31 Days of MS: I have taken, and learned, a lot 31 Days of MS: I have taken, and learned, a lot by BioNews Staff | March 27, 2023 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link After trying countless medications, Lacie Granstrom found some relief through diet, exercise, and letting go of “toxic relationships.” (Courtesy of Lacie Granstrom) Day 27 of 31 This is Lacie Granstrom‘s story: In January 2016, I was sitting on the floor playing with my puppy. When I stood up, what I thought was sciatic nerve pain shot down my leg. Afterward, it felt like my leg was asleep; when I touched it, my leg felt as if it had been injected with a numbing agent like lidocaine. This went on for a week, and at a friend’s advice, I went to the local hospital. I was admitted after hours of tests, and the doctor confirmed that my symptoms suggestedĀ multiple sclerosis. Blood tests for anything they could think of found nothing, and another MRI scan showed only spinal lesions. The neurologist tested my reflexes, strength, gate, and mobility. Then a lumbar puncture found proteins in my spinal fluid that confirmed central nervous system inflammation. A week later, I left that hospital with an MS diagnosis, and numbness that had spread to my belly button. I went through three neurologists before I found a good one. I was terrified of what my life was going to look like. Numbness, now in both legs, turned into a constant, restless pain. I was exhausted, but couldnāt sleep, struggling to balance on two feet and using a cane, gaining weight because I was too tired and scared to exercise, and losing hand-eye coordination. I felt defeated. I couldnāt close my eyes in the shower without falling, I was experiencing extreme muscle spasms, I developed foot drop and sensory ataxia, MS hugs. I couldnāt feel the bottom of my feet, I was on the maximum dose of multiple meds. Tons of steroids and meds, plasmapheresis and infusions. We finally found the right infusion medication for me, and I havenāt needed my cane in years. Iām in pain all the time. I have memory issues, balance issues, extreme fatigue, muscle spasms, etc. But itās manageable. My physical and emotional diets have the most impact on my ānew normal.ā Stress is my biggest MS symptom trigger. Cutting out toxic relationships and inflammatory foods, and incorporating exercise into my life has helped more than any medication Iāve taken … and Iāve taken a lot. Multiple Sclerosis News Todayās 31 Days of MS campaign will publish one story per day for MS Awareness Month in March. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more stories like this, using the hashtag #31DaysofMS, or read the full series. Print This Page About the Author BioNews Staff BioNews, the owner and publisher of this site, employs science writers and editors, most of whom have PhDs in the life sciences, as well as veteran journalists, who ensure stories are well-written and easy to understand. Our stories undergo a comprehensive fact-checking and editing process to confirm accuracy, objectiveness, and thoroughness in order to best serve our audience of patients and caregivers. Tags 31 Days of MS 2023
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