I received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2006. At that time I knew nothing about MS and thought I was going to die very soon as I imagined the disease was terminal. My children were in 1st and 2nd grade. I would lie in bed with them at night thinking that I wouldn’t live to see their high school graduation. Forget about seeing them get married and have children of their own.
Thankfully, my husband quickly let me know that the majority of people with MS do not die a premature death. Still, the diagnosis was absolutely shocking. All I could picture was the worst, that in a short amount of time I would be an invalid. I was not happy about that picture.
Now, I’m doing better. Here are the steps I took when I received an MS diagnosis. Most of these are free, and will cost you nothing financially.
Getting Started When Diagnosed with MS
1. Sleep
Sleep is a priority for healing any health issue and especially for severe neurological conditions. I get 8 hours of sleep per night minimum, and more on weekends. Sleep is free. If you have trouble sleeping see my Natural Sleep Remedies or post for information on supplements that support getting a better night of sleep. My Five Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep may also be of interest.
2. Diet
I follow a diet that is 100% gluten and grain free, without exception, and find this very helpful. Studies show that gluten can be detrimental to those suffering from leaky gut, and that leaky gut may lead to and exacerbate autoimmune illnesses, so removing gluten from your diet may be an effective strategy for dealing with multiple sclerosis.1
Don’t worry if you need recipes, I’ve got you covered! See my gluten-free recipes, and grain-free recipes. By the way, every recipe here on my website is both gluten and grain-free. You may also want to check out my keto diet recipes, as low-carb high-fat diets, or LCHF diets, have been shown to reduce inflammation.2
3. Exercise
Staying fit is an important part of maintaining, or regaining health. Exercise is another treatment for MS that is free. I walk 60 minutes every day, rain or shine. See my post about walking to find out how I built up my stamina to get to that 60 minute mark. Walking lifts my spirits and gives me a nice boost of endorphins.
4. Healing Movement
I do yoga, pilates, or weight lifting 3 times per week, and have found that stretching and resistance training has helped me to maintain strength, coordination, and balance. If you need inspiration, there are numerous videos available online for free, or, like me, you can make up your own routine.
5. Boundaries
Another part of my healing (also free) is to keep interactions as brief as possible with people, places and things that do not impact me in a positive manner. This can be challenging, yet it has the biggest payoff. MS is a disease of the nervous system, so reducing stress is critical in healing.
I designed this MS healing plan myself and chose action items that I felt would give me a very high ROI (return on investment). However, many of the above commitments were radical shifts to my life paradigm, I did not always embrace this change, nor was it easy for me.
As I learned through this process, rebuilding one’s health is one of the greatest challenges life presents. If you make such a choice, be forewarned that it could be very unpleasant and that you may find yourself resisting the very change you seek. This is because rebuilding health means interrupting old habits and patterns. You may not want to make the necessary commitments to, and sacrifices for, your health. For example, you might have to give up watching TV everyday in order to walk for an hour. Or, people might be angry with you for protecting your time and setting limits that serve you, not them. These types of challenges await you, along with healing.
Finally, to create the above treatment plan for my MS, I had to slow down enough to listen to myself, to my body, and my emotions. I had to figure out what I really wanted, what really served me. Even though the process was unpleasant at times, I reconnected with myself and got to know myself better which became a blessing. Am I done? Not even close. The point of my healing plan is not the plan itself, it is undertaking the process of healing, which for me is the process of listening. This is something I practice every day.
For additional resources on how to deal with an MS diagnosis see:
Natural vitiligo treatment system says
I purchased Natural Vitiligo Treatment System last week. This book talks about a lot of natural remedies but it mainly advocates supplementing with 3 vitamins and 1 herbal extract. After one week my vitiligo has ended spreading and I’m beginning to see a bit of color back. The guy who has written this is also very? nice, I contacted him with some questions before I even bought the book and he sent me a very lengthy reply.
Joanna says
Dear Eleana
good luck to you, I hope you will get better and better every second! Thank you so much for the blog and recipies- I am a celiac mother with two little celiac sons, GOD BLESS YOU!
Caren says
I found your page as I’m trying to learn more about the Paleo Diet. When I came to this part of the website and had the Ah-Ha moment about you having MS. I have it as well. Now I’m thinking that going grain free is the way to go for me. At 42, I feel ok as far as MS symtoms go, but my metabolism has slowed considerably and I’m gaining weight. No fun there.
I think that this may be the eye opening I needed to really clean up what I am eating and get on track.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Caren in Florida
Melanie says
Good luck to you Elana! You have an inspirational website and story (which I have just discovered). I really wish you well on your journey. I am on a similar path to you in having had Cancer ten years ago and healing myself holistically from that but still dealing with a few other ongoing health issues and continually having to check in and stay true to me on all level.. So, I just wanted to pass on my thanks for discovering your website and story and some energetic support from the UK. Best wishes on your journey. Melanie
Denise Pouchet says
New to your website and information, can’t even recall how I found you but I can tell you reading this post had a profound impact on me.
I’ve struggled with declining health for 5 years with confirmed diagnosis added onto diagnosis, evidently one cannot outrun ones genes, who knew? The latest confirmed diagnosis is Myasthenia Gravis, an autoimmune disease which attacks the receptor cells on muscles.
Reading how you’ve rebuilt your health after being diagnosed with MS gives me hope I may yet rebuild my own health, at least to my new best health state, whatever that may be.
Blood tests state I am do not have a Gluten allergy, even so your recipes look delicious and I anticipate adding them to my favorites!
Thank you again for this particular post. Knowing someone else is thriving with a serious health condition will make the challenges ahead easier to overcome.
Jean Schroer says
Elana, thank you for the wonderful recipes. I’m on a very limited diet due to another autoimmune disorder, lymphocytic colitis. I am really limited in diet, no grains, dairy or fiber. I find that some of your recipes can be adapted to allow for the no-fiber requirement. It is so reassuring to know I can still have good food that is healthy!
Allie says
I was diagnosed with MS in 2000. While I did approved drug therapy for 9 years, I’ve been in a drug trial for the last 3 1/2 years. I was directed to your website after asking someone some basic gluten free recipes – no talk about MS. I’m considering giving up gluten to see if I feel any different, but didn’t think about potential MS benefits!
Healthchannel says
Great post! We’ve created an animation explaining Multiple Sclerosis: http://youtu.be/5JxmbMHOn8k
Maybe this could help for people to have a better understanding of the disease.
Jan Lou says
Such an inspiring post! It was your recipe for mustard/lime baked chicken that brought me to your blog, Elana, but I explored a little and read this too. All the best to you & family in 2013! Take care of yourselves … and each other.
from Jan in Canada
Tee-Ann says
Dear Elana,
I came upon your website when researching dietary approaches to my own autoimmune issues. Stated quite simply, I’m “wowed” by your recipes and want to send my thanks. I’m already seeing an improvement in many of my autoimmune responses.
More importantly, I want to send all manner of good wishes your way. My mother had MS in a less informed age. The lifestyle advocated by Dr. Wahl and so graciously embodied in your website makes perfect sense. I feel its rightness on a primal level. Your children are blessed to have a mother who has made the needed lifestyle changes to take care of herself. This is precisely what I would have wanted my mother to do; take care of her wonderful self.
Stay well and thank you so much for sharing your glorious recipes.
Tee-Ann