Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; RA three years, NSD help?

I noticed a few weeks ago I had no starch in my diet for a few days. I felt wonderfully. I have fibromyalgia as well as RA. The last month or so I've had tailbone pain and in the muscles around it. Can't remember falling or anything like that but during a bad flare I laid down and sat down a lot, about 3 days worth, and I'm wondering if two or three days of laying on the sofa with pressure resting on that area maybe bruised it or something. Anyway, it's been hard to mend cuz of course I'm always sitting on my bum. I have a lot of bursitis in shoulder and hip too. I'm wondering if anyone with these kinds of symptoms have had success with NSD? I don't think it was a fluke that I felt better with no starch but it was only a few days so not sure. I am asking because dr. wants me back on prednisone but I'm thinking this diet may be the answer instead of the meds. I'm curious what others have experienced, if similar.

Perhaps there is a possibility you may have been misdiagnosed. With women especially it is not uncommon as symptoms can be very similar and 'AS is a mans disease'. Persevere with the diet, and if you continue to improve then a misdiagnosis is probable.

I'd say, if it works, do it. If you feel better on the NSD, then do what works. It could be a misdiagnosis or it could just be something unique about your body.

Since you may have RA rather than AS, you might want to consider other possibilities. Avoiding gluten or dairy could also be your answer.

If diet can reduce your pain and you can avoid meds, you will be much better off.

Good luck as you figure this out.

Karen

thank you both. I'm already on mtx and plaquenil and since Monday, prednisone again. It seems my doses keep increasing and that's not where I want to go!

I had a little starch yesterday but not nearly as much as I usually have. I'm not hurting as much this morning. Today starts full day of no starch. I'm very much looking forward to feeling good again. It's been a long time....

Hi. I would recommend eliminating all sugars, not just starches. This would include all fruit and dairy. Think M.O.V.E. (meats,oils, vegetable and eggs).

Meats include wild fish and Oils included coconut (especially for heating), olive (for salads) and butter. For detoxing, use only organic vegetables, and animals raised on their natural diet.

If you had some success by limiting just starches, you may see even better results with this.

There are many special foods and treatments that can help you detox more quickly, especially with all the meds you have been taking. Here is a healing naturally web site that has helped me:

http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/index.php

WELCOME, Ann1231:

The NSD can help very much in cases of RA. Elimination of grains, specifically for RA, is promoted by Dr. Mercola and Giraud Campbell made no distinction between AS (then Marie-Strumpell's) and RA, so he must have also had good results with his regimen for RA.

Fortunately, Professor Ebringer, et al were able to study RA, especially in order to differentiate RA from AS in the early stages. What they found was that RA is caused by the bacterium Proteus mirabilis; it is PRA (Proteus Reactive Arthritis) and the focus of infection is the urinary tract. Often, RA begins after UTI (although most of these are caused by E. coli, some few are due to P. mirabilis) in susceptible individuals (over 30% of the general population are HLA DR1/DR4).

Ebringer does not promote the NSD for RA because he did not study this aspect, but he does suggest that people with RA should be treated with antibiotics (the Road Back Foundation promotes their antibiotic protocol but the antibiotic employed is not very effective against P. mirabilis, yet they still get results--if long-term). "As to diet" he promotes EFAs (fish oil, borage seed oil, olive oil) and recommends people with RA drink cranberry and grape juices very often--at least six or eight ounces every few hours while awake. The sugars and other things in these juices help to expel the offending bacterium. Arachidonic acid foods should perhaps be avoided: Red meats and too many egg yolks (I think eggs are the most important food, and I would choose these instead of every type of meat except fish).

There is no doubt, however, that refined carbohydrates play some as-yet undetermined but still major role in inflammation, and until each of us are naturally out of inflammation, these should be avoided. The NSD has been useful in reducing many types of inflammation, and we have had people report excellent results for many diverse conditions, even if only used as a temporary measure to help get past some critical stage or health crisis.

May You regain your health,
John

thank you John. Great information. I do not eat beef but occasionally fix ground bison. I do eat chicken and sometimes fish. My rheumy didn't want me on antibiotics for some reason. I've heard good things about it but he felt I needed mtx and plaquenil. I've heard that arachidonic acids are bad and have tried to eat vegetarian but have not had success with eating veg and no starch. Very difficult for me personally. I also feel better if I have the protein. Not sure if it is hurting me or not. I don't eat a great deal of meat at all but enough to feel strong and not lightheaded or "empty".

I have found that refined carbs are horrible for me. My muscles start spasms within an hour of eating a potato or rice. I almost freeze up in places the pain is so excrutiating.

Thanks again. As I stated earlier, today is my first full day no starch and I am looking forward to feeling great.

HI and weloome to Kickas.

I believe diet can help with RA as well as AS, but not sure it would be exactly the same diet.

There is a book, "The Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Arthritis" by Zampereon (sp) that is a good resource regarding arthritis and diet and supplementing. I also recall helping a friend of my mothers 4 yrs ago that had AS. She began following a diet similar to AS, but I believe she avoided gluten, red meat among some other items and her RA disappeared.

If you do have RA, I am sure there are answers as well. Best of luck finding them. Wish I still had my mothers friends e-mail for you.

Tim

Thank you Tim. I know red meat generally means beef but do you think bison is as bad? That's probably a dumb question but I've had a few people tell me to eat bison instead of beef. Not sure if there's a difference or not. I don't eat it often, maybe once a week or every two weeks. Like tonight I want to make beanless chili using bison. Should I avoid it? Gluten I know is wicked stuff for me, I also can not have milk...cheese seems ok though.

I will try to find the book you recommend. I am ready to be healthy and active again!!

thank you all
Ann

Hi Ann,

The book is generally at Barnes and Noble in the States (that is where I purchased my copy). I would guess Borders has it as well.

I do not know too much about bison... I went ahead and looked up in the book I referenced what meat should be eaten and they state only free range (including beef) and organic. I would assume the same applies to bison.

Of course free range and organic is much more expensive.

Tim