I suffer from PPMS. It was confirmed in 2007 after I was medically evacuated from Afghanistan. I’m posting here because it enables me to offer my thoughts on MS, arthritis and other immune problems that I have experienced and found partial remedy for through diet.
Since there is no medical cure or even treatment for this condition, I looked further afield and began to research diet as a cause and treatment. The first thing that I read was that it is unnatural for humans to consume cow’s milk. Consequently, it provokes the immune system. Since MS is an auto immune condition, I stopped consuming milk.
I felt better in all respects within 72 hours: my MS calmed down, my arthritis went and my hay fever also stopped and has not returned for 18 years. I had three young children who all suffered from eczema and that also cleared up once I stopped them having milk.
Perceived medical wisdom seems to be that MS is caused by lack of vitamin D, due to low levels of sunshine. There does not seem to be any medical analysis in this theory, it appears to be statistical supposition because MS is most prevalent in Canada, Scotland and Scandinavia where sunlight levels are lower. However, another interesting statistic is that milk consumption is higher in these areas, probably because arable farming is more difficult in a shorter glowing season, whereas cows can be be farmed in barns.
This seems pertinent for me personally because I was born in Jersey and spent my early life on the beach receiving frequent exposure to the sun. Furthermore, for the few years preceding my diagnosis, I was based in Cyprus and Iraq where it is very sunny. However, my mum put milk in all our food because she grew up on a farm in Yorkshire and protein was expensive. Moreover, I played a lot of rugby in my teens and twenties at my father’s behest and he used to insist on me consuming a ‘special energy drink’ that he’d concocted from milk and raw eggs.
I hope my perspective is useful and that you all might be able to use my ideas in your respective care profiles. I could elaborate if it were helpful. To put this in perspective, I used to be an army officer, a ski instructor and a very happy family man but now I live alone because my wife left, I was medically discharged in 2016, can’t walk and have watched my children growing up with another man in a house that I pay for, all because I drank too much milk.
I have discussed this with several ‘experts’ with mixed responses. My MS nurse completely agreed with me. By contrast, I did support research in Oz but their response was that there is no link between childhood allergy to milk and MS in later life so there was point in researching it. This seemed to be a pointless response. Clearly, if a child is allergic to something, it’s parents would stop giving it thereby removing the antigen causing MS. I suggest that you try it yourself and see how you feel. For me, it was only 3 days; not long to try.
Hello Jonny,
I did read about a possible link between dairy and multiple sclerosis b4, but why just stop at cow’s milk, why not include beef and red meat too?
I think everything in moderation, within good reason, is okay. I personally tend to lean towards the theorem of sunlight and living further away from the equator tbh, our Canadian, Scottish and Scandinavian MS cousins are probably lacking in the sunshine vitamin D.
Regards,
JP
I stopped eating dairy products about 25 years ago after attending a presentation by Ashton Embry. No idea if it has helped, but hasn’t done any harm either.
This is still on his website.
"Dairy products contain proteins that activate myelin-sensitive immune cells and thus any consumption of dairy products helps to drive the MS disease process. All dairy products from milk to cheese to yogurt to butter, and including those from goats, must be completely avoided at all times. Any “cheating” on this can be very problematic. "
Thanks for that. I agree entirely! I stopped eating red meat 20 years ago. I also don’t eat potatoes and many other foods. I eat fish, chicken and turkey, wholegrain rice, lots of veg and much fruit. I also gave up alcohol 10 years ago.
I try and get plenty of sunshine as well although I’m limited by poor mobility.
Some interesting info. However, as mentioned in my reply to your comment elsewhere, I stopped drinking milk some 17 years ago since when my MS has progressed from ‘no real symptoms and able to walk for miles’ to being able to walk for only 10-15 minutes at most and using a stick.
The reason for not drinking milk or eating dairy products was to reduce my consumption of saturated fats. Whether that and the other OMS suggestions have made any difference to my MS I will never know but if nothing else it keeps me otherwise healthy.
I tend to try anything that isn’t obviously harmful. The latest being intermittent fasting ( eating only within an 8 hour time slot ). One thing that seems to have happened as a result is that my cholesterol level has dropped a lot !
The other thing that I’m just starting is to reduce my consumption of carbohydrates. As of tomorrow breakfasts are going to be e.g. Tuna Niçoise salad ( minus the egg) or a veggie burger with salad, or Sardines in tomato sauce on toast. These and similar things. Again , if nothing else it’s all healthy and adds variety
I think it’s common for mobility to become quite compromised around the 20 years mark of having multiple sclerosis, I’m now feeling the disability impact me a lot more than in the early years, but indeed taking healthy nutrition, exercise and sunshine will help slow the disease progression.
Best,
JP
Some very good advice there, thank you. I have had similar experiences to those mentioned. I have also gradually modified my diet to similar effect as above. I hope that this discourse is widely read so that other sufferers can try these ideas.
I have tried many things over many years. Google has been my main research tool and many of my ideas contrast medical thinking. I found doctors to be very shallow in their knowledge of MS and they often acknowledge this. Even the neuros that I consulted were of limited help and I have not seen one for 10 years.
Diet was my first approach, then I tried other things:
Cow products first. Then I stopped eating red meat or potatoes because they are hard to digest and retard your metabolism.
I try to reduce my sugar intake and I seem to follow a similar diet to diabetics. This is to try and reduce cholesterol which apparently blocks your arteries and reduces blood flow. E.g. I eat berries such as blueberry and raspberry because they supposedly have a lower sugar content than grapes and melon.
I gave up alcohol when I started taking Baclofen, which is a neuro prescribed drug.
I use artificial and doctor prescribed testosterone in a gel, which I rub on my legs. I have stiff muscles and found that this is symptomatic of low testosterone. It took a lot of effort to get the doc to prescribe it. Women will have different needs about this. It’s important to note that once you start using medical testosterone, you stop producing it naturally so I don’t recommend it for anyone who’s planning to have children.
I use a prescribed drug called Cialis which supposedly improves a man’s love life. I find that it promotes circulation generally so improves my balance, posture and gait. I don’t know about women.
I wear calf sleeves to promote blood flow in my legs.
I wear orthotics on my legs to promote stability and gait. I consequently wear big shoes.
I avoid heat because it seems to thicken the blood and therefore restrict circulation. In the summer, I take aspirin which seems to thin my blood and help my mobility. There are health risks associated with regular aspirin use so be careful. I had air con fitted in my house.
I have hand controls on my car. I had a bad car accident on a hot day because I did not realise that heat would cause my muscles to tense up in my legs.
I had to retrain my driving ability and retake my test. I now have a medically restricted licence, which has to be renewed every three years.
I have a walk-in shower. I have a stairlift. I have a mobility scooter.
I have a lot of toilet problems and wear pads all the time. I had huge ego problems when I started this but once I got over that, I found it was very liberating.
There may be other things that I forget but that is all for now. I hope it’s useful. I suggest that any newbies take my ideas slowly, according to their needs.
