how VanElzakker thinks we could move forward most quickly with neuroinflammation and brainstem issues in
The Brainstem, Vagus Nerve, Neuroinflammation and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The VanElzakker Way
Very interesting information. Many years ago I had a BCC removed
From my neck behind my right ear. In the process a nerve was damaged and I suffered chronic fatigue peripheral nerve damage
And later headaches and IBS. Can this be related.I still many years later have to pace myself and have no known cause for CFS. Also have a Hong joints.
I can’t believe I came across this article. I was just about to post what I thought was a pretty out there observation about something that has been helping, hanging upside down. I have back problems and recently I triggered very bad spasming etc. This equipment is for relieving the compression off the discs. It’s like a stretcher, you lock in your ankles and pivot to an upside down angle of your choice. The last week I’ve been hanging much longer and more often than I ever have, 20 minutes at a time and 6x a day. I noticed feeling more and more relaxed and energetic.It’s only been a week but I have never felt this good since before I got sick. I did a whole weekend of constant activity and I’m still okay and no bone crushing pain. I’ve had this thing for my back for 25 years so I can say the intensity is the only thing different. I have not used it much since I got sick. I worried about headaches and such. But I couldn’t even stand up so I had to this time and wow. Maybe the yogis discovered something about the brain stem and health and standing on your head. In my post I was going to say I thought it was because of the vagus nerve being stimulated. They say singing helps, maybe blood rushing to the throat area, and breathing techniques for the diaphragm. Upside down your breathing is naturally the way that’s suggested. I got sick right after my gallbladder was removed. I always thought Vagus nerve damage. And , I’m not sure it matters but 5 years before that I had a benign tumor removed from the top of spinal column which was impinging on my spinal column. Who knows. Couldn’t have been a good thing I imagine.
Van E’s theories make the most sense to me of all the explanations I’ve heard. The key hangup is time, as verifying his hypotheses seem to be taking a very long time. Maybe as more corroborating evidence is found by other researchers we can finally see some progress.
i was hung by the neck when i was 10 yrs old by a Sling Blade sort of person.I saw the sky spinning ,blood flowing from the nose and then unconscious.I fought violently,seperating c2 thru c6 damage.It troubled me for years ,till weight training help me develop a 21 inch neck.Upon reaching my late forties my musculature softened and I began choking on food.I pass the swallow test (manometry not performed) and get espohogel dilations every year.Is it possible that a damaged Vagus nerve be a cause ,and can implants be of value.