Tips For Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a central nervous system disorder, and produces uncomfortable sensations in the legs that usually peak in the evening or nighttime. Read more . . . .
Bad times for me are when I’ve been sitting for too long. Like many people who have this disorder, I just did not understand my conditon for many years.
Approximately one in every 10 adults has some form of RLS, although for most, symptoms are manageable. That percentage may include the guy that keeps kicking his legs under the table at a board meeting. It doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone needs to be treated.
I’ve found that many people that have this disorder also have an associated disorder where their legs move spontaneously while they are sleeping. In addition to frequently waking themselves up, people who have RLS may also kick their bed partner, causing them to wake up also. Just ask my wife on this one!
Because some cases of RLS are triggered by another condition, such as iron deficiency, kidney disease or even pregnancy, sometimes when the condition ends or eases, the person’s RLS does also. However, approximately 10% of people who have severe RLS require treatment.
In some cases, drug therapy can be helpful. Some of the most favored drugs right now are those already approved for Parkinson’s disease. In a recent study from John Hopkins University it was found that the Parkinson’s drug Ropinirol (Requip) reduces involuntary leg movements from 49 per hour to just 12 per hour in people who have RLS. Not bad.
Ropinirole is one of a family of medicines called dopamine agonists, which alter levels of the important brain chemical dopamine. A better understanding of the causes of the disease means experts can look for better treatments. One emerging theory is that there’s a lot of motor learning that might get replayed while we are sleeping.
This phenomenon could explain why the legs of RLS patients are more prone to involuntary movements than their arms, for example. We bear more weight (on our legs), and more work is being done by our legs every day than our arms.
I encourage people who are bothered by jittery, restless legs to seek help from professionals, and do not stop until someone adequately diagnoses your condition.
Talk to your doctor about trying medications such as temazepam, levodopa/carbidopa, oxycodone, propoxyhene, or codeine. Also check to see if you have iron deficiency. Symptoms are intensified by inactivity and lying down. RLS patients often have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
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