I received some email from Raven Fisher who has MS.  Raven is a remarkable woman who is proactive in her care.  She does things for herself.  She is an inspiration!  And that is her message.

People write to me and basically say “I feel better now because of something that you said.”  Everyones’ words are different but their message is similar.  Something that I said made a difference for them–it helped them feel better.

The reason it worked is because THEY worked!  They did something to help their smart body feel better.  I only provided a little bit of information that they needed.

When Raven first contacted me, she told me that my carpal tunnel pain relief information was helping her even though she did not have carpal tunnel syndrome–she had MS.  How could this be?  It is because each part of your body is attached to every other part.

I asked Raven if I could share parts of her following emails with you and she graciously said Yes.

Here is her story.

“Four years ago when I was diagnosed with MS I also got the terrifying news that my life expectancy is 2yrs.  Knowing what is actually wrong with me I immediately thought no way, who said so?  God did not say it so I don’t believe it!  I was in a wheelchair, could not walk, talk properly, read a book, focus on touching things.  My brain told me to pick up that pen but my body did not want to.  I did not know when ever my bladder and colon wanted to work, it always came as a surprise.  Even when I was in public, embarassing, but hey, I blamed it on being a paraplegic, wonderful how people just assume that is the way it is supposed to be for me!”

“I refused to accept it and started pulling myself up!”

Within six months I started walking, robot-like.  Everything I did was an achievement for me! I started being able to read again, my speech and abilities improved.  I still kept on losing weight, I am 1.79m and weighing 44kg was a bit much! Today I’m a healthy 55kg, and will be staying on 55kg.  When I was diagnosed I kept faith for my daughter then only 12, and my 2 cats!  There is many other things that was wrong, that is now in the past.  I do not like talking about me having MS.  In the end I will not be Raven anymore, I will be that woman with MS.”

Tapping:  Tapping on the spine will stimulate the nerves and tissues around the spine.  This is a good thing.  It will get more blood flow into the area to carry nutrients to your spine.  Could you ask a loved one or a friend to tap with their finger pads the length of your spine (but not on the end of the tailbone)?  This tapping would last for about 5 minutes each time and ideally be at least once each day.

Pouncing:  You can  “pound” your thighs yourself.  The meaty part of the thigh on the tops and sides when you are seated can be pounded or, more accurately, “pounced” with the outsides of your hands.  (Hold your fingers closed loosely and thumbs on top and wrists pretty straight.)  Pounce, pounce, pounce.

If you are feeling a little weak in your legs, doing this before standing up will help them to feel stronger.  It’s not a lot of pressure but it creates a vibration in your leg tissues and is very beneficial.  Imagine cats jumping up and down on your legs like a trampoline.  That’s about how much pressure.  This also creates movement in the tissues of your arms and hands and is good for them, too.

Crawling:  If you are able to get on and off the floor on your hands and knees then crawl.  Yes, jjust like when you were a baby.  That reminds your body how it is supposed to move.  If you can’t get on the floor, you might be able to lay on your back and “crawl” into the air.  If you can’t do that, then “crawl” perfectly in your mind.

Massage:  People with MS benefit much more from shaking, jostling and jiggling movements than from traditional massage-type movements.  Regular massage motions such as gliding and rubbing can be debilitating to a person with MS.  They may make you feel weaker.

Where did I get these crazy ideas?  From Meir Schneider, the brilliant body worker in San Francisco California.  Meir helps people from all over the world who have neurological disorders when they come to his clinic.  He helps them learn how to be their own physical therapist.

You cannot try something just once and expect a lot of benefit.  When you create a routine and do a self-help technique over and over, you will benefit.  You have a smart body and it needs some help from you.

Remember, I can’t see you.  I don’t know your multiple sclerosis situation or anything about you.   You have to be your own doctor and make your own decisions.  These are merely suggestions and I’m not a doctor–I’m The Pain Relief Coach.