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:
Lisa Collette says
Elena, you are very brave! I too use to lay in bed with my then young children listening to me breathe for their own comfort! It took a few years after the MS diagnosis, but through a persistent research doctor I found out I had late stage lyme disease, not MS. Treatment was 4.5 years and now I still follow all the four things you do .. in hopes that they will keep me from relapse. Good luck to you, I love your recipes, many I change to meet my own dietary needs and many I invent, but I serve them to all…so far no complaints! Stay well ;) Lisa
KarenO says
I hope that Jack Osborne gets a chance to read your story. I’m certain it would encourage him a great deal!
Lynnette says
Bless you Elana. I haven’t been diagnosed with anything but cant digest grains, dairy, corn, or sugars including most fruit. Paleo fits my blood type and my needs! Thank you sincerely for the reassurance of sharing your story.
Other lovely people in my life have shared these with me:
We cant love others, until we love ourselves. So embracing my own health is one way I can love myself.
Go get my ARFF every day. (Thank you Denny McLaughlin:) Achievement, Recreation, Fun, and Freedom. = happiness fuel!
There isn’t anything that can’t be said kindly. Even boundaries. I’m happier surrounded by people who support me.
I never meant to be a cook but the joy of creating and following recipes to my liking and choices is a meaningful part of loving me, creating, and having my pleasure.
Thank you Elana, your post today is on my fridge.
My wish is to become the happiest pursuer of clean food subsidies. Meanwhile I’m ordering ladybugs for my garden. And cleaning off my bike.
Karen says
Hi Elana,
I love your plan. I use a similar one in controlling chronic Lyme Disease. Just a ‘head’s up’ that chronic Lyme imitates MS among other things and with all of your outdoor activities, you may be misdiagnosed. If you develop problems, it may be something to look into. You are doing all the right things though! You may find the movie, “Under Our Skin” interesting. Don’t worry, it has a happy ending. :^)
Teresa says
What a wonderful and inspiring post, Elana. You serve as an inspiration and testament to the truth about how to take charge of any diagnosis and overcome it. I honor your spirit.
Nancy Bennett says
Thanks for sharing. Healing from any illness is a commitment that many of us make every day. One really important thing that we can do is to watch our diet, and thanks to you we have many choices to pick from. Keep up with your good life and the great recipes. Many prayers and love
Christine Robinett says
The posts here indicate just how dysfunctional the philisophy and practice of “medicine” really is in this country. As a society, we’re aculturated to believe we can’t heal, reverse diseases or have any real control over our beings. When some of us prove otherwise by using so-called “quack” methods, we’re mocked, ridiculed, even bullied especially women. It’s not just an uphill battle to heal ourselves from fatalistic diagnoses but against a discriminatory system.
To all with life-altering diagnoses that choose healing, CAM practices, mental health and boundaries over cultural and medical-industrial norms, keep up the good works. Be an activist and advocate for your own health against a very entrenched and dysfunctional system. And remember those that aren’t so fortunate as to have resources to pursue such action.
It’s why I chose Chiropractic, Naturopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine degrees over med school nearly 30 years ago. It was as much for personal growth as a career path. It’s why I chose a healthy life over hyper-critical and unsupportive family members. It’s why I’m still alive and doing better than anyone ever expected despite the odds of multiple diagnoses.
Nancy Bennett says
thank you for your inspiring e-mail. I too rejected their medical practices and went my own way. I am doing good my doctor says and told to keep on doing what ever I’m doing. She never asks me what, but it’s mostly diet, chiropractic, herbs,homeopathic and a few other suggestions from family and friends
Kareena says
Elena,
Thank you for your post! I was diagnosed with MS 5 years ago, and I immediately went off gluten. I am still learning and listening. :) My favorite item in your diet plan is the boundaries. It’s so important to have positive interactions! I believe that we heal better through positive energy! Thanks again!
Nadine says
Thank you for sharing this…
I love you site and it has helped and is helping me on my health journey…
What you have written is so true…even though I seek certain things …they are so hard to attain …I am thinking of writing out my health mission plan on recipe cards and tapping them where I can daily see them:))
Blessings to you
Jason says
Very inspirational. We should all strive to implement what you have discovered – the world would be a much better place.