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Periodically on this board (most recently in late August 1999) I've posted about my experience in using wellness methods to recover from severe rheumatoid arthritis. It's been about 27 months (I was diagnosed in 10/97) since I came into contact with Robert McFerran and started on his elimination diet and the Hunter-Gatherer metabolic diet. I've also been doing skilled relaxation since 9/98 (currently once a day for 20 minutes when I get up in the morning. Right now I'm doing a combination of meditation and visualization - using a nature sounds CD in the background).
I've been feeling VERY good, with subtle improvements continuing to come. A few of these are below.
I've had periodic episodes of pain that have become less intense and less frequent over time. My brain is doing a very good job of forgetting the pain levels I experienced.
Back in January 1999, I reported that x-rays of my feet showed bone structure improvement (bone spurs that existed in 3/98 were gone and joint spaces in several joints were larger). In December 1999 I had another x-ray. This one showed further joint space improvements with no RA progression. I felt confident this was the case prior to the x-ray based on how I have been feeling, but it's nice to have objective confirmation.
I've been careful not to get too intense with my exercise workouts as I have set myself back at times. However, I am now at the point where I can RUN A COUPLE OF MILES (mostly on soft surfaces) with no problem (and no ramifications). I also lift weights, and have been able to do more there as well. I'm not 100% of where I used to be, but I'm VERY close at this point. I was fortunate to find out about wellness methods shortly after I was diagnosed as extensive RA damage can be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.
My wrists have always been sensitive as some damage was done there. Being an exercise person, I have tried pushups from time to time just to see if I could do them. For about 18 months, these were impossible. Last summer, I could struggle through a few with my hands abnormally forward (because my wrists would not bend at the required angle). Within the last month or so, there still is some slight pain involved, but I can now do NORMAL pushups.
I went to the dentist last week to get my teeth cleaned. He commented "your gums look GREAT!" This is significant because just a few years ago he told me that there were signs of gum DETERIORATION. In the same conversation he also inquired about how I maintain my weight as he has put on several pounds recently. I just tell him and smile. It feels GOOD to be in this position after the last few years!
My cholesterol levels normalized a few months after starting the H/G diet and have stayed that way.
Two years ago, I was on disability from work only 2 months after I was diagnosed. I had difficulty eating (because of jaw pain), couldn't open a doorknob and couldn't stand up over 2-3 minutes. Couldn't see my wrist bones for the swelling, etc.
I am now healthier than the vast majority of people I meet.
Even the traditional medicine doctors/pharmacist in my extended family have taken notice. Twice in the last few weeks I have met some acquaintances that I haven't seen since early 1998 (when I looked like "death warmed over"). They are astounded at the difference!
My blood work continues to improve as shown below. Sed rate is a general measure of inflammation and rheumatoid factor is a measure of the occurrence of a specific antibody often related to RA.
Date___ Sed Rate__ R. Factor__ Notes
1/30/98__81_______ 602______ Had been on diet 2 months
3/24/98__ 88_______ 656______ Still had a lot of swelling/Pain
5/18/98__73_______ 627______ Visible swelling gone - starting to feel better
8/10/98__ 66_______ 504______ Dropped methotrexate shortly after this
11/2/98__ 66_______ 567______ Test results plateaued - no idea why
03/5/99__ 41_______ 412______ Feeling better - test results agree
7/12/99__ 15_______ 268______ Improvement continues
10/6/99__11________174______More improvement
1/31/00__10________156______Still more improvement
This has obviously been a life-changing experience for me. I know I can't return to doing things as I did before RA, and as good as I have been feeling I have no desire to do that. Even though I was very active physically, as I look back over the last 10 years or so I realize I had really FORGOTTEN what being healthy really feels like.
I continue to send a steady stream of people in Bob's direction - some with arthritis and some with other problems. I may make him blush, but he is one of the most impressive people I know.
There seems to be one primary thing these folks have in common: they are frustrated because they are not getting any answers and are often on a downward spiral.
The service provided here is as valuable as any other…Joseph
In Reply to: Rheumatoid Arthritis After 2 Years of Wellness posted by Joseph Hackett on February 05, 2000 at 10:22:35:
Joseph-
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this. I do not suffer with rheumatoid arthritis - but your recounting is valuable to me as encouragement in the face of slow (although steady) progress. I think that what you have accomplished is miraculous. But if you had given up after a few months it would not have happened (I noticed that after 4 months on the diet, you still had swelling and pain, and your lab tests belied the fact that you were improving - that must have been a trying time for you, yet you persisted for so very long after that time!) This is most encouraging for me to read - thanks again. Lisa
In Reply to: Thanks - this is a story to encourage anyone posted by Lisa M. on February 05, 2000 at 14:32:11:
Lisa,
Joe's note is DEFINATELY one for the archive section. I appreciate him taking the time to go back and re-document all this stuff.
There IS another side to this story though and that is WHY a person would even BELIEVE that they could get off all their arthritis drugs and regain their health when every EXPERT rheumatologist would tell them that this would be an IMPOSSIBILITY.
The first time that I met Joe and his family I was full of apprehension. It's the apprehension that comes from KNOWING that you can help someone IF you can present your ideas in a way that might EFFECTIVELY compell them to give what you are talking about a try. This might sound insane but I've always felt a great deal of 'pressure' knowing that if my 'presentation' was ineffective, something that could help them would probably be discarded out of hand. You never have a second chance to make a first impression.....
Now Joe has given me something that might be tremendously helpful for future 'presentations'.
Thanks Joe!
Bob
In Reply to: Rheumatoid Arthritis After 2 Years of Wellness posted by Joseph Hackett on February 05, 2000 at 10:22:35:
Bless you, Joseph, for sharing your experiences.
They are typical for those willing to put the effort into this that you have.
As you may have seen, there are those who visit this BB occasionally who do their best to discourage people from taking a serious look at the information on this 'site. This, when they have not tried it and have NO training or experience in this at all. It just terrifies them to consider that what they have always believed could be so wrong.
It is carefully documented experiences like yours that help others not be deterred by careless, and thoughtless, people like that.
Namaste`
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Thanks - this is a story to encourage anyone posted by Robert McFerran on February 05, 2000 at 15:16:16:
Congratulations, Bob.
You got another one to give it a try.
As I have said many times on this BB: "There has not been any doubt that this works--only in getting people to DO it.
Namaste`
Walt
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