WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is from the Latin language, meaning “Many Scars.” Ironically, I believe to compartmentalize a disease that has as many “sub-categories” as it does “patients” is a mistake by the allopathic medical community. The way I approach anyone diagnosed with MS, CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome), CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), ALS ( Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; so called Lou Gerhig's Disease), Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, is to step back and completely disassociate myself with the initial diagnosis. One of the main reasons I do this is so I can listen to each person's her/his-story. Almost everyone who I have dealt with having any of these diseases; especially MS, has four commonalities; however none of them “fit” the classic signs of the allopathic medical categorization of such persons. Let us stay with MS, since I have been diagnosed with it by six different neurologists and all have said more than likely (because of the points of demyelization—C-2, C-5), I will become (at some point) a quadriplegic. It has been ten years and I still look as I do in the pictures you see in this website. Here is why I disagree with the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment used by conventional medicine.

First and foremost, not everyone with MS has actual scarring in the brain or spinal chord. Often, people who begin to deteriorate in motor-function are given a diagnosis of MS. Often, if they show any motor-function default and with spinal tap the doctor finds various proteins in spinal fluid, or by merely becoming non-ambulatory for non specific diagnostic reasons, they are labeled MS patients. I always make the case that each case is individual in nature and therefore causation is individual as well.

Secondly, and perhaps more of interest, over 30% of all cadavers that are dissected by medical students have some form of spinal or brain “scaring,” known to neurologists as demyelization of the myelin sheath; yet, during the course of these people's lives they had no signs of “MS.”

Thirdly, although I seem to have many problems that are consistent with an MS diagnosis, I realize that by eating a specific diet that works for me, taking specific supplements, weight training a specific way, walking, swimming and relaxation all seem to keep me ambulatory and healthy (rarely getting sick).

Fourthly, it isn't uncommon to experience pain with MS (as I do); however, what is causing this pain? My pain is in the feet. If the pain were relative to spinal demyelization, then my arms and hands would experience pain either first, or concurrently with my feet—this is not the case.

THE FOUR COMMONALITIES

Childhood Trauma: be it physical and emotional by parents; or merely physical, i.e., a bad fall on the spine, an automobile accident, etc. These are in every patient I have interviewed. This includes every disease that I have listed with MS. The most common is childhood trauma.

It is apparent to me from my own research and observation that childhood trauma leads to two types of long-term personal actions; or as I prefer to call them, “personas.” One, the person becomes violent at first, then becomes “driven” and takes up sports, or rugged jobs that incorporate a self-inflicted pain upon him/her-self. In other words, the “drive” to achieve, the culturally valuable prescription for low-self esteem isn't acted out in a “standard” way. In my case, I chose the pounding of thousands of pounds of weights and torturous diets and extremely hard muscle posing. This, in of itself is not a visible sign of self-torture, but given the predisposition for a “weak” nervous system; this avante guarde prescription for a boost in self-esteem usually ends in a nervous system frayed by pushing oneself beyond natural limitations.

Ironically, but none the less likely, is the person who isolates totally and does nothing physically demanding at all; yet never has a calm moment because of a predisposition, albeit familial, or genetic, to dwell on the fact that the outer world is not worthy of their interaction. Neurotic behaviors, while in almost all people with “dis-ease” seem to be evident only inside the mind of the “thinker,” not to the most highly trained observational (Psycho-therapist). This person spins into a world of fear, never having fun, never attempting anything. Their own thoughts and fears release cortisol that eventually destroys the immune system and a so called autoimmunity is to follow.

Neurotic Eating Disorders: This runs the gamut from eating the same foods over and over until food allergies begin to cause allergic reactions from the immune system to those who diet/binge eat. This too will cause trauma to the body and thus put enormous pressure on the nervous system. All neurotic eating seems to culminate in either severe food allergies (which alone can cause an autoimmune reaction); or to addictions from cheese to heroine.

Exposure to Drugs: Some people with MS seem to be able to do an enormous amount of illicit drugs and never get worse; others smoke one marijuana cigarette and they turn their nervous system on for years. Not only recreational drugs, but drugs that many take for MS cause more problems. Drugs in general are not the answer for MS; in fact from all the people I know who drink alcohol, smoke pot or tobacco, or take prescription drugs for MS all seem to get worse from them.

Loss of Hope and a failure to continue to look for their causation and correct it: Everyone is a “creature of habit,” yet people who have nervous disorders continue to live a life that brought them to the disease long after diagnosis. Going from doctor to doctor hoping for a “cure” or a clue is not the answer, but seems to be lodged into these patient's minds. The true answer lie somewhere behind you, in the past; and yet, most will look there and dismiss simple possibilities such as proper breathing; proper eating; proper exercise; proper rest; proper amounts of fun and interaction with others who have a different perspective on life.

This is a simplistic view on the surface; yet, the words “proper eating” require often a year or more of trial and error eating. Often times severe food allergies do not show overt symptoms, such as a runny nose; sneezing; watering eyes; yet, these allergies if gone unchecked will begin an attack in the body by the immune system. Often times, foods have destroyed stomach acids, the gut “leaks” undigested food into the blood stream and thus causing a release of histamine that goes unchecked, and autoimmunity begins.

This short essay is not to put down the allopathic medical establishment; rather, it is to shine a light on those who may “know” a cause of their own MS. Often, it is your persistence and a never-give-up attitude that will one day spring upon you the very answer that you have been searching for.

Multiple Sclerosis is not a sentence to a wheel chair, nor is it a sentence to pain and suffering forever; however it is from that pain and suffering that valuable lessons are learned. Beware of apathy in MS. Be aggressive, educate yourself and find your own healing methods.

For more information on how to contact Paul about his approach to these diseases, please drop a line.