Hi. I empathize with you on this. I also suffer from inherited neurological disorder, which albeit NOT degenerative, is certainly a monkey on my back since birth. Glad to see you went right for the dietary change after the main options. Personally, I would have done a SERIOUS juice detox/fast immediately upon hearing the diagnosis and second opions -- that is WHILE you "thought it over". I would like to point you over to the EXCELLENT work of Dr Bergman. I'm almost CERTAIN you will find some serious help from his lectures, BOTH on the autoimmune AND the spine issues (he is ultimately a chiropractor). His info has had SIGNIFICANT benefit on my health :

How to Avoid or Heal from Autoimmune Disorders