Recent News and Updates- April 2018 Edition


Every few months I like to share what is new and exciting in the world of MS research and news. Here is what I found most recently!

Sheep Toxin

Yes, you read that right. In a recent study, The development of MS has been linked to a toxin found in sheep. This study found that individuals who have MS are more likely to have antibodies against Epsilon Toxin. This indicates that these individuals who have the antibodies have been exposed to this toxin previously. This specific toxin can damage the brain and is fatal to livestock. It si produced in the gut by the bacteria Clostridium Perfringens. The specific toxin has been known to be in other animals and soil but is most known for its role in a type of blood poisoning in sheep. Researchers conducting the study used two different methods of testing participants for the toxin and 43% of MS patients were found to have antibodies for the epsilon toxin compared to only 16% of the control group. Obviously more research is needed in this area.

Beneficial Rehab Technique

A rehab technique that has been used with stroke patients is showing promise for individuals with MS.  Findings from the University of Alabama at Birmingham details a technique called “Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CI)” which showed considerable improvements for individuals with MS. The patients showed drastic improvements in activities of daily living and those improvements were still present for at least a year in study participants. In another paper published, improvements in white matter within patients brains following the therapy showed positive measurable changes at the end of treatment as well. The therapy involves restraining a lesser affected limb and then combining that with intensive training on the more affected limb. Then activities of daily living and movements are trained and drilled repeatedly. This technique has also been shown to be effective for traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy as well as stroke patients.
In another study, researchers looked at this specific therapy and contrasted it against other alternative treatments, such as pool exercise and yoga. Each patient recorded their functional ability on a motor activity log both pre-and post therapy. Both groups received 35 hours of their respective treatments. After the treatments, the CI therapy group improved significantly more based on their self reported motor activity log than the alternative treatment group. The CI therapy  group improved an average of 2.7 points on the motor activity log scale and the alternative therapy patients only saw an improvement of .5 points. After year, these results did not change.
In the second study, again they compared and contrasted the CI therapy group and the alternative treatment group. They found that the CI therapy group showed improvement in the White matter of their brains and the alternative therapy group showed no improvement. This is groundbreaking because this shows that the white matter damage might be able to be reversed by CI therapy.

African-American Population and MS Damage

In a recently published study, it was discovered that MS in the African-American population advances much quicker than it does in the Caucasian population. Researchers studied MRI brain scans and retinal atrophy over the course of about 4 1/2 years in both populations. At the end of that time frame, it was clear that the disease progression was much more advanced for the African-American population than the Caucasian population. The MRI scans showed that both gray and white matter atrophied was twice as fast, there was more damage in the thalamus (which controls cognition), and there was more retinal damage in the African-American population as compared to the Caucasian population. Due to this accelerated rate of degeneration, it may be wise for African-American individuals to be aggressive with treatment early on.
All of these studies are very interesting, some seem to hold more weigh than others. I’m somewhat at a loss as to the sheep toxin. There must be another explanation…right? The Constraint Induced Movement Therapy seems very promising for individuals who have been very affected by movement issues. It seems like it will take a lot of diligent, hard work, but since when do we shy away from that? I’m also intrigued by the findings comparing the African-American population to the Caucasian population. I’d love to see more research about this and I’m curious as to why this is.
I’m curious to know what your thoughts are about these studies! Let me know in the comments!
Also, if you’re enjoying what you’re reading, join the LissMS community here!

I’M ALISSA!

I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,

follow along on Instagram:

This isnt me on a high horse touting how ive been cured of MS, because far from the truth. 

And probs seems weird to say coming from someone who talks about MS for a living 😅

But when I was diagnosed at 24, I had no idea what my life was going to look like.

There was so much uncertainty. 
So much to learn. 
And so many questions about what this diagnosis meant for my future.

For a long time, I mostly tried not to think about it. I kept going with life until my symptoms made it harder to ignore what was happening in my body.

But eventually, I couldn’t ignore it anymore and my life depended on what my next move was (kinda dramatic, but also kinda true?)

I slowly started making changes, like what I ate, how I moved and how I managed stress.  And wouldn’t you know, I started to feel better.

And over the last 10ish years, I’ve slowly built myself back up from the Aggressive MS Rock Bottom that I was in, to living a life full of things I want to do, like gardening all day or hiking Mt. Washington. 

Now again, I’m not cured! I certainly still have days where MS takes center stage. 
But I’m a hell of a lot better than I used to be, and now have some days where it’s not even on my radar

I want that freedom for you too. 
I’ll be opening up my latest Masterclass soon on the method I used to get here. 

Until then, tell me- how much does MS dominate your day? 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #healingmultiplesclerosis

This isnt me on a high horse touting how ive been cured of MS, because far from the truth.

And probs seems weird to say coming from someone who talks about MS for a living 😅

But when I was diagnosed at 24, I had no idea what my life was going to look like.

There was so much uncertainty.
So much to learn.
And so many questions about what this diagnosis meant for my future.

For a long time, I mostly tried not to think about it. I kept going with life until my symptoms made it harder to ignore what was happening in my body.

But eventually, I couldn’t ignore it anymore and my life depended on what my next move was (kinda dramatic, but also kinda true?)

I slowly started making changes, like what I ate, how I moved and how I managed stress. And wouldn’t you know, I started to feel better.

And over the last 10ish years, I’ve slowly built myself back up from the Aggressive MS Rock Bottom that I was in, to living a life full of things I want to do, like gardening all day or hiking Mt. Washington.

Now again, I’m not cured! I certainly still have days where MS takes center stage.
But I’m a hell of a lot better than I used to be, and now have some days where it’s not even on my radar

I want that freedom for you too.
I’ll be opening up my latest Masterclass soon on the method I used to get here.

Until then, tell me- how much does MS dominate your day?

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #healingmultiplesclerosis
...

0 0
Oh I definitely did, kicked him out of my kitchen to be exact.

But I think this relationship was the straw that broke my camels back in terms of developing MS.

I can see other risk factors throughout my life, but this 10000% was the final one.

If you are in a toxic or abusive relationship, job, friendship, family- this is your sign to put yourself first and leave! 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #abusiverelationshiprecovery #nervoussystemsupport #becausems

Oh I definitely did, kicked him out of my kitchen to be exact.

But I think this relationship was the straw that broke my camels back in terms of developing MS.

I can see other risk factors throughout my life, but this 10000% was the final one.

If you are in a toxic or abusive relationship, job, friendship, family- this is your sign to put yourself first and leave!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #abusiverelationshiprecovery #nervoussystemsupport #becausems
...

15 2
These and so many more things are helpful to me in reducing symptoms…

But do I do them all, everyday? Absolutely not 😅

Some are staples, some are supports.. 

How do you take care of your symptoms?
What’s easiest?
What’s hardest? 

#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #MSSymptomManagement #thisisms #becausems

These and so many more things are helpful to me in reducing symptoms…

But do I do them all, everyday? Absolutely not 😅

Some are staples, some are supports..

How do you take care of your symptoms?
What’s easiest?
What’s hardest?

#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #MSSymptomManagement #thisisms #becausems
...

28 6
Diagnosis TLDR:
Scene: 23, in graduate school, working at Target full time, and unfortunately in an abusive relationship 

- vision got blotchy blurry
- spine got electrical impulse feeling with movement
- eye doc, who said get an MRI, then left a message saying don’t have a brain tumor 😲 but see a neurologist IMMEDIATELY 😲😲
- neurologist: does all the tests. More MRIs, visual field, AWFUL spinal tap 😵‍💫

Yup, MS 🧡

What was your first symptom?
what told you something was wrong?

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #msdiagnosis #thisisms #becausems

Diagnosis TLDR:
Scene: 23, in graduate school, working at Target full time, and unfortunately in an abusive relationship

- vision got blotchy blurry
- spine got electrical impulse feeling with movement
- eye doc, who said get an MRI, then left a message saying don’t have a brain tumor 😲 but see a neurologist IMMEDIATELY 😲😲
- neurologist: does all the tests. More MRIs, visual field, AWFUL spinal tap 😵‍💫

Yup, MS 🧡

What was your first symptom?
what told you something was wrong?

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #msdiagnosis #thisisms #becausems
...

68 25
It’s easy to outsource the understanding of our bodies to the internet and “other”

I mean I get it, I was once in an unpredictable body too- and it sucked. I didn’t understand what was happening and I would have loved for someone to say: here’s the key.

But what if… instead of looking outward for more info.. you went inward and gave yourself the information, and in doing so you helped to improve how your body feels and functions.. sounds kinda cool, right? 

I explain it all in my Slap it to Map it training.. comment SLAP and I’ll send it to you asap

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #nervoussystemregulation #lymphaticmassage

It’s easy to outsource the understanding of our bodies to the internet and “other”

I mean I get it, I was once in an unpredictable body too- and it sucked. I didn’t understand what was happening and I would have loved for someone to say: here’s the key.

But what if… instead of looking outward for more info.. you went inward and gave yourself the information, and in doing so you helped to improve how your body feels and functions.. sounds kinda cool, right?

I explain it all in my Slap it to Map it training.. comment SLAP and I’ll send it to you asap

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #nervoussystemregulation #lymphaticmassage
...

6 0
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. 
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis. 

There are SO many tools that we can use to help improve our bodies functioning- which can in turn improve our MS symptoms.

The biggies that have helped me? 👇🏼

🥗Nutrition 
🏋🏻‍♀️Movement
🧘🏻‍♀️Stress management 

Want my most favorite, super short exercise that can help MS symptoms??

Comment: SLAP and I’ll send it to you!!

#lissms #SlapittoMapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis.

There are SO many tools that we can use to help improve our bodies functioning- which can in turn improve our MS symptoms.

The biggies that have helped me? 👇🏼

🥗Nutrition
🏋🏻‍♀️Movement
🧘🏻‍♀️Stress management

Want my most favorite, super short exercise that can help MS symptoms??

Comment: SLAP and I’ll send it to you!!

#lissms #SlapittoMapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
...

1 0
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes? 

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true? 

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge
...

0 0
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes? 

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true? 

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #betterbrain

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #betterbrain
...

10 5
It’s an easy exercise with a silly name, but it actually packs a punch and can really change how you feel. 

Imagine measurably more energy and feeling more stable and balanced- and even improving a few MS symptoms here and there too?🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Your possibilities are endless! 

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short video about how to do it!

#lissms #slapittomapit multiplesclerosis #thisisms

It’s an easy exercise with a silly name, but it actually packs a punch and can really change how you feel.

Imagine measurably more energy and feeling more stable and balanced- and even improving a few MS symptoms here and there too?🤷🏻‍♀️

Your possibilities are endless!

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short video about how to do it!

#lissms #slapittomapit multiplesclerosis #thisisms
...

17 7
Take a time out for a literal minute.

It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to care for your body and nervous system. 

#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation

Take a time out for a literal minute.

It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to care for your body and nervous system.

#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation
...

13 1

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