Chronic pain and low carb high fat!

KarlaYP

This way of eating has changed my life! I am riding a bicycle, and working a part time, nursing, job!! Without LCHF, I wouldn't be here! Diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2000, and cervical dystonia at the same time. Fibromyalgia is almost nonexistent at this point! I believe it was the carbs!

I beg you to just TRY it for 60 days. Drop the carbs to 100 gm, or less, a day, and see if you don't see some improvements in your pain. Losing weight isn't enough to alleviate pain(ive post 110 pounds before without relief! Nothing changed until I changed what I eat!!)

We say that we are willing to TRY ANYTHING to be free of our pain. But, are we REALLY? I challenge you to TRY!! If it doesn't work, so be it. But, what if it did? Wouldn't that be wonderful?!! Our doctors haven't put two and two together yet, and we must take our health into our own hands (it's not their faults, they're too darn busy to remain up to date on things, and get stuck with the "status quo".

I know this woe won't help every chronic pain condition, but, from what I have seen, it's helping many!

Many will say it's a far, or quackery, but after nine months the evidence cannot be disputed!

Educate yourself! Good luck everybody!

KarlaYP

That should read, "Many will say it's a fad*", not far*.

melmerritt33

I'm about to try this although I have to work my way through all the potato products I have in my freezer first! I'm struggling to lose weight and manage my pain levels (I have Fibromyalgia) and can't really make any other changes to my lifestyle as I still have to work. Painkillers have had a very limited effect on me. I do seem to eat a lot of carbs so I thought this is worth a try to get my weight loss sorted. If it helps with the pain as well that will be a big bonus!

mbaker566

carbs has nothing to do with your weight, so long as you eat at a calorie deficit. I eat a high carb diet and I've lost weight and have only had one or two major flare this year. which is a huge improvement. What did I change? my activity level. I started slow and built my way up to my current level
There is no scientific evidence that a LCHF helps with Fibro symptoms. Creatine and/or magnesium has shown to possibly help.
In fact, LCHF can lead to physical damage similar to atkins. if a person is prone to gout, it can also exacerbate the issues.

melmerritt33

moyer566 wrote: »

carbs has nothing to do with your weight, so long as you eat at a calorie deficit. I eat a high carb diet and I've lost weight and have only had one or two major flare this year. which is a huge improvement. What did I change? my activity level. I started slow and built my way up to my current level
There is no scientific evidence that a LCHF helps with Fibro symptoms. Creatine and/or magnesium has shown to possibly help.
In fact, LCHF can lead to physical damage similar to atkins. if a person is prone to gout, it can also exacerbate the issues.

Except that on a low calorie diet with a lot of carbs I've only been losing around 1lb a month, my first week lowering my carbs (but not cutting them out) I've lost 2lbs whilst eating more, whether it continues and helps with pain remains to be seen, personally I'm willing to try something that might help rather than dismiss it without trying. I've been taking magnesium with absolutely no improvement, along with other suggestions. If there was any real scientific evidence that anything actually helps fibro in ALL patients then we'd all be doing it and not trying alternative methods. I'm sure if my change in diet has an adverse effect then my doctor will tell me on one of my regular checkups and I'll be able to adjust my diet accordingly.

mbaker566

a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. I would not want to do something that can increase the uric acid and such as my body is inflammatory already. it seems to be the opposite of what we would want. I can see lowering our intake of acidic foods but carbs, no

Byronic_Ryu

Well congrats on finding something that works for you. I did have a couple questions: Do you take good vs bad carbs into consideration or are all carbs part of the problem? Are you still looking for other solutions for the fibromyalgia in addition to the LCHF diet?

KarlaYP

Hi Byronic_Ryu, for me it's all carbs including (gasp!) fruit. I found that I felt better with the lower carb levels and am having excellent health to show for it! So glad to see some of you are open minded enough to even consider that our food could be part of the problem!

moyer566, I'm so happy you've been able to find what works for you, but please don't judge others for finding what works for them! Your comments could lead someone away from something that could potentially change their lives! I say educate yourself completely about the origins of food recommendations before passing your harsh judgement! You are one reason I don't frequent this group often!

Sorry everybody else! Some people are just rude!

KarlaYP

@melmerrit33, I apologize for not fully answering your question as I was a bit upset with some other comments/judgements here! I have improved so drastically (completely unrelated expected but awesome!) with the LCHF diet! I still read everything I can find, looking for ways to improve my health further. Some of us are unable to exercise due to other chronic pain conditions and I have managed to improve my health without it! Drop by the LCD group when you can. They have the resources to HELP PEOPLE, not knock them down!

moyer566, another thing I wish to address with you is your comment about a calorie being a calorie. If you believe the calories from a snack cake are processed the same as a steak and salad, you are terribly mistaken. Again, I recommend that you educate yourself. A wonderful movie, "Fed Up" is a huge eye opener, if you even care.

Anyway, I will see my new friends later! Hugs!

mbaker566

fed up is just an advocacy film. it represents partial truths
while quality of calorie is different. a calorie is a calorie. it is a measurement of energy
more on it
more

I suggest you educate yourself rather than believe everything you watch

liltrenton

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia back in '93. I kept working and trying to get into less trying positions. I too am a nurse. After going back to school to obtain an MBA in healthcare management, I realized the stress of the job was more than I could deal with because of the increase in pain. So, being on disability since 2012 and I could not figure out why the pain was still so high. I developed a condition where after a year, a specialist finally told me I have a gluten allergy. Hence, my carb diet changed. I do have less pain since cutting out many carbs. I have been researching different diets to try and get the rest of the weight off and have found a ketoginic/paleo may serve the correct purpose. Weight loss with compliance with the gluten free diet. it is worth the try for anyone.

KarlaYP

Thank you @liltrenton! Finally, someone to corroborate my experience! Best of luck with your keto journey! There are some wonderful groups, the LCD, and the Keto groups respectively, who are super supportive to these ways of eating! Best to you!

liltrenton

I recently had an issue with illness that caused the diagnosis of gluten allergy to be given...I suffered with the illness for greater than a year. Since I took off a great deal of weight during that time because of the illness, I have decided to take the rest of the weight off. I do not respond well to carbs. Not everyone can process carbs as efficiently as others. I have researching diets for some time, having worked as an RN with a BSN and an MBA I feel I have the right to offer my thoughts based on the completed research. Since some have difficulty processing carbs, ketogenic and paleo diets seem to work the best. These diets limit carbs but also have higher fat and protein content. Both diets are similar to a low glycemic index diet. I know from experience when my doctor placed me on a glycemic index diet I lost weight quite well. When the endrocrinologist placed me on a diabetic diet with limited calories, which was more than I normally ate at the time, I gained weight...she accused me of cheating on the diet...she did not see me again...I had told her it was way more food than I normally eat. Now I limit my carbs, especially those with gluten, and oats, eat higher protein and more veggies and my weight has held steady. If I eat more carbs the numbers on the scales begin to increase quickly.

Grandmahpsp

I also found that the lchf works for me unfortunately I went off the plan and over time regained more weight. While on the program, my doctor who is not a lchf fan, told me to KEEP on the program because I was doing so much better on it. I don't have fibromyalgia but arthritis in hips, knees, hands and wrists. Right now exercise is almost impossible, even walking is very painful. I have just gone back to the lchf woe and will keep you posted on my progress. I know this doesn't work for everyone but it did work for me. Actually, by eating salads and other low carb veggies along with meat I was much healthier than I have been since I went off the program. I think that some of us just don't relate well to carbs.

KarlaYP

Hi @Grandmahpsp! I'm so glad you have seen the results of LCHF on your pain experience! Best of luck getting back to it! There is a wonderfully supportive, and active, group of LCHF people here on MFP (the LCD/ low carb daily group) who have experienced many of the same results!

melmerritt33

I just have to share my success over Christmas here as it's a really nice surprise for me. It's early days yet to see how much it helps my Fibro pain but this way of eating has changed so much for me already. Usually over the two week Christmas period I gain around 7lbs and then can't go back to eating normally because I just crave the extra food. This year I've gained just 2lbs by indulging over the three Christmas days then eating at maintenance the rest of the time on low carb. I've had no cravings and haven't felt the need to keep snacking to keep myself satisfied. The best thing of all is that today I've had my now usual low carb breakfast and lunch and am fully satisfied, not missing the extra holiday food at all. If you knew me you'd know just how amazing that is. I'm now so excited to see what happens by keeping up this way of eating throughout the next year and beyond!

KarlaYP

Wonderful @melmerrit33!! I've been excited for you, cheering you on, with every post! Thanks for coming back here to update us on your progress, and success!!

It's truly worth a try folks!

Happy New Year!!

kateraevyn

I've been eating low carb (I try to keep it to 20 grams of complex carbs each meal) for almost a year and it has helped with my pain greatly. I did because of diabetes and the lessening of the fibro pain and weight loss was a plus! My daily pain has gone from an 8 to a 4 and I've lost 56 lbs. My sugars are well controlled. I am committed to this way of eating for life.
I think that everyone's body is different and not every WOE will work for all. We just have to find the way that works for us. I have tried many ways, WW, vegetarian, shakes, fasting, eating every and any thing I want. LCHF is the only one that works for ME.

KarlaYP

Hi @kateraevyn! Thank you for your testimony! I agree we all have to find what works for each of us! Gentle hugs!

KarlaYP

I am seeing many friends improve their pain issues from this way of eating! Any type of inflammation that causes pain can be improved!

Changing what we eat (dropping the processed garbage that's been presented as "healthy") can make a tremendous difference for those who are willing to try!

What are you willing to try to achieve health?

Byronic_Ryu

My doctor wants me to go on a diet that has some similarity to the primal diet. I never saw myself as someone who would go gluten free but I really have no choice in the matter. I have numerous health issues and I know from the tests, my stomach has a bunch of issues. The only grains I can have are rice (long grain brown, basmati, jasmine) and wild rice. I can have pseudo grains and I do like quinoa. Still, it kind of sucks to be forced into this but hopefully, I will feel better and see some positive results.

KarlaYP

Best of luck! Give yourself thirty days without any cheats, and my guess is that you'll be amazed!

KarlaYP

Bump! I don't get here often, but I see many new folks who might benefit! Gentle hugs to all!

KarlaYP

Just to report in! I've been eating this way for just over a year now! The pain control is still there! I've tested myself with a protein bar (pain), and some fruit (terrible pain)! So, I'm sticking with what I know helps me!

thkgldgal

Hello, I suffer from Terrible Chronic Pain in legs, spine neck feet and Hands, I WAS diagnosed withCRPS.....and etc, I agree with you l am eating Low Carb, Low sugar, High Protein, etc and I see a difference in my pain level, add me if you would like to be friends on here.....We can all use more Motivation hugs, My name is Barbara "Daaahling""