Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; NSD- All Success?

Having read all the research I embarked on a strict NSD out of sheer desparation last September. Having read of people getting relief in days, I was disappointed to see no improvement for a couple of weeks but I stuck with it and I started slowly to improve. It took 10 weeks to get to the point where I was walking normally etc. Over Christmas I reverted to a normal diet with few ill effects. The NSD seemed to bring it under control to a level which 150 mg of Voltarol can cope. I know some people stick with it for years. I found it very difficult. When I told the rheumatologist that I was doing it she didn't dismiss it. She said the problem was that there had never been any clinical trials done and she felt that for most people it would not be sustainable. NSD does work but you might have to be patient.

Thank you! We will make sure to go with a long term approach as opposed to quick fix.

****Why didn't she tell us of this long time ago??? (frustrated)****

Hi Jaz and welcome, I am just popping into the site quickly, and just had to reply to your above frustration.

The reason why your doc did not tell you about the NSD is most likely because your doc [and the rest of the medical docs, for the most part] do not believe a "diet" can help you with AS.

This of course is NOT true as you have read many messages from people on this site who are NSD and have been helped greatly!

I have been NSD [mostly!] since Sept 06, after finding this site about a month previously. My advice to you is make sure your husband is also reading this site and learning along with you about AS and the NSD. Read everything you can from DragonSlayer, Dotyisle, Kiwi [she is also a wife helping her husband with severe AS], JeanneMedina, and many more.

Good luck! Remember what you do now with your diet and your family's diets will impact you and your family for a very long time! Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
Rita

James, 13!, Adrian, 11, Elisabeth, 4, my babies!

As shown, everybody's AS different. I'm example of partial success. I was able to get of NSAIDs in over 3 years of diet, but I'm not pain free and my spine is still fusing and making me less mobile. May just not that fast as it would be. Still, I'm hoping, trying and looking for other addition ways. Good luck!

I'm another success story but I tend to think my particular problem was caused by gluten (protein in wheat, barley, rye). I adopted a "Paleo" diet, one where I eat foods similar to those our ancestors ate before agriculture. Basically it is meat, veggies (non-starchy), some low sugar fruits, coconut products (oil, milk, flour), eggs. There are some non-paleo things I add in but everything is low sugar and no starch. All grains and dairy are out.

Anyway, I'm in complete remission now from what had been very, very painful. I wasn't fusing just in a lot of pain. I am B27 positive but I kind of suspect that my arthritis issues might have been caused by food intolerances. Hard to know for sure!

I am a good cook and find an infinite variety of ways to prepare the things I eat so I never, ever get bored. If anything, even simple foods taste better to me now than they ever did! Whoever said it wasn't sustainable... they should eat a few meals with me.

Thanks Rita! What a group of cuties you got there!

Thanks so much for your reply, John. It brought me close to tears (I'm pregnant- so sue me *smile*)

I really appreciate the giving atmosphere here and the support. Having a spouse in constant pain and me being in constant worry for him adds a level of stress that only those going through it can imagine.

We've not eliminated dairy yet from our diet. We've done the slower approach with eliminating grains and legumes first. Its been a week and he's feeling a little less pain- and this is with his Enbrel being a week "overdue" now.

Keeping the hope alive.
thanks, jaz

Hi
Welcome to the site.
I am one of the person on this site that found NSD helps me when NSAIDs don't.
I takes me as long as 3 months before i noticed the difference. My improvement came siginificantly after i tried the 3 day apple fast althoguh i wasn't so sure if that was just an coincidence.
I tried apple fasting many times and it helps me every time.
It may be hard to be on this diet but the result is worthwhile.

Charlie

I can tell you that in Spain, patients who followed the diet without starch, we made an article that calls attention to the doctors, trying to take into account the diet to treat their patients.
In the article, one can see that only one case in the diet did not work and that there was much in the rest totál improvement or, in some cases declined dramatically medicines or other completely.
Start thinking diet, which though not find a rapid improvement in the disease, at least is a totally healthy diet for your family.
Surely you will notice the changes.
Greetings.