I’ve learned an important lesson recently that may be useful in motivating other rheumatoid arthritis sufferers to persevere in their efforts to reverse their disease and attain an effective remission/cure.
The lesson or conclusion came in two parts; one was an emotional milestone, and the other was the realisation that my existing approach was no longer producing consistent, continued improvement. I’d reached a plateau where I was much healthier but not cured. In my previous fight with RA (years ago) I had succeeded in achieving a full remission/cure, however this time around I am still struggling to reverse the damage caused by an antibiotic treatment for blood poisoning (and the blood poisoning itself of course) which I received a couple of years ago.
If you’ve been fighting rheumatoid arthritis for some time, trying various different treatments, diets, and lifestyle changes without success (or without complete success), then you may need to try a new approach (more about this below).
Alternatively, if you’ve had sustained success from time to time, using a particular approach but then regressed because you drifted away from that approach; it may be time to make a serious and extremely difficult emotional decision based on the question: “How much do I really want to be free from this disease?”.
A New Approach to Curing Rheumatoid Arthritis
The new approach (developed over the last several months) which I’ve recently put in place, is based on the idea of targetting all possible RA causes and aggravating factors at the same time in a combined treatment plan.
- Healing leaky gut.
- Rebuilding the microbiome by increasing the population and variety of beneficial bacteria (more probiotics and prebiotics).
- Killing pathogenic bacteria, reducing their food supply, and creating an unfriendly environment for them to prevent their return.
- Inactivating or neutralising viral pathogens.
- Targetting fungal candida and restricting it to its less problematic yeast-like form.
- Killing and expelling potential parasites (targetting whole life cycles).
- Increasing nutrient absorption using enzymes, raw enzyme rich foods, Betaine-HCI, and fermented foods.
- Improving nutrition using higher nutrient density foods and smaller, simpler and more frequent meals.
- Addressing so-called ‘acidosis’ by eating more alkalising foods and less acid forming foods. In reality I believe most of the benefits provided by alkalising foods come about for reasons other than systemic pH, but more about this in a future post.
- Staying well hydrated (but not over the top) using filtered water with added electrolytes (a little Himalayan or Celtic sea salt, sodium bicarbonate and organic lemon juice).
- Improving toxin/waste removal by supporting liver (milk thistle for example) and kidney function and by increasing aerobic exercise (very important).
- Testing for food intolerances and removing causative foods.
- Rebuilding cartilage and increasing bone density, resilience and strength (increasing K2 MK-4 intake for example).
- Improving oral health by removing calculus and stimulating new gum growth followed by removal of amalgam fillings.
- Removing, inactivating or significantly reducing food anti-nutrients such as phytic acid, gluten and lectins etc.
- Removing nightshades for a while until full remission is achieved then trialling them with a re-introduction phase.
- Further improving omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acid balance.
- Improving circulation and metabolism leading to better nutrient distribution and more efficient energy production.
- Specific exercises to strengthen joints (tendons, ligaments and muscles).
- Achieving seven hours of deep; uninterrupted sleep with a consistent early bedtime :-)
- A full review of existing supplements and trialling of new treatments such as diatomaceous earth and Borax.
These are some of the current methods I am implementing simultaneously where possible. In doing so I have been able to better identify some of the issues which have been preventing my full recovery. Shortly I will be arranging a series of tests to further identify any hidden problems and to check the progress of my current diet in terms of vitamin D level and liver enzymes etc.
With rheumatoid arthritis, I don’t believe there is any supplement or single course of action that can create a remission or cure, despite many claims to that effect. If you are in the early stages of RA or if your RA is fairly mild, then a few small changes to your diet might be enough to make a big difference in reversing your illness. However, if your rheumatoid arthritis is more severe or long-term then you will probably have to try multiple approaches simultaneously in order to achieve results.
This is the key point; many people with RA will try MSM and expect to see improvement, or omega 3 rich fish oil, or vitamin D3 supplementation, but will then be disappointed with the lack of improvement. It’s not that these approaches are not helping, it’s just that by themselves they can’t hope to reverse years or decades of systemic damage caused by poor diet and other lifestyle factors, or by chronic infection.
Rheumatoid arthritis is brought about by a combination of causative and facilitative factors which accumulate over time. For example, an infection in an already weakened immune system or a chronic inflammatory response to long-term digestion of wheat and dairy products combined with a sudden decrease in beneficial intestinal flora caused by antibiotic use. There are factors which cause systemic inflammation and there are factors which allow it to manifest symptoms and illness. Another example; two people might acquire the same parasite infection in their gut; one will continue to lead a normal life unaware of the infection whilst the other will develop an autoimmune disease because their immune system was already weakened or compromised by another facilitative or contributive factor such as leaky gut.
Therefore, in order to combat more severe or long-term rheumatoid arthritis it is necessary to target all potential factors; kill or reduce infection, correct nutritional deficiencies, heal leaky gut, improve beneficial gut bacterial quantity and diversity, support the liver and so on.
How Much Do I Want to Be Free From Rheumatoid Arthritis?
This is the second part of my recent realisation/conclusion. So-called willpower (although this is actually a more complex subject than it seems) is perhaps the most important requirement in order to beat rheumatoid arthritis. We have to keep fighting, we can never give up no matter how disappointed we are – no matter how much pain we are in; we must stay positive and believe in our ability to become healthy again.
I’ve reached a point now where I will deny myself anything and everything in order to help achieve a full remission/cure. At the same time, I will take any measure, any step to bring me nearer to that goal no matter the cost; financially, socially or in terms of pain – both psychological and physical. I want to be well again and I will be well again. I visualise myself being more flexible and able to do more things; walk further, wash my hands with my palms together again, stand up and sit down with less delay – energy expenditure – and (broken glass type) pain, walk downstairs facing forwards instead of backwards as I have to do now, and so on.
I have decided I will once again cure my rheumatoid arthritis or die trying.
I reached the point where I looked at my joints, felt the restrictions in my life and understood the social consequences (loss of ‘friends’, financial loss, stress and anxiety caused to my wife etc.) and I realised that ‘I’ had to choose to be healthy again, more than this, I had to really ‘want’ to be healthy again. Only I could change my life, no one could do it for me. It was a ‘brick wall’ moment, especially difficult for me since this is the second time I’ve had to do this in close to forty years of dealing with RA.
I wrote this poem so that I wouldn’t forget that moment and I refer to it whenever I need to recharge my willpower:
“Here I lie, with my back to the floor,
I can fall no further, I can fall no more.
Longing to fly, I stare at the sky,
That place I once was, it seems so high.
I reach up with heart and hand,
As the golden light turns to sand.
Return is a hope, like a silken thread,
If hope lies, then here I’ll die, on my eternal bed.
My back against the coldest floor,
A crushing weight upon my heart,
A weight exchanged for hope before.
If from me that silken thread, it does not part,
Then it may be I will return.. to hope once more.”
This is the reason why it’s so difficult to recover from rheumatoid arthritis and achieve a full remission/cure; it requires such a commitment, such a focus of the mind, and never ending willpower, quite apart from all the research, experimentation, cost and the constant belief that the next step will bring you nearer to health.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be cured (I’ve done it once already) but it requires total commitment and a multi-targetted approach as I listed above. Mainstream medicine will not provide a cure, supplements will not provide a cure, fad/cult based dietary modifications will not provide a cure. Only a combined approach aimed at removing infection, improving nutrition, and healing all the body’s systems (especially its gut and immune system) will work.
Hi Brian can I just say you are an inspiration to all of us who suffer from this soul destroying disease.
I myself have had RA for some years & now OA has showed in my bloods I have purchased DE purist grade I did try the capsules had some effect but nothing substantial.
Can I ask where did you purchase the supplement you also recommended along with DE.
I am now at my wits end with this crying almost every night as I have so much living & things I still want to achieve but now I virtually can’t this saddens me a great deal.
Thank you so much for your encouragement.
I do hope I find you well
Regards
Carol Ferguson
Hi Carol, thank you so much for your kind words and your comment.
Regarding diatomaceous earth; I included it in the list within the post (along with Borax) to remind me to review it as a potential supplement to help remove gut parasites. The Borax (or the boron contained within it) has a long history of being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. I bought both of them.
I tried the diatomaceous earth to see if it would improve my gut health (by killing or removing any potential parasites) and therefore improve my RA symptoms. Unfortunately it didn’t have any effect at the time, however a year or so later I had a full parasite screening carried out and as it turned out I didn’t have any parasites, so that’s probably why it didn’t have any effect.
I also tried the Borax (for the boron) for some time at the recommended dose and again it didn’t help my RA symptoms. I think with the boron, the reports of it helping people with rheumatoid arthritis are true but I think in their cases they had a severe deficiency.
Carol, you have to be very careful with both of these. If you decide to try diatomaceous earth as a loose powder then be very careful not to inhale any of it because it can cause lung damage.
All of the reported benefits from Borax are due to the boron which it contains but unfortunately it’s difficult to buy a decent boron supplement that can be absorbed and therefore people were using Borax as an alternative. Borax is a pesticide and is toxic, however the people who have experimented and promoted its use, use an extremely diluted dose but I can’t remember the details. So again be careful and do your research. I can’t remember where I bought the Borax sorry Carol.
To be honest Carol, I wouldn’t look to supplements to help with your rheumatoid arthritis, the solution generally comes from adopting a whole food plant-based diet low in added salt oil and sugar (zero added oil and fat ideally).
In many cases this can be enough to halt the disease and begin to reverse it. However, if necessary this can be followed with an elimination phase to identify trigger foods within the whole food plant-based diet, such as gluten, nightshades, citrus and so on.
I wrote a summary here: The Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis are Known! It Can be Treated Cured and Prevented.
I understand how you feel, I’ve been there many times but I can assure you that if you make the right decisions you will begin to see improvements and you can work your way back to health :-) keep your chin up and fight back hard xx
Brian.
Thank You so much for your very helpful reply, I have actually started DT as I am so so tired of my consultant giving me different meds to try for 6/12 months at a time & for his nurse whom I see 6 monthly to dishearten me with the poor result of sorry carol this doesn’t seem to be working I see my consultant next month I really think self medication is the way forward when I think what are these meds doing to other parts of my body as my resent bloods showed oesteo arthritis too it’s just a never ending battle which is really wearing me down day by day.
Thank You Again Brian you are an inspiration to each & everyone of us poor sufferers of this crippling disease.
I hope I find you well my friend x
Hi Carol, thank you so much for your kind words x
I understand, it must be very demoralising to have to keep switching drugs when they’re not working for you. Unfortunately or rather fortunately, removing the causes of RA will always be more powerful than medicating the symptoms.
Apple Peel powder is an excellent food for preventing and to some extent reversing joint damage due to osteoarthritis.
I understand how you feel Carol, it’s very frustrating and draining. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
I’m looking forward to hearing how you’re changing your diet and lifestyle and progressing towards a full recovery :-) xx
Aw Brian worst news ever today the words I dreaded to hear my whole life MENOPAUSE! on top of what I’m dealing with my GP asked me today did I just want a gun we have that good humourous realatioship my GP has been my GP all my life my daughter’s too he’s amazing but I really don’t know how this is gonna go I will face it head & try my upmost to deal with this & continue my journey to being free off RA & OA I’m distraught today..
I hope you’re well my lovely friend XX
Doctor in the morning again for bloods then what ever I’m prescribed for memapause will be a challenge but I’m up for the fight Take Care lovely xx
Hi Carol, thanks for your comment. Aww, really sorry to hear your ‘dreaded’ news xx hope you are managing okay. I’m glad you have a good relationship with your GP :-) I’m sure you will be okay, keep working on your diet to beat the rheumatoid arthritis and the OA, and this will in turn help with your menopause transition/symptoms (if you have any – fingers crossed for non!).
Take good care of yourself Carol xx Keep fighting :-)
See Dr. David Gregg’s treatment for RA.
Hi Marie, thanks for your suggestion.
I followed David Gregg for a number of years until his death (2011 I think) and his ideas were/are extremely interesting. Thanks for reminding me about him. To this day I still take lysine regularly in order to suppress the herpes simplex virus.
Having had several illnesses, and reactions to dairy, wheat, sugar and yeast products, reading this sounded familiar. Taking a multiple pronged approach to the illness seems to be the only way. Thank you for being so positive and for showing us we’re not alone in our struggles to get this dis-ease under control. I have just started using diatomaceous earth and borax and have yet to see the results as it’s only been a few days, but already feeling with this article, the ability to beat it. Thank you again!
Dear KZM, thanks for your kind comment.
Yes, I’m convinced that dealing with all possible causes or contributors to this disease at the same time, is the only way to beat it. I hope diatomaceous earth and borax works for you, fingers crossed, stay positive I’m sure you can beat it :-)
I totally agree that a multifaceted approach must be used.
However, instead of antibiotics, which are sooooo destructive, rather try Ozone IV and high doses of Vit C IV.
Hi Ingrid, welcome and thanks very much for your comment.
I completely agree that antibiotics are destructive, further; I would say that in many cases the use of antibiotics in childhood is what sets many people up for future chronic diseases especially rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. There is a case to be made for the ‘antibiotic protocol’ as a last resort, since this has allowed thousands of people to go into remission from RA – but this is a drug therapy not a cure.
Despite the reported benefits of IV ozone therapy, I wouldn’t be comfortable using it myself or suggesting it to any of my readers due to the known (often serious) pathogenic effects (it’s an extremely reactive and unstable pro-oxidant and a lethal gas) and the lack of any clinical trials proving it to be beneficial for RA.
I used to be a big fan of vitamin C supplementation including liposomal vitamins C having studied Linus Pauling’s work and many others before him. Indeed, IV vitamin C in huge doses can save a critically ill person’s life. However, as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis I now believe that obtaining a very wide spectrum of antioxidants from a whole food plant-based diet is far more powerful than taking isolated ascorbic acid in the form of a supplement, no matter what the dose. Also there are significant health risks from taking large doses of supplemental vitamin C one of which I explained in a previous post: “Vitamin C and Zinc Supplements – Potentially Serious Side Effects!“
Amazing!!! In tears reading this!!!! Did you ever get your CCP levels checked again when you were in remission?
Hi Cathleen, thanks for your kind comment, I appreciate it xx
Yes, I had various blood markers checked and they were all normal at the time :-) However, as I mentioned in the post, I’ve been very ill for quite a while and I’m trying to achieve remission again. That’s why I’ve been away from my blog so long.
How are you feeling now? I have had RA for 32 years and am completely fed up. I have had it pretty lucky until recently and it is unbearable now.
Hi Louise,
Thanks for your comment. I understand how you feel (completely fed up), I have had RA for over 30 years too. Sorry for my late reply, i hope things have improved for you since your post. Whatever happens you have to keep trying and experimenting and learning, don’t give up. I’ve had a really bad year but I expect to improve soon, thanks for asking.
If you get time, let me know how you’re getting on.