My guy has suffered from RLS (restless leg syndrome) for a couple of years. He's taken meds for that time, and then was weened off of them. He's been fine for about 2 yrs and now... the attacks are back - so he quickly got back on the meds , but the attacks, apparently now, are much stronger.
Has anyone experienced this - or known anyone who has? It's kind of heartbreaking! ************************************************************* 09-30-05, 07:14 AM Kelleygirl Yo, Tree! My Mom was having problems with these and told her doctor about it. He said that she already took enough drugs and that she should try drinking a glass of milk each night before bedtime. She did and hasn't had this problem since, honest! Maybe it's not the "cure" for everyone, but it sure couldn't hurt to try.
09-30-05, 02:03 PM dangergurly9 I personally have not tried this,but my doctor told me to put a bar of soap under the sheet near your legs where they rest Roll EyesI am not sure of the reasoning..maybe you could look it up on the net and find something.Sorry I would but I dont have time right now! I do know that it is an aweful feeling and anything is worth a try.
09-30-05, 02:28 PM Dixie I have RLS too. Since I have been taking the antidepressant Cymbalta I have been doing a lot better. I also take Neurontin (gabapentin) at night.
09-30-05, 02:33 PM Dixie Here are some alternative treatments including the one about soap.
09-30-05, 09:39 PM Tree Thanks all!
Unfortunately, the things that I find on the internet, are not even close to how he suffers. I keep reading about attacks coming on during resting - He gets them ONLY when he's asleep - to the tune of about 4 to over 10 attacks per nite. Of course, this makes him very sleep deprived and eventually he may go a bit "snakey". When he went thru this last time, I didn't trust him to drive OR work because he was too sleep deprived.
His attacks are severe. If they could be treated with a bar of soap or a glass of milk - That would be a dream come true!
I'm still looking for answers..... Confused
10-02-05, 06:12 PM aminator2002 My dad suffered from this for years and then he found doctors that thought they could help. All I'm going to say is that you should be very very apprehensive about anyone who has a treatment that is invasive... they have NO idea what causes this and your guy will just be a guinea pig for their experiments. Medicines all have side effects, so be careful.
I know people probably think I'm getting to be tiresome about yoga, but it can put things back in alignment and improve circulation. If you have an Iyengar yoga studio in your area (which unfortunately I think you are kind of remote) you should have him make a visit. A certified instructor of this type of yoga can do wonders to improve all sorts of physical problems. This type of treatment actually solves the problem rather than trying to medicate over it... People in my yoga class have solved so many physical problems, it is worth trying.
I am not a doctor but I've seen them put my father in a wheel chair for restless legs and leg cramps. Be very careful.
10-02-05, 09:18 PM Tree Thanks ami! I have heard of the benefits of yoga. One man that suffered from back pain claims that yoga set him back to normality!
I'm still going to look into the health food/meds store for him this week.
He's still having the attacks and hates waking up with a "chemical hangover". It must be awful to feel that your limbs are possessed!
10-06-05, 09:41 AM DorianGreyed I just saw a commercial for a medicine to treat RLS. I have never seen one before.
* Reducing symptom severity after 2 nights of therapy * Maintaining long-term symptom relief at 9 months
Requip is the first and only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome, or RLS (15 or more episodes monthly). -------- Below from the Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation - May 10, 2005 FDA APPROVES FIRST MEDICATION FOR RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME: ROCHESTER, MN – May 5, 2005 – For the first time the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a medication for the common but baffling condition known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). “This approval is an important advance in the treatment of RLS and offers proven therapy for people living with this disorder,” said David Rye, MD, PhD. “It is our hope that more patients will recognize their symptoms and will talk to their doctors about them.” Dr. Rye is the Chair of the RLS Foundation Medical Advisory Board and Director of the Emory Healthcare Program in Sleep Medicine, Atlanta, GA. -------- from Medisav.ca, an online drug store
Requip (Ropinirole) Information:
Parkinson's medication Requip from Canada (Ropinirole) is indicated for treatment of the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease, both as initial therapy, without levodopa, and as combination therapy (adjunctive treatment) with levodopa.
10-06-05, 12:02 PM vansrme Tree, When these attacks occur, does he also have bad cramps? I wake up sometimes with the most severe cramps in my hamstrings, and it drives me crazy! I have to get out of bed and walk around on my heels to try to stretch them out and stop the cramping. Just wondering if the conditions could be related in some way?
chris
10-13-05, 10:24 PM Tree Thanks for all of the info Dorian... Will have to sift thru it all!
Vans! Yes! He has to jump up right away and fumble over to the door jamb and grab hold as he keeps moving his legs for relief! But this happens about 4 to 10 times or more, per nite. His meds are now settling in and his attacks are reduced to 1 or even none per nite now. 10-13-05, 11:46 PM
DorianGreyed If the cramps continue, he may be low in potassium. When I had leg cramps, I ate a banana, and it worked. Some doctors will agree with me on this, others won't.
Potassium, along with calcium and sodium, is an electrolyte (mineral salt) important to the human nervous system, muscle function, fluid balance and heart, kidney and adrenal functions. A deficiency of potassium (hypokalemia) can manifest as weakness, fatigue, confusion, heart irregularities, and sometimes problems in muscular coordination. Insufficient potassium can also exaggerate the effects of sodium. The first sign of a potassium deficiency is usually a generalized weakness.
Most people get sufficient potassium in a reasonably healthy diet -- one that includes fresh fruits and vegetables and is low in sodium. Mineral imbalances can occur from starvation diets, but more commonly results from excessive fluid loss from sweating, diarrhea, or the use of diuretics and laxatives.
People who exercise heavily, and therefore sweat heavily, have higher potassium needs; they may need to take supplements to balance the electrolyte levels, or to bulk up their menus with high potassium foods.
On the other hand, people who suffer from some diseases, including diabetes and renal (kidney) failure can no longer metabolize minerals properly and need to guard against getting too much in their diet.
Since potassium has not been one of the nutritional values required in food labeling, determining the amount of dietary potassium has been more difficult than, for example, sodium or fat content in foods. This changed in November, 2000; effective in the year 2001, potassium content will be included in the labeling on food packaging.
People without the ordinary potassium requirements -- either a need to supplement because of fluid loss, or a need to limit their intake -- should consult with their physician or nutritionist to determine their specific needs from each group.
For general guidelines, Duke University Medical Center and the American Kidney Foundation have divided foods into low, moderate and high potassium groups. Some of the more common foods in each category are:
HIGH potassium (more than 225 milligrams per 1/2 c. serving)
These foods would be beneficial to athletes or to others who incur heavy fluid loss. Patients on potassium-restricted diets should avoid them, or eat them sparingly, as advised by their nutritionist.
All meats, poultry and fish are high in potassium.
Apricots (fresh more so than canned)
Avocado
Banana
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Kiwi
Lima beans
Milk
Oranges and orange juice
Potatoes (can be reduced to moderate by soaking peeled, sliced potatoes overnight before cooking)
Prunes
Spinach
Tomatoes
Vegetable juice
Winter squash
MODERATE (125 - 225 mg per serving)
These foods can be a large part of most people's balanced nutrition plan. Persons restricting their potassium might be cautioned to include no more than one or two servings from this list per day, depending on their medical restrictions.
10-14-05, 08:50 AM Georgia85 Dixie, you take Neurontin? How is that working for you? I took it for a 9 months, developed horrible side-effects including a kidney stone and morning paralysis, and had a huge weight gain. I stopped taking it because the constant pain from the side-effects was worse than the muscle spasms. Since then I learned of many law suits against the distributor of Neurontin. It is a drug to be used in conjunction with others to treat Epilepsy and is not FDA approved for any other usage. Yet it is distributed to treat everything from Migraines, to neuropathies and motion sickness. It's great if it is working for you and you would be one of the few that I know of who have had no problems with it.
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