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:
Marilyn Lake says
Thankyou Elena, for your heart opening post today. I did not know that you are successfully battling this or any other disease, and you have filled my heart with joy, and my eyes with tears. I am on month 6 of the grain free plan, really enjoying cooking with Almond flour and Xylitol or Yacon syrup when I want a treat. Dairy is gone too, with the exception of a bit of Parmesan, and Coconut milk and oil are my new best friends. A coconut milk cappuccino starts my day, and Dr. Gundry’s book and his list of supplements continue to fuel my day and melt my belly that built up over the years through misunderstanding how my metabolism doesn’t work well with grains and fruit.
You have reminded me that creativity and creation is the path through adversity. Thanks again, Marilyn Lake, The Ideal Environment.com
Lucinda says
I love the positive and proactive way you deal with MS and how generously you share with your readers. My mother has MS and I live in fear that I will develop it given how many of her other health issues I now have (plus a few interesting ones of my own). However, because I am gluten (and mostly grain) free, I believe I have greatly improved my chances of dodging this bullet. I love your blog and your encouragement. Thanks.
Gail says
Thanks so much for sharing your story Elana! I have M.S and it is progressing and the information you gave is just what l needed. I have both your books and love them. I so appreciate your website! Take care and keep up the great work!
Pamela R says
This was incredibly timely. Thank you for sharing it!
Christina says
Thank you, thank you. I loved what you said about ‘boundaries’- definitely an underrated concept but one that has helped me tremendously in my own issues with autoimmune problems/inflammation. Stress can be so toxic to the body and significantly impact the healing process.
I loved reading this. I am sure you hear this all the time but you make such a positive difference! Your cookbook has been a lifesaver as a mom of boys:) Being able to bake them your primal chocolate chip cookies in particular has been wonderful (in addition to celiac, they have egg allergies- baking cookies for them was just something I thought I’d never be able to do again).
Thank you for your recipes and inspiration!
Lisa@Pocketfuls says
What an inspiring post! It is so empowering to take charge of your own health, to listen to what your body and soul need and to make the changes that will serve you well. I think your advice is so very valuable for everyone, MS diagnosis or not. Thank you for sharing this, Elana.
Sallie says
Hi Elana-
Thank you so much for your great post, and for your excellent blog and recipes. I was diagnosed with MS a little over a year ago and I was so lucky to hear about you and Dr. Wahls right away. I started the grain free diet and also am following many of your healthy living recommendations and I’m happy to say that I’m not taking meds for the MS. I feel quite well and this lifestyle can benefit so many people. Thanks for spreading the word! Whenever I meet someone with MS I tell them about you and Dr. Wahls.
Sallie
Mary says
Elana, all I can say is: You have saved my life. 8 months ago I stumbled upon your gluten free cupcake book and your website. You have given me the inspiration and tools to stop feeling sorry for myself and embrace my challenges instead of resisting their existence. You are so intelligent, creative, self-less and beautiful. Thank you for providing hope to so many who have never even met you or talked to you. I wish you and your family the very best of everything the world has to offer.
Sheila Hecht says
I am so glad that Marylyn brought me into my life.
Carmen Martinez says
Dearest Elana,
What a beautiful, open, and honest sharing. I’m touched and encouraged. I am starting GAPS Intro tomorrow to begin healing several serious health problems which revealed themselves over the past 6 months. Before that, I had been gluten free for 30 years and then had to go grain-free. I can’t tell you enough what a blessing finding your website was for me — an oasis in a new land which spared my supportive family much, much agony in their willingness to acompany me.
Your sharing today rang so true for me as I go into this new journey with much confusion and pouting. I’ve already given up so much and now God is asking me to give up more?!? I’m trusting that with the sacrifices will come the blessings of improved health and that’s more valuable to me than what I have to give up.
Thank you for your timely encouragement and tender sharing.
God bless,
Carmen