Can you treat rheumatoid arthritis with diet?
This is a post about Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments and ways that I have used to help alleviate my Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms. It also discusses how I tried to treat my rheumatoid arthritis with diet. It does in no way constitute medical advice. I am in no way promoting or rejecting the myriad of Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments available. Please refer to my Dislaimer for further information and please continue to consult a medical professional for your medical conditions.
Quashing Rheumas
I got this!
I am a big believer in a natural and organic way of living. I’m by no means a skinny hippie vegan (not that there is anything wrong with that) but I mean, you put a cake in front of me, you can bet your bottom dollar I will demolish it. I’m only human after all! I love food and think you should have a good balance. Life is to be enjoyed is it not? I still truly believe that we are what we eat and food is the original source of medicine. I looked after my body with plenty of good organic food and plenty of good quality exercise (I cover that in this post, there is just so much to write about!). This is the approach I took when I was given my Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis.
My own rheumatologist recommended that I read Amy Myer‘s ‘The Autoimmune Solution‘. You can purchase a copy here. You can also use my $10 discount code MALY10 for any purchases on her site. This is how I came to trust my specialist because there is nothing more irritating than having a medical professional roll his eyes at your suggestion that you will cure your condition the natural way. This has happened to me multiple times and I never go back those doctors and have always successfully healed myself.
My family and I rarely go to the doctor and taking prescription medicine was something even rarer for us. I’m not saying that I refute medical advice, I just don’t appreciate doctors who are not open minded to the fact that there is more to healing the body than pharmaceuticals. Without sounding like a conspiracy theorist, pharmaceuticals is a big money making machine. Think Dr. Richard Kimble. Yes, I make my case by referring to Harrison Ford’s Fugitive. I love that movie!
Where was I?
Quashing Rheumas, right. I went on a quest to heal myself the natural way. I had complete confidence and didn’t think it was a big deal that I could treat my rheumatoid arthritis with diet. However, to put it in context, my body was fading; my sleep quality was poor because my body just ACHED, mornings were hell because my body felt like it was frozen. It was just so stiff and it literally took hours to thaw.
The afternoons were tricky, especially during the working week, because all I wanted to do was sleep! I was never the type to want or need an afternoon kip but when Rheumatoid Arthritis hit, I NEEDED an afternoon nap. It got to the point where I was having naps in my car during lunch breaks or just crashing on the couch for a good 2 hours straight after work. If I didn’t have kids to tend to, I would’ve called it a day. I even had to ask for a week off work to just sleep because I just couldn’t continue anymore, my body was THAT tired. Lucky for me, I have an extremely understanding boss (thanks Jackie!) and had a great classroom assistant (yes, you Roshanne❤️). You can read more about RA fatigue here.
Despite all that, I had faith that given time and good food, I could heal. I even followed Amy Myer‘s diet. But after a good month of nothing but clean eating and gorging on inflammation-fighting food, not only was I not getting any better, I was getting worse. I had reached the point where I was questioning my beliefs and whether or not life was even worth living because I couldn’t see myself continuing this way. I’m not a crying person but tears were becoming a regular thing. I was beyond frustrated. You know what was worse? There was no-one to talk to about it who could relate to what I was going through. – Lucky you have The Rheuma Mill!
I don’t got this
I had reached rock bottom so I turned to the drugs, as in the pharmaceutical rheumatologist prescribed drugs. Not just 1 but all 16 of them! I was prescribed 16 pills/supplements a day! To go from not remembering the last time you even had a Panadol to now a pill box was a massive change. It was a hard pill to swallow (pun totally intended).
Within 3 days, my old body and life were returning back to me. I felt kind of foolish that I had spent the last month in hell stubbornly trying to heal myself the natural way when Dr. Kimble’s enemies healed me in 3 days. I felt like Anakin Skywalker, completely seduced by the dark side (yes, I made reference to Star Wars). It felt good too to finally eat whatever I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I think people should try to treat their rheumatoid arthritis with diet first especially if it is in the beginning stages and the inflammation has not taken complete hold of your body. You can read more about autoimmune nutrition here.
A few months later, I was also able to return to training. That for me was the best thing. Training was good for my mental health. Pole dancing made me feel strong. Striking and grappling made me feel invincible. I couldn’t do it as intensively and as well as I used to pre-Rheumatoid Arthritis but I could do it. Small victories!
Wait…. I got this!
This is one of my favourite quotes:
It completely resonates with me. I’m now about a year into my successful treatment. I say treatment because I have been able to find a good balance with food and meds. I’m down to 6 pills a day now. Over time, my rheumy and I have eliminated the pills that have been identified as not working. I have also found a good balance with diet. I’m not cleansing but I’m not clogging either. I’m enjoying life. I have also come to know what foods trigger my Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms and which ones don’t. For example, I know gluten affects my Rheumatoid Arthritis so I stay clear of that now. A great way to find your triggers is to use a symptoms tracker. I have a free one you can download here.
In terms of Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment meds, the only 3 pills that I found made a significant difference to my Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms were Salazopyrin, Plaquenil and good old Prednisolone. Prednisolone is the power of the dark side. It can get addictive and you can’t have it in huge amounts over a long period of time but boy does it make a difference. I only took Prednisolone periodically under medical supervision and am not on it anymore because I no longer need it. If you are after quality pain relief, I would recommend trying CBD oil. CBD oil has been scientifically proven to reduce pain and inflammation and has successfully helped millions of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. You can read more about CBD oil here.
Finding the right cocktail of meds takes time and is a frustrating process but this something for you to discuss with your doctor. I get asked by thousands of people daily what the best medication is but unfortunately, I cannot tell you that. Everyone reacts differently so the best person to ask is your rheumatologist. The only thing I can advise is to find one that you trust and is willing to LISTEN.
A lot of people worry about medication and weight gain and that is a valid concern but remember the alternative is continual pain. You take the good with the bad. Everyone is different and will react differently to Rheumatoid Arthritis and the treatments available. Keep being active, try to eat right and do what makes you HAPPY is the key. Right now I am only on Salazopyrin and Plaquenil. I am waiting to start Biologics as Methotrexate has not done anything for me which is a good thing. Who wants to be on cancer drugs if they don’t have cancer right?
Paddison Program
You may have heard of the Paddison program which was created by a fellow RA warrior. Clint Paddison has developed a program that has helped countless RA warriors successfully manage their symptoms. I have not personally tried or done the program but I have heard nothing but success stories from those who have completed the program. It is however a VERY intense program. If you have the willpower then I would certainly recommend you try it. You can read some testimonials here.
I’d love to hear if you have been able to treat rheumatoid arthritis with diet or if it hasn’t worked for you so leave a comment below! All the anti-inflammatory recipes I use can be found in the ‘books’ section of Rheumatoid Arthritis Resources page. You can also read more about nutrition and Rheumatoid Arthritis here.
Thank you for writing a blog regarding RA. It is so nice to hear that at least there is someone who successfully living up with this evil disease. I am new to RA (as for myself) but not new to the auto immune disease as my sis has SLE ( was diagnosed 15 yrs ago ) and my mom (70s) has RA(was diagnosed just 5 months ago) And I was chosen to join the party…I too am trying to correct my immune system by eating clean. I try to cut gluten (as a bread lover this is killing me ) and sugar, together with intermittent fasting. So far having seen much progress yet. I haven’t start meds as am still waiting for the diagnosed. My main concern is the toxic side effect that could lead to…am too scary to take it . It would be much appreciated if you would give some advice regarding the natural healing method. Wish you happy and healthy days ahead
My doctor has me keeping an eye on my hands for signs of RA, so I’ll very likely be returning. But I hadn’t thought of tracking if anything specific makes my current pains any worse or better, so I guess it’s time I start doing that.
Sadly, four weeks in, I have had to stop Plaquenil as I came out in hives. I know my specialist wants me to try methotrexate next. It made my father extremely ill and both my aunts developed breast cancer. Wish me luck!
Gluten is probably the hardest to give up. I get that part! But you don’t have to unless you know it’s a serious trigger in my opinion. I still hit the turmeric, garlic, fish oil and green tea pretty hard. Every little bit helps. It took a year for my diagnosis so by that stage my inflammation was quite advanced. The natural healing may help those who got onto it early. I was so afraid of the toxicity too but I was in so much agony I had no choice. I wish you well in your journey too!
Great idea! Check out my Pinterest for other signs of RA and even the unsuspecting signs of RA. The key is not to wait too long. The inflammation will get bad fast. Keep us up to date!
It’s interesting how everyone reacts so differently to rheumatoid arthritis treatments. I’m sure you’ll find something that will work for you. There are many treatments out there and your rheumy will find you a replacement for Plaquenil as many people do get hives from it. I was on Methotrexate for 6 months with no result so will move onto biologics. Unfortunately here in Australia you have to try methotrexate before you can be moved onto anything else. Be kind to yourself and put your quality of life first. Thank you kindly for contributing to The Rheuma Mill.
Your Blog is amazing! I enjoy reading and have found it interesting. My rheumatologist had me on Prednisone when I started along with Methotrexate. However, he took me off the prednisone cold turkey, and my face swelled up, I ended up with a fever, and my face looked like a sunburn and it even peeled. I will never do that again. Thankful he listened to my Family Med Dr. about doing a taper.
Thank you so much for visiting The Rheuma Mill and thank you kindly for your comments and feedback Betsy! It’s great that your doctors communicate with each other for your benefit. I’m looking forward to seeing posts on your support page.
A very interesting post! Thank you for sharing
This is such an interesting article. I had no idea that you can treat rheumatoid with diet. When I first moved to UK I had a few rheumatoid episodes and I taught it happened because of changing the climate. I have to say that I never considered diet as a remedy for rheumatoid problems.
This website is so inspiring and uplifting for everyone who’s dealing with RA. I think it’s good to realize medication will work perfectly without a healthy lifestyle and at the same time it’s perfectly okay to accept that just a healthy lifestyle can’t cure everything. A little bit of science and a little bit of nature seems like the best cure to me. ❤
Thank you for sharing your journey in such a balanced and honest way. As you say, it is your journey, no one else’s, and it is so important that everyone out there knows they’re not alone, whether their experience is similar or not. Good on you for replying to all your readers, regardless of their attitude or reaction to your journey. It’s nice to see a calm and open reaction these days, when so many people feel the need to troll. Thank you 🙏
❤️ here for you anytime 😌
Wow. This was SO SO interesting to read. My boyfriend is just about to be properly diagnosed/treated for RA and he is already in so much pain on a daily basis. I am subscribing to this blog now as I think it will help him tons!!! Thank you. Dharma X
Thank you so much for your comment Dharma! This page is fantastic for those newly diagnosed so we look forward to seeing you and your man back on the Rheuma Mill!
Thanks so much. Great article. When I was diagnosed 4 years ago I had a similar experience. A friend kindly was trying to help me not take the meds and fight with diet. 4 months later my sweet husband was dressing me and putting me in a hot bath to get through each night. The meds gave me my life back. I agree a combination of both is best. I choose to live! Live my life and move. So many people online say you can control this awful disease with diet alone. For me it didn’t work and that made me feel even worse. It’s a personal journey and we have to make our own choices❤️
Hi Emily. Thank you so much for contributing to The Rheuma Mill with your comments. Power to all the people that have been able to find success with diet but it unfortunately gives false hope to others who will then continue to suffer needlessly. I love your mantra! Yes, choose to live life! I wish you all the best and appreciate your support.
My experienced of RA was also terrible. I’m also at the last DMARD known before Biologics. This one helped me alot and the side effects is not so bad as methotrexate and the other meds. I had to make a lifestyle change also. Im gluten and lactose intollerent. Its not easy to avoid all foods containing gluten and lactose. Im aware of trigger foods and try to avoid it. I had RA so bad that my husband has to helped me. There comes times that I still need his help when I get a flare-ups. Ive learned to manage my RA with my Rheumathologist help. Thanks for this blog.
Hi Louise! Thank you so much for your comment and contributing to The Rheuma Mill. I’m glad that you are managing. It is very hard during flare-ups and it’s good that you have support around you. It’s hard when you have to be dependent on other people but if you have help available, it’s best to accept. It is very difficult to avoid gluten and lactose, I can’t have either as well but at least we know it’s a trigger. That’s half the challenge. Wishing you all the best x
I am so glad that someone has decided to write about this. As an RA ‘veteran’, I think it’s important for people to be know that although diet can play a pivotal role, medication is essential to slow down the disease. I think it’s wonderful that you are trying to shine a light onto our disease. Thank you.
Hi Cesar! Thank you so much for your kind words and contribution to The Rheuma Mill. I get so excited when I have ‘veterans’ visiting my site. It really helps to validate my work in spreading awareness about the disease and helping others that are new on their journey. I’m always looking for guest posts if you are interested!
Excellent website. A lot of helpful info here. I’m sending it to some others that I know of with rheumatoid arthritis.
Thank you for this article. I’ve been so nervous about taking meds and trying new diets have been so exhausting. It was great to read something that isn’t so one sided. Thank you for being open and raw about RA.
Hi Haven! Thank you for your contribution to The Rheuma Mill. Dieting and medication is so tricky and confronting when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis. Just remember to do what is right for you. There are a lot of options out there and what works for one might not work for someone else. But try and don’t be so hard on yourself if it doesn’t work. Just be patient and relief will come. You will find something. Best wishes x
Hi Griff! Thank you so much for your comment and feedback. Feedback always motivated me to do more and provide more. I would greatly appreciate you sharing The Rheuma Mill with others. Best wishes x
So glad I stumbled across this. It’s been a real battle trying to work out what’s best. I’ve been made to feel guilty about taking so many meds but you are so right, I need them! The diet is hard and I have tried also with no success. I feel better about it now after reading this article. Thanks.
Hi Dudley! Thank you for contributing to The Rheuma Mill. I’m so happy that you found this article useful. I just didn’t want anyone to feel the pressure of choosing a particular course of treatment. The take home message is to try different ones in order to find the right one for you. Best wishes x
BEST article written about this topic. So many people are strongly for or against that it scares people unnecessarily. Your take home message is spot on! Take you meds, work out your triggers then look to decrease the meds. These things take time. Subscribed.
Hi Wanetta! Thank you so very much for your comment! I’m glad you agree with me. It’s such a contentious topic and I’ve been either loved or hated for it. My main purpose in this article is to make sure that no-one suffers unnecessarily. I think it’s shameful for anyone to make others feel bad for whatever way they choose to approach their treatment. Everyone’s journey is different. We need to be supportive of one another regardless of our views. Thank you for subscribing.
Great article. Honest and unbiased. So helpful for those like me with RA. People just don’t understand what we go through and are too quick to judge. Even those with RA can be judgemental. Thanks for being supportive of us.
Hi Stasia! Thanks so much for your contribution to The Rheuma Mill. It’s a controversial topic and there are many that are quite vocal for or against meds and diet. At the end of the day, you have to do what is right for you. Every journey is different and we are here to support, not to judge.
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later. All the best!
Great article! Very informative and honest. I have researched the Paddison Program and am thinking of giving it a go. I think I’ll try making some changes first and if that doesn’t work, I’ll sign up for the program.
I did the Paddison Program. It is not for the faint hearted and is very limiting but it worth it. I’m med and pain free from the program. It’s hard to maintain without the support though.
Hi Facelle! Thank you so much for leaving feedback for the Paddison Program. The program is known for it’s intensity but I suppose it’s worth it if you can be pain and med free! That’s awesome!
Hi Alexa! Thank you for the feedback! I think that’s a very wise decision. Good luck!
Hi Camella! Thanks for the feedback! Make sure to subscribe for new article alerts.
Excellent article!
Hi Hope! Thanks so much for visiting The Rheuma Mill and for the feedback!
I follow the Paddison program and couldn’t recommend it enough. I am now in remission. It’s not easy but if you are really suffering like I was, it’s definitely worth the try. My daughter has just been diagnosed and I am trying to find more information about the program for her and stumbled across your site.
Hi Beth! Thank you so much for your review of the Paddison program. Wishing you and your daughter all the very best.