Back From MS: Five Steps to Reversing Multiple Sclerosis

When tests are inconclusive and the doctor doesn't have answers for you, it's easy to wonder whether the symptoms you are experiencing are "all in your head. If you continue to experience the problems that led to you seeking a diagnosis, don't give up on trying to find answers. It can be helpful to seek a second opinion from a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis. These experts may recognize signs that may not be apparent to others. However, sometimes only time will truly tell if a person has MS.

Today, many doctors prefer to treat cases of "probable MS" as though their diagnosis was certain. Early treatment can slow the progress of the disease and potentially prevent relapses. If your doctor cannot provide a definitive diagnosis, discuss whether the evidence is strong enough to merit starting treatment. Sadly, some individuals remain in limbo for years, suffering from symptoms but unable to get diagnosed.

Don't let the lack of a diagnosis stop you from seeking support. Consider joining a support group for the chronically ill, or specifically for people with MS. Not having a diagnosis should not, and can not, stop you from relating to those with MS or sharing and receiving support. Multiple sclerosis is unpredictable. It can vary widely from person to person, and each person's condition can change from day to day. So, while there can be similarities in symptoms and disease course between different people, no two people experience MS exactly the same way. However, there are some general guidelines for what you can expect.

Most people with MS can expect to experience relapses. A relapse also called an exacerbation or "flare-up" is a temporary worsening of symptoms lasting more than 24 hours. Relapses are caused by inflammation within the central nervous system, and more severe relapses are typically treated with steroids or ACTH.

People who experience relapses are also likely to experience pseudo-relapses. This is a temporary worsening of symptoms, lasting less than 24 hours, caused by something other than CNS inflammation. Common causes are heat intolerance, infection, and illness. Progression is the accumulation of lasting symptoms over time. This can happen as a result of relapses, when a symptom doesn't entirely go away when the flare-up has ended. But progression can also happen independently of relapse.

In this case, a symptom often comes on slowly, getting more noticeable as time goes on. Some symptoms will come and go. You may feel fine today, but find that your symptoms are 'acting up' tomorrow. Or you may feel fine in the morning, but be doing poorly by afternoon. Worsening of a symptom you have previously experienced doesn't necessarily signal a relapse, pseudo-relapse, or disease progression. Sometimes, other health factors contribute, or several symptoms have a synergistic affect, each making the other worse.

For example, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, or stress can contribute to chronic fatigue. Fatigue can contribute to cognitive dysfunction and worsen emotional symptoms, such as depression. When these problems persist more than a day with no other apparent health factors as the cause, or if you experience new or severe symptoms, contact your doctor.

In the broadest terms, those diagnosed with progressive MS may expect to experience a steady worsening of symptoms — frequently affecting mobility. However, the rate of that progression varies widely. One study followed people with progressive MS over several decades and noted that at 25 years after diagnosis, a quarter of the participants were still able to walk.

For those with relapsing MS, the prognosis is equally variable. Within 25 years, the majority will transition to the secondary progressive form of the disease, but that does not necessarily equate to developing severe disability. Often, they will not require a wheelchair or other mobility aid any earlier than their peers who do not have MS.

In some cases, the course of MS during the first five years may provide a clue to the progression of the disease during the next 10 years. Recent studies indicate that 90 percent of patients with minimal disability at five years after onset were still walking without an assistive device after 15 years. There are steps a person can take to fight back against the disease, prevent relapses, and delay progression.

These include beginning treatment as early as possible and adhering to their medication schedule, managing their sleep and stress effectively, eating well, staying active, and going tobacco-free. But, like the many other MS symptoms, pain can be unpredictable and can stem from a number of reasons. MS-related pain may be constant over a long period of time, or it may come and go randomly, with or without other symptoms present.

At one time, doctors mistakenly believed that MS was a painless disease. Thankfully, the medical community now has a better understanding of how MS can cause pain and how to treat it. Primary pain symptoms are directly caused by the disease itself. Primary pain occurs when nerves are damaged or inflamed. In general, primary pain is treated with medications that affect the nerves themselves.

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These drugs may be classed as anti-seizure or antidepressant medications, but rest assured, they are commonly and effectively used to treat pain in MS. Secondary pain symptoms are often defined as "side effects" of other symptoms or treatment s. Treatment for secondary pain typically begins with treatment of the underlying cause.

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Physical therapy has been known to help alleviate pain from secondary symptoms such as spasticity, from falling due to balance issues, or pain from an improperly-fitted assistive device. In cases of chronic pain, referral to a pain management specialist may be helpful. If you have MS and you are in pain, do not always assume that MS is definitely the cause, and definitely do not believe that simply living with the pain is your only option.

For acute pain, see a medical professional as soon as possible. For other types of pain, keep a log of when and where you experienced it, how severe it was on a scale, and how you would describe it: Also make a note of anything that seems to make the pain better or worse. Then, discuss the log with your doctor. This will help to identify the cause of the pain, determine whether it is indeed MS-related, and know how best to treat it. While some people with MS must eventually use a wheelchair to maintain their independence, the possibility is less likely than you may think.

The course of MS can vary widely, and it is impossible to predict the nature, severity, or timing of progression in a given person. Some people with MS will have a more progressive disease course than others. Yet, history studies have indicated that, absent of any treatment, only about one-third of people with MS require a wheelchair or mobility aid after 20 years with MS. Today, treatments are available to slow the progression of disability. Some people with MS respond quite well and may have no progression for many years.

For others, the treatment may slow, but not stop the progression. With treatment, your chances of requiring a wheelchair can drastically shrink below that one-third mark. It is important to be active, and to work with your healthcare provider to obtain the most appropriate treatment. In doing so, you will keep disability at bay for as long as possible. There are unusual variants of MS that can be very aggressive and potentially shorten life, but these are not the norm.

MS tends to affect quality of life, not quantity of life; people with multiple sclerosis often live just as long as those without it, but the symptoms and disease progression can affect how well they live day-to-day. With appropriate treatment and management, these effects on quality of life can be minimized. A diagnosis of MS is not a death sentence.

Multiple sclerosis is not fatal, except in very rare circumstances. During advanced stages of disease progression, it is possible to die from complications related to MS such as infections or pneumonia. However, that is far from common. In fact, the leading causes of death in the MS community are the same as the general population. Someone with MS is more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, or stroke than from multiple sclerosis. A good MS treatment plan must address four key areas: Although there currently is not a cure for MS, there are disease-modifying treatments DMTs that can decrease the number of attacks, slow the worsening of the disease, and decrease the number of lesions on the brain.

Early treatment, beginning at the time of diagnosis, is essential to minimize the damage MS may cause. Today, a wide variety of DMTs are available, with different dosing and delivery methods: With more than a dozen treatments available for people with relapsing forms of MS and one approved for both relapsing and progressive MS , finding the most effective treatment may involve trial and error, as it can be difficult to predict individual response to a particular medication. Your healthcare provider will discuss the available options and help you weigh the potential benefits and risks of each.

A MS relapse, often also called an exacerbation, is a sudden onset of new symptoms or a worsening of old symptoms that have previously been stable. To be considered a relapse, the new symptoms must last for at least 24 hours and be separated from a previous relapse by at least 30 days. Not every relapse is treated and, often, the symptoms will pass on their own. New symptoms may be frightening, will vary from person to person, and can adversely affect your quality of life.

With appropriate planning and symptom management, a lot can be done to alleviate fear, minimize negative effects, and maintain a good quality of life. Good symptom management can include medical, rehabilitative, psychological, and lifestyle approaches to treatment. The approach will depend on the type of symptom, its severity, and several other factors, such as your physical ability and support system. Some symptoms might be treated with a combination of approaches. For example, treating chronic fatigue might involve taking a medication, learning energy conservation techniques through occupational therapy, and making changes in lifestyle to introduce healthier sleep habits.

MS Focus recommends that you discuss each new symptom with your healthcare team, even if you believe that you are able to manage it on your own. Some symptoms are best treated with early intervention in order to prevent worsening. Other symptoms may need to be monitored for changes over time.

For this reason, routine medical care, exercise, nutrition, and proper rest are highly important factors to consider in an MS treatment plan. There is no specific dietary recommendation for MS. For someone without MS, certain aspects of how you eat have been shown to reduce the risk of MS. Specific diets have been shown to improve certain symptoms in those with MS.

Studies that examine patterns in health across specific populations demonstrate that a "Westernized" diet high in fat, salt, sugar, and processed food, and low in vegetables is associated with increased MS risk. Moreover, obesity is a risk factor for developing MS, possibly because it contributes to chronic inflammation.

These facts, taken together, indicate that diet may be a factor in developing MS, but it remains to be seen whether diet can play a role in stopping the disease. While no diet regimen has been shown to slow, stop, or reverse the damage caused by MS, specific diets have shown some benefit for symptom management in clinical trials.

Among those diets that have shown positive trial results, the most noted effect was a reduction in fatigue. Participants also improved their general health, including weight and blood lipid levels. Among these diets studied specifically for MS, there are some differences and similarities.

This overview of the available research strongly indicates that a diet high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains -- and low in fat, sugar, and processed foods -- is a common-sense approach to diet for individuals with MS. In addition to reducing fatigue and weight, eating consistently well over a period of time may help improve other MS symptoms, such as bladder and bowel problems, and prevent other diet-related health conditions. It may also positively affect mental and emotional health, including memory and concentration. In fact, pregnancy is typically associated with a remission of MS, especially in the second and third trimesters.

However, the six months after the baby is born are associated with a slightly higher risk of a relapse. Overall, the effect of pregnancy on a woman's MS may be slightly protective.

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Children with a parent with MS have a slightly increased chance of developing MS in their lifetime. They are, roughly, 2. Many potentials parents will often weigh the increased risk when thinking about starting a family. MS medications are another factor in the decision to start a family. Most MS medications should not be used during pregnancy on the basis of animal studies, and none have been studied specifically in pregnant women. If you are planning a family, speak to your doctor about the process and timing of stopping and restarting your medication. What is multiple sclerosis?

A simple illustration Imagine this: No one knows the direct cause of MS — yet. Studies are ongoing in the following areas: Immunologic reaction MS is generally considered an autoimmune disease. Viral or other infectious agents Environmental studies suggest that some factor — probably infectious — must be encountered before the age of 15 in order for MS to develop later in life. Environmental factors Studies have shown that people born in a geographic location with a high incidence of MS, who move to a geographic location with a lower incidence of MS during childhood, will acquire the lesser risk associated with their new location.

Genetic factors New techniques are being used in an effort to identify the genes that may be involved in MS development. How many people have MS? What are the warning signs of multiple sclerosis? How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?

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A definite MS diagnosis has these requirements: What can I expect during testing for MS? The clinical and neurological exam The examination begins with a careful inquiry into your medical history. The physician is also likely to ask about: Past surgeries Illnesses Allergies Any family history of neurological disorders or autoimmune disorders Geographic locations where you have lived If you are adversely affected by heat Medications you are taking History of substance abuse alcohol, drugs, and tobacco The doctor will next perform a neurological examination.

It involves checking such things as: Your reflexes The response of your pupils to light Your ability to follow a moving object with your eyes Your balance and your ability to walk a straight line Other simple tests that can signal problems within the nervous system When MS is suspected, a few particular tests are likely to be added. When Further Tests Are Needed If an examination, lab testing, and MRI fail to provide enough information to make a diagnosis, or if you are ineligible for MRI, your doctor may order additional tests, including evoked potentials and lumbar puncture.

There are three types of these tests: Visual Evoked Potential VEP examines electrical response to repeated visual stimuli to detect optic neuritis. Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potential BAEP detects abnormalities in persons with demyelinating lesions in the brain stem, which cause delays in the transmission of sounds. Somatosensory Evoked Potential SSEP delivers brief electrical stimulus to the wrist or ankle, detecting disruptions in the pathways from the arms and legs to the brain at very specific positions of the CNS.

Getting the Results Following the completion of all testing your doctor prescribes, your doctor will look at the picture that emerges from the combined results to determine if there is sufficient evidence for a diagnosis of MS. What are the different types of MS? At diagnosis, a person is most likely to be classified as having one of the following: Temporary, minor improvements may be experienced, but are not common.

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RMS is defined by clearly identifiable attacks lasting days or weeks, with periods between relapses being stable and absent of disease progression. After an attack, many people experience a full recovery, but some will experience residual loss in mental or physical function upon recovery. Those diagnosed with RMS may eventually transition to a fourth category: Loss of physical and mental function are accumulated without recovery between attacks.

Active — Experiencing relapses of neurological symptoms, or has new or enlarging lesions visible on MRI. Worsening — Experiencing an increase in neurological dysfunction or disability as a result of either relapses or progression. If my tests are inconclusive, is it all in my head? Steps to Take It can be helpful to seek a second opinion from a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis. What should I expect if I'm diagnosed with MS?

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Relapses Most people with MS can expect to experience relapses. Progression Progression is the accumulation of lasting symptoms over time. Do you have lots of stress in your life? Then you probably have Candida overgrowth in your system.

This is when my MS symptoms began to reverse. Three months after I started I realized my heat intolerance was gone! It is still gone today along with the numbness in the back of my mouth, heavy boot sensation on my feet, and more. Since everyone is different you may see improvements right away or it may take longer.

But a slow improvement is always better than getting worst. Both are feeling better since I significantly lowered my carb intake Candida diet. After my major attack, I was desperate so I decided to change my diet all at once. That was one week before Thanksgiving! It was very hard and depressing watching everyone enjoying their huge Thanksgiving meal.

While I had very little on my plate. Start by removing gluten first then dairy. Or the other way around, just start. Try an elimination diet to find hidden food sensitivities. This is how I realized I was sensitive to nightshades. Then remove toxins in your home. Start using natural body care products, then natural household cleaners. Add water filters to your faucets and air filters. You should start feeling better more energy, less brain fog, not as depressed.

If not you may need to go a little deeper. Could there be an infection, parasites, chronic stress, or sleep problems? You need to take care of all of these. Staying positive is one of the best things you can do for your spirit and your bodies healing process. If you are always thinking negative thoughts you begin to believe them.

Instead, believe you will heal. Believe you can stop MS from progressing. Stop listening to negative people, they are toxic and will only hold you back. I had a friend diagnosed with MS after I was. She immediately had no hope and excepted her future doomed with MS. I tried to get her to change her diet and lifestyle. But she would only do what her neurologist told her to do we had the same neurologist. Within five years she was in a wheelchair. She eventually became a quadriplegic and died from complications of MS.

It was very sad watching MS ravage her body and destroy her life. But she listened to the toxic negative people and believed she had no hope. Everyone has struggles, you just have to stay positive and push past it. Including physical, mental, and financial struggles. Besides my own flares, our youngest son almost died and spent a week in the hospital when he was two and a half years old. Years later doctors diagnosed him with Type 1 Diabetes T1D. There is no cure for MS and this is not a cure.

If you went back to your old habits MS will return. This is a lifestyle change for the better! Stop eating poorly and eating foods that harm your body. Avoiding sugar is more important than a flare. Stop smoking, get your vitamin D checked, learn to manage stress, and avoid toxic people. Subscribe to my FREE newsletter!