A KNUTSFORD man who suffers from multiple sclerosis travelled more than 900 miles for a pioneering treatment which has divided the medical community.

Colm McLaughlin flew to a clinic in Krakow, Poland, for a £6,000 procedure not available in the UK but is said to be able to reverse the symptoms of the paralysing disease.

Now two weeks on, the 47-year-old, who has primary progressive MS, says he has been amazed by the results.

“I’m over the moon. It’s really given me more than I hoped for,” he said.

“I noticed my eyesight had improved. Everything came into focus, the colours were a lot deeper. It was amazing.

“My heat tolerance has improved incredibly. I’ve got scars all over my legs from falling in the shower – I was always in danger of fainting.

“The odd hot day we have I’m not able to go out.

“But the last day in Poland my wife went out to the shops and when she came back she said she couldn’t believe how hot it was in the room. I hadn’t even thought about it.”

Before the operation, Colm told the Guardian that fatigue was a ‘constant battle’, but he now says it is not an issue anymore.

The procedure, known as chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) treatment, was created by Dr Paolo Zamboni and involves opening a patient’s blocked veins to prevent iron deposits in the brain.

Colm, of Mereside Road, added: “I saw people who had just been ‘liberated’ and people who were about to have it done who looked nervous.

“It was relieving seeing people coming back with huge smiles on their faces saying how easy it was.”

Usually, the operation takes hours but for Colm it was just 25 minutes.

The father-of-two said: “I had to sign a raft of forms signing my life away basically, and as the day goes on you do get a little nervous, but I didn’t have any second thoughts.

“Some of my symptoms have been greatly alleviated. I’ve had this condition for 15 years now and it’s not going to go away over night.

“There’s no guarantees, but I really do believe this will stop the progression of the disease.

“The best case scenario would mean I can start tap dancing. Some people have remarkable recoveries.”

Colm, who sent a 10,661-name petition to Parliament, is now fighting to have the treatment recognised in the UK.

He added: “It has to happen and it will happen. It’s just a matter of time.

“Multiple sclerosis robs people of a lot of things but one of the first things is the ability to earn money. A lot of people don’t have the money to throw at this.”