Joan Bakke is back …
A Dramatic Turnaround from
Rheumatoid Arthritis

“I am walking again!
My fingers are straightening out!
I cancelled my knee surgery!”
-Joan Bakke

“Whenever I want to talk to people about the cactus juice, I just bring my mom. People are astounded at how good she looks and at how great she is doing.”
Shanti Devi,
Joan’s daughter

Joan Bakke’s rheumatoid arthritis got so bad that 3 years ago she could no longer work at The Center Of Light, the alternative healing center she owned, loved, nurtured, and managed for 19 years. She was crippled from two forms of arthritis just about everywhere, but her hands and knees suffered the worst. Joan’s knuckles and fingers had become so bent and swollen, that wearing rings was impossible and the pain was almost unbearable. Even simple things, like opening an envelope, or getting change out of the register, caused great suffering.

Walking was also difficult. First using a cane, then a walker, her world was becoming smaller month by month. When the arthritis destroyed the cartilage in her left knee, and right hip and she could no longer walk without tremendous pain and great effort, she finally gave in and had the hip replaced and then, the left knee a year later. The surgery helped, but the left leg now swelled and was so sensitive that even the cat rubbing against it was painful.

As her health declined, doctors had prescribed prednisone, a synthetic steroid that reduces inflammation. It’s often used to treat arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, breathing problems and eye problems. But long-term steroid use can be harmful. It weakens the immune system and “thins” the bones, among many other side effects, the worst of which is complete dependence on it due to long term use, as your adrenal glands produce less and less adrenaline.

Over time, Joan did develop adrenal insufficiency, a condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones. It can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, decreased appetite and weight loss, as well as immediate death if you stop the prednisone. A daily dose of about 7 milligrams of prednisone is required to make up for the adrenaline needed by the body to survive. But then, as Joan found out, other problems can occur. “When I found I was getting Osteoporosis from the prednisone, I tried everything I could find to try to get off it.” says Joan.

Her arthritis also continued to get worse in the right knee. This year her right knee had become so painful that she had finally agreed to schedule another knee operation, with great fear, as both earlier surgeries had left her with infections that could have ended her life. But that was before she and her daughter Shanti Devi learned about the cactus juice.

This summer, Joan and Shanti placed an order for the juice and Joan began drinking the healing dose of 6 ounces a day. Within the first two weeks, the swelling in her knuckles and fingers started to go down. She was not able to wear her rings for the last 3 years; now they slide right on easily. To see what would happen, Joan decided to decrease the amount of prednisone she was taking by a half milligram.

When her fingers and knuckles continued to improve, she and her daughter agreed to gradually reduce the dosage of prednisone by a half milligram every week for four weeks, going from 8 milligrams to 6 milligrams. For the last five years she was never able to get below 8 milligrams. The two also ordered Adoptogen, a “sister” product to the Nopal Cactus Juice that helps with stress.

The results have been nothing short of amazing, says Shanti. “Joan has not been below eight milligrams of prednisone in five years and she has been doing just fine as she goes down. I think she may be able to get off it entirely.”

Recently, the two stopped by a local health food store where they have been long-term customers. “The owner hadn’t seen me in a few weeks and he told me I looked five years younger,” says Joan.

She’s also started to be active again. She was recently able to go mushroom picking, a life-long love that she had given up these past 8 years. She was able to walk for over two hours in the woods, on uneven ground, all the while bending every few feet to pick –without the need for a cane and without pain. In fact, she says the pain in both legs is now completely gone and she’s canceled the surgery that had been scheduled for her right knee

She’s also started sleeping better and dreaming more, and her blood pressure is now normal. Even her left leg is no longer swelling and the cat can rub against it with vigor!

Her Doctor was stunned to see how good she was doing at her visit today and excitedly looked up test results and ordered more tests, to confirm what she is seeing, as she wants to start Nopal cactus juice and get her family drinking it, right away. She is also hopeful that many of her patients will be helped by Nopal cactus juice.

“Whenever I want to talk to our friends about the cactus juice, I just bring my mom,” says Shanti. “People who know us are astounded at how great she is doing.” “I haven’t felt this good in years,” says Joan. “It is a real miracle for me.”

Now Shanti is drinking the juice and looking forward to sharing her great results, too.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 2nd, 2011 at 5:07 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.