Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Cathy
This is part 4 of a series, Is there a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). MS has been linked to an unhealthy gut, improving your gut bacteria with a healthy diet for multiple sclerosis could put it into remission.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. There is no cure for MS but with diet and lifestyle changes you can put MS into remission and possibly reverse the symptoms.
I have been suffering from MS for many decades, I’m lucky because most of that time I had remitting-relapsing MS (RRMS). Sure, I had my setbacks and I even went through different MS drugs which only made me worse. I was able to keep my MS in remission by using food as my medicine.
It wasn’t until I went through a period of chronic stress that lasted for years that caused my gait to get worse. Today, I try to stay as stress-free as possible through deep breathing, walking, and yoga.
Although my MS is no longer progressing, I still suffer from symptoms left from previous attacks. Some of the symptoms were from over ten years ago. I not only wanted to keep my MS in remission I wanted to reverse the symptoms!
That’s when I decided to visit a functional medical provider and I’m glad I did! For, the first time in over ten years I didn’t suffer from heat intolerance during the warmer weather. I was even able to stay outdoors when the temperatures reached 100° F without my body shutting down.
I’ve also had other symptoms reverse, I’m still working on improving but I’m extremely happy so far. I want to help you decide if functional medicine is right for you.
Functional Medicine
Conventional medicine separates doctors into different specialties, neurology, cardiology, and endocrinology. They treat the individual symptoms and don’t look at it as a whole-body problem. In functional medicine, the provider doesn’t just look at MS as a neurological disease. They look at the body as a whole and address the root causes, not just the symptoms. The doctor will look at a patient’s history and lifestyle that led to the disease.
In functional medicine, the provider doesn’t just look at MS as a neurological disease. They look at the body as a whole and address the root causes, not just the symptoms. The doctor will look at a patient’s history and lifestyle that led to the disease.
When someone is suffering from MS, it’s not just the nervous system that is affected. It’s an attack on the entire body eventually leading to MS.
Functional Medicine focuses on lifestyle changes and treatments that address the underlying causes of dysfunction, restoring patients to health. Granted health insurance companies don’t cover these expenses but they are less expensive than the MS drugs from conventional treatments.
Functional Medicine’s 4 R’s
- Remove
- Replace
- Reinoculate
- Repair
How To Find a Functional Medical Doctor
It is very important to find a doctor whom you feel comfortable with. My neurologist and I did not see eye to eye, so I eventually fired him. Our son has type 1 diabetes, when he turned eighteen he had to find a new endocrinologist. The new doctor had a very poor bedside manner, I finally told our son if you don’t like her find someone you do like. He fired her and now has a doctor with whom he has a great relationship.
When looking for a functional medical doctor make sure they have the standard certifications and training. Here are a few places to look:
- The Institute of Functional Medicine
- Functional Medicine Doctors
- The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
- American College for Advancement in Medicine
Questions to Ask the Functional Medical Provider
You want to have a good relationship with your doctor, you could be working with them for years. Since the central nervous is one of the slowest to heal, you need to stay positive and believe you can and will heal. Here are a few questions you may want to ask before and during your first visit:
Here are a few questions you may want to ask before and during your first visit:
→ Do you have experience working with patients with MS?
→ What are some of the tests you use?
→ Do you use a laboratory test (blood, urine, stool, saliva)?
→ If you don’t have access to a lab where do I get these tests from?
→ Do you use different therapies (diet, physical, supplements, prescriptions)?
→ Why are you prescribing this vitamin or supplement?
→ What is the cost of office visits?
What To Expect
When you first see a functional medical provider (FMP), they will spend time with you going over your medical history and not just your MS history. For most people with MS, symptoms begin to show up years before a diagnosis.
They will suggest getting some blood work, urine, or a breath test to determine the root cause of your MS. They may also include genetic testing to see if any genes may be causing health issues. My FMP had me go to my family doctor for blood work so I could use my health insurance. Insurance companies don’t always pay when you go through an FMP.
Common Tests For Inflammation
Everyone is different so each test will also be different. Common tests are vitamin deficiencies, hormones, gluten intolerance, food sensitivities, heavy metals, and Lyme disease. Make sure to check with your insurance company before getting any test. They may not pay for the test and it can get expensive.
The first thing my FMP had me start taking was vitamin D, this was before I even had any blood work. He told me “if you live in Idaho, you have a vitamin D deficiency” and he was right. When you get your vitamin D tested conventional doctors may give you a “normal” result. Normal is anywhere between 30-100, get the actual number it should be between 60-80. My “normal” number turned out to be 34 so I was low on my vitamin D.
Your doctor may request other tests depending on your circumstances, a test like heavy metal/toxins, A1C, hsCRP, or a DNA test. The DNA test is fun because you not only get your health reports you also get your ancestry report.
If you would like to learn more about my experience read: DNA Test for Multiple Sclerosis.
It Starts With You
Sometimes changing your diet to a healthy one isn’t enough, that’s where functional medicine comes in. They can help you get to the root of problems and point you in the right direction to begin your healing.
Begin with a nutrient-dense diet, customized supplements, exercise, and a healthy environment. Find the right functional medical provider to get to the root of your problem and work together to help your body begin to heal.
Next week I’ll continue with this series of the: Is There a Cure for Multiple Sclerosis? In case you missed them, here is a link to part one, two, and three:
Part 1 – Is There a Cure for Multiple Sclerosis?
Part 2 – The 4 R’s of Health
Part 3 – Healthy Diet for Multiple Sclerosis
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