|
[ Arthritis Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |
Hi all:
I am preparing to start the e-diet for myself in a quest to cure myself of sever chronic fatigue, light-headedness and autonomic problems. However, since the impetus for these diets was arthritic conditions, I am curious to know if anyone actually knows someone personally who has been cured of ankylosing spondylitis?
My sister-in-law has this terrbile condition, and is currently resigning herself to 'pain management' classes, where she is being told that she will suffer tremendously for the rest of her life. It is a terrible ordeal for her and her family. Is there hope? How much relief is possible?
Thanks for any input.
Ian
In Reply to: has anyone with ankylosing spondylitis ever been cured? posted by Ian on May 28, 1999 at 01:02:24:
Hi Ian
Norman Cousins recovered from this disease. Tell your sistr-in-law to read Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins. He was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis in 1964. He cured himself with mega doses of vitamin C and laughter (he watched Candid Camera alot). The people that get better do not resign, they keep fighting until they win. Please give her encouragement.
Linda J.
In Reply to: Yes, Norman Cousins has! posted by Linda J. on May 28, 1999 at 07:29:54:
Hi Linda:
Yes, she followed the Vit C path years ago, and I can acknowledge that she tried the good humour too! In fact, humour and relaxation are the key components of her current 'pain management' course. However, these are coping strategies, not cures.
I guess that I was hoping to find someone who has regained health, that can actually be contacted and talked with. To date, there are only anecdotes, with no apparent 'real people' at the other end.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Ian
In Reply to: has anyone with ankylosing spondylitis ever been cured? posted by Ian on May 28, 1999 at 01:02:24:
Ian,
If you describe 'cure' as a return to health then I think that your sister can be cured.
If you describe a cure as something that will reverse everything and allow her to do things the same way that she did prior to her illness I personally believe that it doesn't exist.
There are mechanisms which led your sister to developing ankylosing spondylitis. By discovering the mechanisms at play for your sister (and you might be surprised that the mechanisms ARE NOT the same for everyone with ankylosing spondylitis) and eliminating them you give her body the chance to RE-NORMALIZE and heal (or cure) itself.
This doesn't mean that all of the damage that has occurred will go away but it DOES mean you can stop the process of the disease from moving forward.
Having been in a position like your sister's where conventional therapies were failing miserably I didn't DEMAND a cure -- just something that was more effective and less toxic that could slow or stop the progression of the disease.
O.K. -- enough with the philosophical stuff. EVERYONE with anylosing spondylitis has a damaged intestinal tract that is leaking food peptides as well as other bacterial and yeast contaminants into the bloodstream. I've personally found that folks with AS will see positive benefit from the Eliminaiton diet. About 90% will see benefit from the pepto-bismol test which implies that they are reacting to certain bowel bacteria -- and at least 50% will have a candidiasis problem perpetuating damage along the intestinal tract.
Once your sister has addressed (and resolved) all of these things she will be 'cured'. She will find her life much different in what she needs to do to keep these things from coming back and she will have to manage the irreversible joint/tendon damage as best she can with various physical therapy modalities.
After reading this you can see why the great majority of folks prefer to believe Norman Cousins............
Bob
In Reply to: Re: Yes, Norman Cousins has! posted by Ian on May 28, 1999 at 10:36:21:
Ian,
See if she is willing to learn about skilled relaxation (BY FAR the most important leg of the stool for this condition).
Of course, all the legs or the wellness stool together work better but she needs to start somewhere.
What possible harm can come to her by her becoming a student of skilled relaxation????
Have her read "The Relaxation Response" by Herbert Benson, MD. THEN, if that makes sense to her & she wants to understand this at a deeper level, have her read "Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer" by Dr Pelletier.
THEN, if she still has questions, put them on this bb.
When she gets well, I hope she will take the time to share her experiences with this BB.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Yes, Norman Cousins has! (AND she can too!) posted by Walt Stoll on May 29, 1999 at 08:48:29:
Thanks Walt:
I have bought the "The Relaxation Response", and will pass it along to her as soon as I read it (I will also give her your book once it arrives and I read it). I have also ordered her a GSR2 from toolsforexploration.com, as it seems to me that the unskilled require some help in determining whether or not they achieve the right response.
What do you feel is the best way for ensuring that "The Relaxation Response" is indeed achieved?
Thank you,
Ian
In Reply to: Re: Yes, Norman Cousins has! (AND she can too!) posted by Ian on May 31, 1999 at 10:12:44:
Hi, Ian.
A GRS/2 can be a help. If that is not reliable, there is an entire biofeedback archive (link below) that would help more.
I hope she learns enough to understand how critically important this is for her to do.
Let us know what happens.
Walt
In Reply to: has anyone with ankylosing spondylitis ever been cured? posted by Ian on May 28, 1999 at 01:02:24:
search ankylosing spondylitis in polish this although claims complete cure using kemo therapy
In Reply to: Re: has anyone with ankylosing spondylitis ever been cured? posted by phil on September 20, 1999 at 07:25:37:
Phil,
Ankylosing Spondylitis is a combination of an autoimmune condition and the complication of total-body "bracing". Fortunately, dealing with the bracing also directly reduces the autoimmune condition by dealing with LGS which is the smoking gun that actually causes the autoimmunity.
See the glossary for any unfamiliar terms.
Your best bet right now would be to learn about this by corresponding with one of the contributors to this BB (Robert McFerran). He had terminal Rheumatiod Arthritis (the first cousin of AS) and can help you understand this as well as (or better than) I can.
As you improve, please share your experiences with this bulletin board so others who think this is hopeless will know better.
Walt
In Reply to: has anyone with ankylosing spondylitis ever been cured? posted by Ian on May 28, 1999 at 01:02:24:
First, Robert McF. makes a good point about the uniqueness of each person - but here is my tale.
At 20 i started to feel pain particularly after rugby games .. by 29 I was unable to touch my kness when standing.
Now, I cheated by being prescribed Indocin when in S.Africa - BUT here is what I did in addition to that.
Stopped smoking.
Changed my diet to a low-fat, primarily vegetarian mode.
Started exercising - walks, then pushups, stretching, and eventually returned to swimming, biking, jogging and weights.
I put in around 20-30 minutes 5 times a week, give or take.
I vary the quality of the exercise, from really intense to long, slow distance.
At 54, I still weigh 145lbs, have cholesterol of 137, have jogged as far as 22 miles, and have done a few triathlons. Being a single parent of a 9yo helps a stack.
My use of (now) Voltaren is reduced to 75 mg a day, and I often skip a day or two.
I believe that if I implement SR (thus combating an odiously stressy job), I will be able to drop the use of the NSAID altogether.
Tot siens,
Deryk
In Reply to: Re: has anyone with ankylosing spondylitis ever been cured? - I have just about posted by Deryk on September 21, 1999 at 12:21:39:
Thanks, Deryk.
Your testimonial should give hope to all of those who have been told they are doomed to have this all the rest of their lives.
Namaste`
Walt
|
[ Arthritis Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |