Veteran news 09.13.09: links MS to PTSD

[Ufrustrated2]

1). CANADIAN COURT LINKS MS TO PTSD -- The Canadian Federal Court ruled Dennis Patterson should receive a military pension for the multiple sclerosis he claims was caused by PTSD he suffered in the military.

     http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfsep09/nf090909-4.htm


2).  STUDY: VA CARE COSTS 33% MORE THAN PRIVATE SECTOR CARE
  
      http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfsep09/nf091409-1.htm

[Karen99]

Very interesting.............

[essdipity]

Hmmm. This is a surprising development. I know that no one is saying (in the court case) that stress *caused* this man's MS, only that it was a trigger. Still, this is more than I've ever read about. There is ample scientific evidence that physical processes such as infections often trigger MS attacks, and that is consistent with the generally accepted theory that MS is an autoimmune disorder.

I have not read, though, that psychiatric/emotional difficulties have actually been blamed in MS attacks, although there's a lot of speculation about this, and we here have often theorized along these lines. Even so, the propensity for MS, the early CNS activity, has to have been there regardless.

So I'm interested to learn that in this Canadian court, a soldier was found to be eligible for a pension because he has MS, in part because he had post traumatic stress while in the army.

Thanks, U. I'll be watching this carefully.

ess

[Ufrustrated2]

>>infections often trigger MS attacks

this is when I first noticed neurological issues. the Navy surgeon found my spinal fluid had a high WBC count prior to scheduled back surgery. they also found o-bands then.

and ever since, well, you know the story.

could be some truth in the evidence you speak of. no doubt stress (physical & emotional) are triggers

[gorlie]

I was Dx in Feb 09 and I am in the Canadian Forces for 29 yrs.  Getting released in Nov 09.  And I do have PTSD from deployments, from 1992... got triggered bad again 3 yrs ago...Since then down hill,stessed out, anxiety, depression, vertigo, headaches...etc..
Still in TMT..
Didn't hear about this case til now...Interessting

[Ufrustrated2]

can relate to those symptoms!

plenty of good folks and information here to lend a hand to help ride those storms out

hang in there