Don't give up!!! The NSD works, it's just really frustrating lol. Especially early on. Hang in there, it's so worth it.

I did strict NSD for months with some positive results but even the smallest slip (deli meat, apple, small piece of cheese) set me back. Not all the way, but enough to frustrate me. I didn't really see lasting results til I saw a naturopath who recommended alternating 1-2 weeks of berberine with 6-8 weeks of high quality probiotics. After a few rounds of that I was not only pain free, I could eat starchier foods. Now I cheat regularly with few consequences. others have found success just with probiotics. If you're struggling with just NSD, her are some other options. (I tried fasting but failed miserably).

Have you tried anything for joint healing? I take gelatin and it works wonders. I know people who have tried collagen hydrosolate (more or less the same thing) and swear by it, including one woman with several eroded discs.

In the meantime, I'm curious to learn more about your peripheral joint pain. Fingers and knees are my most persistently painful joints but these appear to be very uncommon symptoms. (It's only when my diet gets really bad that I experience flares in my hip, back and neck).

Suspected USpA. HLA B27, xray, u/sound, blood tests all -ve. Ancient history of plantar fasciitis, SI joint pain, knee arthritis. Recent history of tendinitis, neck pain, debilitating finger pain and stiffness (especially mornings). No diagnosis, no meds.

2010 - stopped eating dairy
2012 - stopped eating wheat
2014 - stopped eating all grains
Jan 2017 - discovered NSD - 98% improvement in symptoms, continually amazed by my results, wish I'd found kickAS sooner