Closer to the Word

By tnewbill

2 min read

I was diagnosed in 2016 but had symptoms in 2015. I thought I was just gaining weight and needed to exercise more. My left leg kept going numb. Finally, the whole left side of my body went numb. I could feel the tingling with my right hand. Two weeks later both hands went numb. I'm talking sleep numb. It stayed that way for 2 years. Doctors pretty much figure out what it was not. MRIs showed lesions on brain and then on spinal cord. Symptoms that I have were because of locations of the lesions. MS was the diagnosis. Therapy with injections started. While still working full time plus being a mom.

My treatment experience

I was sick and exhausted all the time from side effects. After 3 different therapies later I now am on Aubagio. I control the chronic pain in my neck and hands with Gabapentin. I literally take 300 MG 3x daily. It took 3 years just to figure out that it has to build up in your system to even work. Eventually you get over the drowsiness bc you just don't want to feel any more pain.

I read God's Word daily

I take vitamins and I eat a plant-based diet. I have other meds for bladder and depression. I work part-time now. I read God's Word everyday. I pray that He keeps falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches; but give me only my daily bread. Proverbs 30:8

Learning to be my own advocate

I've learned that I have to be my own advocate. I've had to learn by asking my primary doctor, the pharmacists, the nurses, and my neurologist just to get answers. As well as the MS Society website. I am thankful that I am still walking and breathing. That is a whole other conversation about not looking sick. 🙄 MS is invisible for some and I learned that everyone is facing some kind of battle so be kind. Not that I have that problem but definitely don't ever want to judge a book by its cover. I look forward to being a part of this community. It's hard bc everyone's symptoms are different. Oh, and did I mention I am a 40 yr old African American woman. I was diagnosed when I was 36.

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Kim Dolce Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention user-id="4096089" username="tnewbill"/> , welcome to our community! We're so glad you found us and that you have already taken advantage of our stories feature. What a great way to introduce yourself and share your own MS experience. Your awesome can-do spirit and strong faith have carried you through a lot of trials, and will no doubt continue to "grease the wheels" as you navigate life with MS. We look forward to hearing from you again and again. Your presence here enriches our community, and your words will inspire and soothe countless readers. Best wishes, Kim, moderator
1. tnewbill Member
 Hi Kim. Thank you
lindacolorado Member
As I read your story, I couldn't help but respond. To begin, you have MS. Next, you experience pain in your neck and hands. The normal medical response is to be prescribed medications: MS medications and pain medications. That is what accepted medicine suggests. Have you ever experienced head and/or neck trauma? This can happen in an automobile accident, sports injury, fall, physical abuse, or being delivered with forceps, for instance, in the birthing process. I have had MS for 38 years now, and I received real help with my MS after joining an MS study with Dr. Raymond Damadian, the original inventor of the MRI, and Dr. Scott Rosa, a cranial cervical expert. They believe MS, as well of other neurodegenerative diseases are the result of head or neck trauma causing the misalignment in the cervical spine. The following is a copy of a post I made describing in more detail the connection: Their research has expanded beyond MS to other neurodegenerative diseases as well. When babies are born with the assistance of forceps, for instance, the aggressive yanking back and forth of the infant's head can cause damage in the birthing process, leading to a high incidence of autism and cerebral palsy. This research now encompasses the blood flow into and out of the brain as well as the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) flow. Until about 4 years ago it wasn't known that there was a micro-lymphatic system (the glymphatic system) in the brain to rid the brain of wastes. This system is dependant on the proper flow of cerebral spinal fluid to function properly. The brain needs blood flow to bring nutrients in, the brain needs the proper CSF flow to cleanse the brain of wastes, and the brain needs the proper flow of CSF to avoid raising the intracranial pressure (restricting blood flow) and causing the leakage of CSF from the ventricles, which have been imaged leading to the lesions in the brain. Isn't it amazing to find out a bio-physical issue (the misalignment in the cervical spine) is the culprit of so many neurodegenerative diseases? The challenge is to find ways to correct this bio-physical obstruction. One way is atlas alignment to open these bodily flows (currently aggressively being researched and acted upon by Dr. Scott Rosa). But certainly, researches can come up with more solutions. When Dr. Zamboni came up with angioplasty of the venous system, he was not aware of the blockage in the CSF flow system. Angioplasty may open the blood flow, but doesn't open the CSF flow. Ironically, the atlas alignment opens both CSF flow and blood flow.
1. lindacolorado Member
 Adding to my previous comment, I got several abilities back, some lost for as long as 25 years, following atlas alignment performed by Dr. Scott Rosa. It opened my CSF flow and blood flow, as I found out later. This immediately gave me my eyesight back (in the double vision category), returned the feeling in my abdomen and hands, and gave me back the feeling of urgency to urinate and empty my bladder. This is notable since I had been in the progressive stage of MS for 9 years when treated and was 62. I could drive again, read books (and even got the ability to speed read back, gone from a relapse 25 years before). I no longer get bladder infections, a chronic problem before treatment for so many years that I had lost track. I can put my own earrings in, and form a whistle (an ability I didn't even know was related to the MS). Something I don't normally discuss, but I am able to enjoy marital intimacy, the feeling coming back along with the return of feeling in my abdomen. I still have MS, am still bothered by heat, and wish I could walk further distances, and not all patients can be helped by atlas alignment alone. I just know I have been able to enjoy a much better quality of life as a result of their treatment, and no returned ability has regressed (it has been 9 years this month).
cocoakel Member
tnewbill, I was diagnosed in my late 20's 30 years ago. The one majorly consistent resource I have always been able to count on is the MS Society and fellow folks who deal with the disease first hand. The NMSS have helped me through many stages with education, resources and support. The Navigators are always so helpful with suggestions and finding resources to help with any of your situations. Not everyone's reality and insight on the <a href='http://MultipleSclerosis.net' target='_blank'>MultipleSclerosis.net</a> site will be suitable for you but I have usually been able to glean helpful information or maybe change my perspective with an issue I'm having. The main point I'm trying to get to is we're an open and helpful community and you have a lot of support if you want it and you won't be alone.
judyvarley Member
cociakel: I live in Alberta, Canada. I was diagnosed over 20 years ago. As soon as diagnose was confirmed, I had an appointment with my neuro. The MS clinic here has everything, the neuro, a nurse, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, an internist, a phsyc and more. It is all available. As i hear about cases everywhere, what we have here is undoubtly as good as it gets and I am grateful.
Janus Galante Moderator
I love how Kim put it so very well "you're presence here enriches our community." It's so true tnewbill! Thank you for sharing your story with us and mentioning the very important point about learning to be your own advocate. I'm so glad that you found us and hope to be reading more from you..Janus P.S. thank you for sharing Proverbs 30:8 also! xxxx's Janus

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