Gretchen,

I have found magnesium to be very helpful when I have muscle spasms in my legs from standing too long at work. So I googled magnesium and MS and this is what came up...

http://www.naturalnews.com/034672_mu..._remedies.html

It talks about using marijuana but also if you read down the page it goes into some detail about certain nurtrient deficiencies and one of them is magnesium!

Have you had your magnesium blood levels tested? Or tried to supplement and/or apply the lotion or oil to your skin? After some trial and error for myself I have found the following products to work the best (for me)...

The supplement is by PERQUE and is called Mg PLUS GUARD. I started with one tab once a day for first week, went to two tabs a day second week and third week went to three tabs without any side effects what so ever. So for six months now I take one tab with breakfast, one w/ lunch and then one/w dinner. I've also taken it an hour before bedtime and that helps too. The reason I increased slowly was because I wanted my digestive system to get accustomed to it to avoid any unpleasant side effects. But some people can take much more than this dose depending on their situation. This product can be taken up to 12 times a day if necessary. Awesome product, very pure ingredients.

The lotion I use is called "Our Kids Mag Sulfate Cream" online at OURKIDSASD.COM. This too is an awesome product and extremely pure with no nasty additives.

Just thought I would share that with you as I have found great relief in using them.

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna, That was thoughtful of you to think of magnesium for my spasms. :)

Funny, because I too, have read the same thing, as well as drinking tonic water, and so I started using both today.

I like the idea of mag oil to rub in the areas, so will be looking into that as well. Will check out the site you provided!

I started a muscle relaxant this evening, baclofen, which seems to be helping somewhat. It's a heavy duty drug, but sometimes that needs to be used in instances such as this. If all this can help me begin to be more mobile, than I will be very grateful!

Thank again, it's great having ideas tossed back and forth. :)
Gretchen

Gretchen,

Using magnesium topically is readily absorbed in to the skin and one of the best ways to get the full benefit of the mineral.

I have tried various brands of topical magnesium and the one I suggested to you was by far the best and easiest to use. Magnesium oil tends to sting a little because it is magnesium salt and that also does have to be washed off. The cream I use does not sting or need to be washed off.... and there are no additives in it.

Just curious...... has your doctor ever tested your serum magnesium level?

Bryanna

Bryanna, I would love to know what my magnesium blood level is, and will ask to get it taken whenever I see a doctor next.

I have had my B-12 and D3 levels tested in the past.
D3 was minimally low, and I've taken 1000 IU daily since. I also took B-12 regularly, but then it got a little high, so I almost never take it now.

Also curious :wink: was you magnesium level low? Maybe too curious: Do you have a chronic ailment which has you seeking supplements and healthy options?

Gretchen :)

Hi Gretchen,

I think mainstream medicine, just like mainstream dentistry, is lacking so much towards helping people to become well. Mainstream doctors and dentists have not been taught to make people well or healthy ... they have been taught to treat symptoms with pharmaceuticals.

I have a team of Integrative physicians, practitioners that I see at different times for different reasons. At my yearly physical I have at minimum 13 vials of blood taken which checks for much more than the usual blood work up that most doctors do. It is standard for me to be checked for things like magnesium because so many physical ailments are linked to magnesium... so it is important to check it at least once a year. There are also specific serum tests for cholesterol, vitamin D, inflammation, infection, etc. that are more accurate than the typical ones most mainstream drs ask for. It is difficult for the average person to know what these tests are so it is important to have the right physician who is knowledgeable about them. I also believe in other forms of testing besides blood... there is stool testing, urine testing and saliva testing. All of which show various good and bad things currently circulating in the system that would be otherwise over looked in routine blood work. Our gut health is one of the main keys to many chronic ill afflictions as so many things disrupt the balance of the gut, our immune system. I personally believe in having as full a picture of my health as possible once a year. Being diagnosed with something is less frightening (to me) than living with something that I know nothing about until it's really bad.

If you are interested in seeking an Integrative practitioner you may consider looking one up under the IAOMT.org website and/or Institute for Functional Medicine.

To answer your question.... Yes, years ago my magnesium and vitamin d was low and my calf and back muscles use to kill me. I stand a lot on my job and just attributed it to that but was not surprised when the test revealed deficiencies. The thing with taking supplements is.... not all supplements are created equal. The more expensive ones are generally more pure making them more readily absorbed and they do not contain any toxic fillers, dyes, preservatives, etc because they are not meant to be kept on the shelf indefinitely like many other "vitamins". Vitamin D is an essential steroid hormone and in cases of deficiency Vitamin D 3 needs to taken in mega doses for a length of time in order to build up the supply. That cannot be achieved when taking 1000 mgs per day. Once the hydroxyvitamin D test shows the D to be in the optimal range, then the supplement is tapered back accordingly. Magnesium and other nutrients are handled similarly. Mainstream drs have no clue how to do that as they were never taught. They would rather prescribe a pharmaceutical because that is what they know.

What are your thoughts on nutritional supplementation and perhaps seeking a dr who is not of the mainstream??

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,

I wasn't actually deficient in D3, just too low for my liking, esp. having MS. I had never taken a supplement before, so taking the 1000 IU got it into the 50's range within a few months.

Integrative physicians sounds like a great way to go, esp. if you are healthy to begin with. I would be a little worried that they might miss something important with a pre-existing condition. For example, there might be a mainstream cure for MS that they wouldn't consider using.

However, I do believe in some supplementation, and regularly use D3, probiotics, CoQ-10 and now magnesium, occasionally B12. Wondering if calcium should be added, and what type is best. I've always been confused on the matter. Any ideas?

Since February, I've also lost about 15 pounds to be at my optimum weight. I've been trying to eat a lot healthier to keep my MS in check. I can only exercise a little, and do about 12 minutes on the treadmill 5 times a week, plus walking to do chores and grocery shopping.

I know I have a lot more work to do to be as healthy as possible, and I have several health conditions that get in the way, so to speak. I also have terrible chocolate cravings that I give into, but at least I use 86% cocoa most of the time. :wink:

So, I guess you could say that I'm my own integrative doctor!
When I recover from this MS exacerbation, I want to delve more into what I can do to be as healthy as possible.

I have found that I have DDD of the neck - arthritis, from the x-ray I had taken a few days ago, still waiting on the spinal x-ray results. However, I really need a lumbar MRI, which I can't get until I see a neuro. That could be another week, and I'm hobbling around the house on a walker right now, with weakness and sensations in my left spine, leg and arm.

So, there's not much I can do about anything right now, except research on the internet.

If you could share, what supplements do you think should be taken by just about everyone daily?
Thank you again for all you share! Gretchen