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:
briita says
Thank you. You are an inspiration.
Marilyn Flynn says
This is very encouraging for MS patients. I would suggest that you check out the website http://www.knowthecause.com. Doug Kaufmann has been studying the whole area of fungus and diseases since he returned from Viet Nam 40 years ago very ill. He discovered the role of fungus in diseases. Our grains are commonly contaminated with fungus, corn is completely contaminated, antibiotics are a mycotoxin, and the sugar in our diet feeds the fungus. By starving the fungus through diet and killing the fungus with prescriptive antifungals and/or natural antifungals, he says we can find the road back to health. He has two 25-28 minute programs on his website weekdays, which are up for the week. He has two nutritionists on his program in his eye to eye segment which are very informative.
Antibiotics change the environment of the gut and 80% of our immune system is in the gut. Probiotics are important to rebalance the gut. He has had on Dr. Fed Pescatore who has written the book Boost Your Health With Probiotics, an excellent resource. Brenda Watson has a program on PBS during their fund drive called The Road To Perfect Health which also talks about the importance of probiotics.
I hope this information is helpful to everyone.
Marilyn
S says
I enjoy your posts and information that you post as it helps others. Thank you
Marlana says
Thank you for sharing your story.
Raquel of Galilee says
I completely identify with your choices. Actually you have reinforced the importance of the 5 areas you chose to adopt as a plan.
I especially was taken by the “SLEEP” you chose as #1 along with many comments I read. A blessing only we can give ourselves.
Very much enjoyed the positive wording of #5 “BOUNDARIES”. If you haven’t taken out a patent on that – I am going to take that with me, and translate it for those who I appreciate in my life that may not understand.
Your personal message to the universe has empowered me.
I am not alone.
Sara Williams says
I would not share this information unless I knew it to be true. I would not give false hope—-that would be cruel. I discovered LDN, low dose naltrexone, several years ago for my illness, Chronic Fatigue.
On the web site, http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org, is the information. LDN is helping MS–Parkinsons—etc. The MS patients are raving about it’s effect. Most mainstream MD’s are not familiar with the med. You might have to either educate your MD———OR find an Integrative MD to help with prescriptions. It is low cost, with big results. Also check out the related forums on Yahoo.
God Bless,
Sara
MaryK says
I too have MS and also take 3mg of naltrexone every night. My neurologist said that he is finding many of his MS patients that have Celiac. I did the shots for a couple of years and hated them…I think they contributed to migraines that I don’t have anymore. I’m a firm believer in taking control of your health by researching other options and finding a doctor who will work with you.
Lynnette says
Great post, Sara! I would also recommend LDN for Elana. I have ALS, and have taken similar actions: I regularly have TCM acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and chiropractic adjustments; I take LDN, practice T’ai Chi and Qui Gong; and have taken care of all the emotional baggage that was feeding my dis-ease, through the Healing Codes http://thehealingcodes.com/
I think it is important to clean up our thoughts, and our emotions (known & unknown)before physical healing can occur.
Wishing you good health, Elana!
Lynnette
Inez says
Thanks for this post, Elana. It means a lot.
Laura C says
Thank you for sharing the story of your journey, for inspiring others and for making my family’s journey easier. We are a family suffering from chronic and acute pesticide poisoning. After years of searching for the cause and then doctors that had a clue (none did) we have found that the need to avoid all that our bodies reject (diet and environment) is the key to helping our healing. My two children have found strength where first there was anger and we have come together in support. I cook from your books multiple times each week and kid around with my children that the warm chocolate chip cookies that are actually good for them are worth the problems we have had. I believe in ten or twenty years we will be healthier than all their junk food eating peers. Thank again.
Anand McManus says
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am a huge fan of yours, I recommend your cookbooks to friends almost daily and I just baked your almond poppyseed muffins (my husband loves them). I bake something from one of your cookbooks almost every day. We live in Durango and will be in Boulder in August. I would love to meet you and maybe get my cook books signed. Thank you so much for lighting the way for me and so many others on this journey to wellness.
Cookin' Canuck says
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Elana. You have taken the proverbial bull by the horns and done everything in your power to make your days fulfilling and productive. You are an inspiration!