# Distended external jugular veins **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [April 22, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/distended-external-jugular-veins/13225 "2023-04-22T14:15:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ButterflyWishes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@ButterflyWishes](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/ButterflyWishes)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/distended-external-jugular-veins/13225/1 "2023-04-22T14:15:05Z")
Hi all. I have distended external jugular veins. My heart is ok. Could this be from my bilateral internal jugular vein compressions? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/distended-external-jugular-veins/13225/2 "2023-04-22T19:48:56Z")
I’m not sure if the external jugulars become collateral veins with the IJVs compressed, hopefully someone with more knowledge will give you the info! ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/distended-external-jugular-veins/13225/3 "2023-04-22T23:06:57Z")
Hi @Butterfly wishes - I’m in Jules’ camp & am not sure whether the external IJVs can be responsive to internal IJV compression though it does make some sense that they could since both IJV & EJV drain into the subclavian vein. Are you seeing a surgeon for ES yet? If not, Dr. Costantino in NYC does vascular ES surgery & has an associate who is a neurosurgeon who operates w/ him to shave C-1 if it plays a more dominant role in the compression. That might be a good team for you to see. ---
**Author:** ![ButterflyWishes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@ButterflyWishes](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/ButterflyWishes)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 12:33pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/distended-external-jugular-veins/13225/4 "2023-04-23T12:33:39Z")
Thank you @Jules and @Isaiah_40_31! My left side EJV distention is more significant and my IJV “completely disappears at styloid/C1”. My right EJV is less distended and my IJV is 70% compressed styloid/C1. I’m definitely intrigued. Yes, I saw Dr. Hepworth and have a following up in a few months. Thank you, I wasn’t sure who would be good for C1 shave. I was wondering about my C1 role but I also have C0/C1/C2 instability and concerned C1 shave could make instability worse? Still learning! ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/distended-external-jugular-veins/13225/5 "2023-04-23T15:07:48Z")
I don’t think there’s any research about that, but there have been some discussions about instability & C1 shave, if you have time you could do a search of the past discussions & see others’ experiences… ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/distended-external-jugular-veins/13225/6 "2023-04-23T20:44:33Z")
@ButterflyWishes - Regarding your CCI & a C-1 shave, @GCD recently addressed that as he is scheduled for surgery w/ Dr. Costantino & Dr. Lo for ES surgery w/ C-1 shave. It makes sense to me that shaving C-1 could cause further cervical instability, however, what I didn’t consider is that the spine, from top to bottom, is surrounded by muscle & other connective tissues which help to stabilize it. Based on this he believes the tiny amount that’s removed to make space for the IJV won’t create or increase neck instability. I agree w/ his premise w/ this caveat - every human body is different & responds differently to stresses put upon it so what has positive, healing effect for one person may not do as well for another. Medicine is called a “practice” for a reason. Doctors are constantly learning what works for the majority but there are always exceptions. That’s what makes it such a challenge. I vaguely remember reading on this forum someone mentioning having their IJV “repositioned” by Dr. Hepworth so a C-1 shave wasn’t necessary. It would be worthwhile asking him about that at your next appointment. ---
**Author:** ![ButterflyWishes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@ButterflyWishes](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/ButterflyWishes)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/distended-external-jugular-veins/13225/7 "2023-04-24T13:18:06Z")
@Isaiah_40_31 Thank you for your thoughts and insight, it is really helpful. When there are so many other conditions that need to be considered it’s tough making a decision on which direction to go. I will look into Dr. Constantino and Dr. Lo and will talk with Dr. Hepworth. Thanks again.