Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
I am fed up with pulling muscles right & left from loss of muscle-mass. It takes me months to recover what takes me a moment to pull.
Has anyone else bought a protein supplement (type of thing marketed for weight-lifters)? I bought one a couple of weeks ago, and am using a fraction of what it recommends (1/3--it suggests using 3 scoops of this chocolaty powder in a glass of milk-yuk!) before going to the gym.
Is it bad for me? Maybe EPagain can answer? I also have tried a similar sort of thing my 75 year old mother uses, but it is all vitamins, rather than protein. . .
What do you think?
Has anyone else bought a protein supplement (type of thing marketed for weight-lifters)? I bought one a couple of weeks ago, and am using a fraction of what it recommends (1/3--it suggests using 3 scoops of this chocolaty powder in a glass of milk-yuk!) before going to the gym.
Is it bad for me? Maybe EPagain can answer? I also have tried a similar sort of thing my 75 year old mother uses, but it is all vitamins, rather than protein. . .
What do you think?
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Usually I get a daily influx of emails on health topics. An article from Dr. Mercola really stood out recently though because it mentioned that fat cells have their own mitochondria. Not only was this the first I'd heard of this, he also mentioned that fat serves a purpose in our metabolism. Another new factoid for me. The bottom line for me was to appreciate that even our fat cells play a...
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I just do not feel well and I really think that it's because I cried yesterday on my way to work about my Aunt who is in the hospital. I don't think that we will have her much longer. She is very frail. Now she needs help eating. So, this is the third time in a year that I felt this way after crying. I think crying releases toxins into my body. I also worked up a sweat at the gym...
Protein shakes might help you maintain weight and help a bit please stay away from shakes that have products that are bad for your specific immune system.
What do I mean? If you are allergic to casein (ie me) then do NOT get shakes with this dairy protein in it ie Whey. If you get vegetable protein make sure to again avoid products that are a problem for you ie my husband can NOT have raw spinach or Kale due to his allergens (can have cooked spinach as it changes protein structure and is not an issue for him).
Also know that protein is only part of this issue. Exercise is part of it too as I am sure you know. Due to the nerve innervation to the muscle problems people with MS have..well you will have muscle wasting. My husband tries to do 10 mins on the elliptical a few times a week but less exercise through out the day means muscle wasting. It is hard to exercise too because of all the fatigue, all your body's energy is going to try to repair itself. Again preaching to the choir about all of this.
Shakes withOUT known immune triggering components & exercising where you can could help some. Using support devices for muscle tears around joints could help too ie http://www.eastbay.com/product/model:8052/sku:421/mcdavid-patella-knee-support/black/&SID=4988&inceptor=1&cm_mmc=SEM-_-PLA-_-Bing-_-421
If you have never gotten a comprehensive immune test I highly recommend going to LEAP and getting a MRT test (I do NOT sell this and am in no way affiliated with this company). The MRT covers over 150 foods and chemicals that you ingest. It can tell you if any of them are increasing LTs or PGs. These 2 chemicals are what steroid block to reduce inflammation and pain. If you eliminate the food causing these chemicals you reduce pain and inflammation without the side effects of steroids. Plus the test looks at what increases cytokines like IL-7 that trigger T-cells....you know part to the problem in MS. It is about $400 but you only have to take this test once or at max twice in your life if you are younger.
Best wishes to you
EP
PS I am going to bring something up because both of you brought up slow healing . There is a product that the FDA has cleared and confirmed it does increase circulation and reduce pain by up to over 60% ie DPN. However, on the note of full disclosure I do sell this product...and my family uses it.
If you want the website message me and I will send it to you.
--------------Research------------------
Read some of the hightlights of what the research says about light therapy. Specifically, wound repair times not only shortened (11,12,19-26)but there was a reduced incidence of future breakdown ie diabetic uclers.
There was a 67% reduction of pain (14-16,41) for diabetic patients who also increased foot sensitivity, increased balance and reduced future incidence of falls(14). Bone(17,18) and muscle injuries(29,30) not only repaired faster but a reduced incidence of future musculoskeltal injuries of more than 40%(28).
NASA concluded light therapy reduced pain, improved musculoskeletal training injuries by "greater than 40% in Navy SEAL team members" and "decreased wound healing times"
Some of the mechanisms of actions for the vasodialation(3,4), decrease in inflammation(1, 7,12), increase in ATP of up to 150% (13) are brought up on the Clinical Research Tab.
Getting my mobility scooter in & out of the car did the real initial damage. I'm thinking that practically stopping my yoga when I restarted the gym probably aggravated it all. . .
I have toyed with the idea of that blood test for awhile now, and probably WILL do it at some point, but still am a bit put off by the price. In Europe it looks even more expensive.
So far (as in 3 or 4 times) I haven't noticed any ill effects of the shakes. I will post it if I do.
I have had a back brace (from when I pulled my back out a few years ago), but I will have to replace it (the elastic is giving out.
Epagain, I'll let you know about the DPN. . .I am exposing my body to so many artificial stuff (vitamins, meds etc), I may want to hold off adding another.
As far as taking longer to heal, I happened to have 2 Wisdom Teeth out & 2 others I worked with. Their recovery/healing took 2 weeks whereas mine too 4 months!
I done take a protein supplement, but I do eat a LUNA PROTEIN BAR 1x/day every other day to get protein.
www.light-wellness.com has a bunch of research on the use of light therapy at http://www.light-wellness.com/clinical-research
If you have never gotten a comprehensive immune test I highly recommend going to LEAP and getting a MRT test (I do NOT sell this and am in no way affiliated with this company).
http://nowleap.com/the-patented-mediator-release-test-mrt/
The MRT covers over 150 foods and chemicals that you ingest. It can tell you if any of them are increasing LTs or PGs. These 2 chemicals are what steroid block to reduce inflammation and pain.
If you eliminate the food causing these chemicals you reduce pain and inflammation without the side effects of steroids. Plus the test looks at what increases cytokines like IL-7 that trigger T-cells....you know part to the problem in MS. It is about $400 but you only have to take this test once or at max twice in your life if you are younger.
Getting rid of food that contributes to your inflammation, pain and up-regulating T-cells can help you alleviate symptoms. It will not get rid of your MS but is a step in the right direction.
Best wishes,
EP
One thing I would love to share as well as that in Terry Wahls' book (and on her FB), she stresses that stretching is so very important, and of course, exercise. The thing I've learned about stretching with the help of the wonderful Classical Stretch lady, Miranda (her shows available for free on public television) is that stretching is not just an easy thing to do or a whim type exercise... doing the exercises builds strength, coordination, balance, and all the wonderful things from which we MS'ers can really benefit.
I get that knee issue, don't know if it's the exact same scenario I'm hearing here but it seems it doesn't take long to bother the knee and it seems to me that the Classical Stretch may very well be the answer for me. I've heard Miranda mention that the stretching and strength building through it, have turned around problems like this. Even professional athletes turn to her to for relief from having jammed up their muscles and skeletal frames for so long... They find a new lease on life too and they are professional athletes.
(My goodness, I have just talked myself into stretching this morning.) As for protein, my integrative medicine doctor (MD), since I don't consume much in the way of legumes, suggested that the pea protein powder is the most mild if there is a concern with eating legumes. I do have a can of that to add to smoothies... it is a bit chalky and bland so it's best to make sure there is plenty of liquid in that smoothie and I always use some stevia to sweeten things up. I like smoothies made with cacao powder, shredded coconut and coconut milk. If I'm having a carrot, lemon smoothie, I sometimes add nutritional yeast as my protein.
Just wanted to add my two cents. I hope everyone is off to a great start today. Keep striving for the best... you deserve it.