Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; shhhh!

pssssst!

i feel pretty good

I don't want to say that too loudly because the Pain Gods might hear me and think they are not doing their jobs well enough.

I haven't had anything hurt above a 1-2 for several days. Though I have to be careful since some areas are still weak because of prior inflammation, I can pretty much do anything I want to now.

The NSD has been a huge help in getting me here. Many thanks to all who have provided support and advice to me about NSD.

PT has been a huge help too. The PT manually loosened up some tight areas on me and taught me how to walk while using my muscles correctly, relieving the stress on my joints.

I don't want to get too optimistic here, because twice before in the last two years I've been almost better and then watched it all fall apart. I also realize that AS could decide to flare its ugly head some time in the future.

Still, it's nice to be where I am now.

Karen

congrats! keep up the good work.

Cheers,
Rita

James, 12, Adrian, 10, Elisabeth, 4, my babies!

Hey Karen,
I know how you feel! I've been feeling much better this last month after being on the diet since summer. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much either.
Yesterday I received my Carol Sinclair book in the mail, and was greatly encouraged by what I read. As I have 4 boys, I'm hoping to move their diets in this direction also.
Yesterday you asked about the exercise with the broomstick.
I'll try to explain as best I can.
I lay on my back with knees up. I tighten my lower abdominal muscles so that area flattens. Your pelvis will roll back and your lower back will begin to flatten toward the floor. You should be able to breath normally while maintaining the muscle contraction. Then I bring my knees up and down - like I'm marching. You don't need to lift very high. I do this about 20 times. (10 on each side). This balances the sacro area. Then I do 20 bridges. This I do daily to build stability. If one side feels unbalanced, immediately after I do the marching and the bridge, I take a stick the width of a broom handle, and place it under the knee of the side that hurts and over the knee of the side that doesn't hurt. You bring up your knees and push down on the bar with one knee and up against the bar with the other knee at the same time. I do 5 of these and hold each one for about 5 seconds. I'll do this 1 or 2x a day as needed. Don't do everyday as you will over- correct. Make sure you walk around a for awhile afer. I hope this makes sense!
Linda

Linda,
I'm glad you are feeling much better also. When did you start the diet? I started in about mid-August. It took me about a month to eliminate all of the hidden starches, like my meds and supplements and spaghetti sauce, but I've been pretty scrupulous since then. I also eliminated dairy the first of October.

Thanks for the broomstick trick. When I check my SI and find it out of alignment, I have an exercise which uses the legs very similarly to push it back into alignment. I might try the broomstick method some time also. I also do core strengthening exercises regularly.

I just finished reading "Muscular Retraining for Pain-Free Living" by Craig Williamson. The idea behind it is that we have patterns of muscle tension which have become ingrained and feel so normal to us that we don't even notice them. Pain, such as that caused by AS, can set off a pain/tension pattern which becomes semi-permanent. The idea behind the book is to train yourself to once again feel the dysfunctional tension and then let go of it. I suspect that some of the lingering stiffness in my neck is due to muscles which are habitually contracted and I need to learn to release them.

I did some of the exercises from the book for the first time last night and I couldn't believe how much more relaxed my lower back was afterward. I tend to overuse my back muscles giving me too much of an arch in my lumbar area. The PT has been pestering me about it. This book seems to be giving me a way to let go of those muscles.

I wish you continued success with the NSD!

Karen

Thanks Rita!

Karen

Hey Karen!

I have been pain free for almost a week now I know that won't last forever...but it sure is nice.

Yay for no pain

Fantastic news Karen!! Your really taking care of yourself
instead of letting others manage your health concerns.
I had great results with nsd until the dairy sugar and
fatty meats got out of control. You are an inspiration!
Gina

Your secret is safe with me from the pain gods. Hopefully many more good days are ahead of you.

Tim

YAY!!! AWESOME!!!

oops! *whispering* i mean....yay.....awesome......