|
| What is RLS?
If you do have restless legs syndrome (RLS), you are not alone. Up to 10% of the U.S. population may have this neurologic condition. Many people have a mild form of the disorder, but RLS severely affects the lives of millions of individuals. In order for you to be officially diagnosed with RLS, you must meet the criteria described below: 1. You have a strong urge to move your legs which you may not be able to resist. The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include: "creeping", "itching", "pulling", "creepy-crawly", "tugging" or "gnawing". 2. Your RLS Symptoms start or become worse when you are resting. The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be. 3. Your RLS symptoms get better when you move your legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues. 4. Your RLS symptoms are worse in the evening especially when you are lying down. Activities that bother you at night do not bother you during the day. 1. How can I find a healthcare provider who treats RLS? Several options are available to you when attempting to find a healthcare provider to treat your RLS. First, you may use the Healthcare Provider Directory provided by the RLS Foundation. This directory includes a listing of providers who have expressed interest in treating patients with RLS. However, it should be noted that the Foundation does not endorse these providers. Second, support group leaders are often familiar with the names and addresses of healthcare providers in their area who treat RLS. For a support group in your area, please visit our Support Group Directory to find the one closest to you. Third, you can contact your local medical society or ask your own healthcare provider to give you a referral to someone who specializes in treating RLS. Though primary care physicians are capable of diagnosing and treating RLS, some patients may need to consult with a sleep specialist or neurologist. If none of these options works for you, you could also contact the American Medical Association or utilize their Online Doctor Finder. You can search this database by your location or the physician's specialty. 2. Do I have restless legs syndrome (RLS)? Chances are, if you are reading this answer, it is because you are concerned that you or someone you love may have restless legs syndrome (RLS). How many of the questions below are true for you? • When you sit or lie down, do you have a strong desire to move your legs? • Does your desire to move your legs feel impossible to resist? • Have you ever used the wordsunpleasant, creepycrawly, creeping, itching, pulling, ortugging to describe your symptoms to others? • Does your desire to move often occur when you are resting or sitting still? • Does moving your legs make you feel better? • Do you complain of these symptoms more at night? • Do you keep your bed partner awake with the jerking movements of your legs? • Do your ever have involuntary leg movements while you are awake? • Are you tired or unable to concentrate during the day? • Do any of your family members have similar complaints? • Does a trip to the doctor only reveal that nothing is wrong and there is no physical cause for your discomfort? If you answered "yes" to a majority of these questions, you may have RLS. If you do have RLS, you are not alone! Up to 8% of the U.S. population may have RLS. Many people have a mild form of the disorder, but RLS severely affects the lives of millions of individuals. 3. What are the treatment options for RLS? On May 5, 2005, the FDA approved the first ever drug for treatment of restless legs syndrome: ropinirole (Requip). In 2006, the FDA also approved pramipexole (Mirapex). However, several drugs approved for other conditions have undergone clinical studies in RLS and have been found to be helpful. These medications fall into four major classes: dopaminergic agents, sedatives, anticonvulsants, and pain relievers. You should never adjust your medications without speaking to your doctor first. In addition to medications, there are other things you and your doctor can consider when trying to help you deal with RLS. Our patient publication, Restless Legs Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment, is a great starting point for more information. If you would like to receive a copy of the brochure, call our toll-free number at 1-877-463-6757. 4. How do I become a member of the RLS Foundation? You can become a member by calling the Foundation at 507-287-6465 with your credit card information. You can also sign up online . 5. What non-drug treatments are recommended for RLS? In addition to medications, there are other things you and your doctor can consider when trying to help you deal with RLS. These options may include: • Checking to see if there is an underlying iron or vitamin deficiency and then possibly supplementing your diet with iron, vitamin B12 or folate. • Looking at medications you may be taking which make RLS worse. These may include drugs used to treat high blood pressure, heart conditions, nausea, colds, allergies and depression. • Looking at any herbal and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking to see if they could be worsening your RLS. • Identifying habits and activities that worsen RLS symptoms. • Looking at your diet to assure it is healthy and balanced. • Discussing whether or not antihistamines could be contributing to your RLS. • Eliminating your alcohol intake. • Looking at various activities that may help you personally deal with RLS. These could include walking, stretching, taking a hot or cold bath, massaging, acupressure, or relaxation techniques. • Attempting to keep your mind engaged with activities like discussions, needlework or video games when you have to stay seated. • Implementing a program of good sleep habits. • Possibly eliminating caffeine from your diet to aid in general sleep hygiene. By arming yourself with information, you have taken the first step toward defeating RLS. However, your optimum plan requires that you work together with your healthcare provider. Some things that you can do to help eliminate or reduce the need for drugs include: • Living a healthy lifestyle. • Eliminating symptom-producing substances. • Taking vitamin and mineral supplements as necessary. • Engaging in activities which help take your mind off of RLS. • Avoiding or eliminating foods or medicines that aggravate your symptoms. If you do need medication, careful trials may be necessary to find the medication and dosage that works best for you, and sometimes a medication that worked well in the past may become ineffective. Because no single treatment for RLS is entirely effective for everyone, continued research is of vital importance. Until we find the cause of RLS and a cure for it, your best approach is to work closely with your healthcare provider, join a local RLS support group, and explore both non-drug and drug treatments. These strategies offer the most reliable approach to living a happy and productive life in spite of having RLS. 6. Can you give me a list of support groups in my area? A list of our support groups can be viewed on our Web site. 7. Is it possible to have RLS in other areas of the body? Yes, RLS can affect the arms or even the trunk. 8. Can taking vitamin or mineral supplements help my RLS? If an underlying iron or vitamin deficiency is found to be the cause of your restless legs, supplementing with iron, vitamin B or folate (as indicated) may reduce or even alleviate your symptoms. Because the use of even moderate amounts of some minerals (such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium) can impair your body's ability to use other minerals or can cause toxicity, you should use mineral supplements only on the advice of your healthcare provider. 9. Are there any medications that can make RLS worse? Yes. These drugs include calcium-channel blockers (used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions), Reglan (metoclopramide), most antinausea medications, some cold and allergy medications, major tranquilizers (including haloperidol and phenothiazines), and the antiseizure medication, phenytoin. One report indicates that medications used to treat depression increase the symptoms of RLS. Always be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all the medicines you are taking, including herbal and over-the-counter medications. 10. Are there any substances that should be avoided? The use of caffeine often intensifies RLS symptoms. Caffeine-containing products, including chocolate and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks should be avoided. The consumption of alcohol also increases the span or intensity of symptoms for most individuals. 11. I suspect that my child may have RLS. Is this possible? While RLS is most often diagnosed in middle-aged individuals, RLS affects people of all ages. however, people can usually trace their symptoms back to their childhood. They often remember hearing things like, "Those are growing pains" or "Quit wiggling so much." We now know that RLS affects people of all ages. Evidence connecting RLS and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is growing. Our newest publication: Children & RLS is a great place to start looking for more information. 12. How do doctors diagnose RLS? Your doctor should: • Listen to a description of your symptoms. • Complete a diagnostic interview checking for symptoms highlighted on the previous page. • Review your medical history. • Complete a thorough physical exam. • Rule out conditions that may be confused with RLS. Your doctor might: • Check your iron (ferritin) levels. • Ask you to stay overnight in a sleep study lab to determine other causes of your sleep disturbance. Your doctor cannot: • Use lab tests to confirm or deny the presence of RLS. 13. Is RLS hereditary? RLS often runs in families. Researchers are currently looking for the gene or genes that may be responsible for RLS. 14. Is there a known cause for RLS? Extensive research into the cause of RLS is occurring worldwide. A single unifying cause has not been identified, but we are getting closer. Here is what we do know: • RLS often runs in families. This is called primary or familial RLS. Researchers are currently looking for the gene or genes that causes RLS. • RLS sometimes appears to be a result of another condition, which, when present, worsens the underlying RLS. This is called secondary RLS. • Up to 25% of women develop RLS during pregnancy but symptoms often disappear after giving birth. • Anemia and low iron levels frequently contribute to a worsening of RLS. • RLS is very common in patients requiring dialysis for end-stage renal disease. • Damage to the nerves of the hands or feet (i.e., peripheral neuropathy) from any number of causes including diabetes contributes to RLS. • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) is common in children and adults with RLS. 15. How common is RLS? Rigorous epidemiologic studies into the true prevalence of RLS are underway. However, several studies have been conducted that look at the rate of response to questions such as Do you have a creepy, crawly sensation in your legs at night when you attempt to sleep? Positive rates have ranged from 3% to 15%. 16. What are the primary features of RLS? In order for you to be officially diagnosed with RLS, you must meet the criteria described in the four bullets below: • You have a strong urge to move your legs which you may not be able to resist. The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include: creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging or gnawing. • Your RLS symptoms start or become worse when you are resting. The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be. • Your RLS symptoms get better when you move your legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues. • Your RLS symptoms are worse in the evening especially when you are lying down. Activities that bother you at night do not bother you during the day. RLS can also cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep which can be one of the chief complaints of the syndrome. A substantial number of people who have RLS also have periodic limb movements of sleep(PLMS). These are jerks that occur every 20 to 30 seconds on and off throughout the night. This can cause partial awakenings that disrupt sleep. Sleep deprivation can seriously impact your work, relationships, and health. 17. How do I receive additional information about RLS? Our most popular patient publication, Restless Legs Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment, is our gift to you! If you would like to receive a copy of the brochure, call our toll-free number 1-877-463-6757. To receive the most up-to-date and comprehensive information, you can become a member of the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation. As a member, you will receive our quarterly newsletter NightWalkers featuring the latest information on treatment and research while also allowing readers to ask questions and get answers from top RLS specialists. We also have many other healthcare provider publications that you can share with your personal physician. 18. What is augmentation? If augmentation occurs, your usual dose of a dopaminergic agent will relieve your symptoms so that you are able to sleep at night, but eventually, the unpleasant sensations will develop earlier in the day. Augmentation of RLS symptoms may occur after an initial period of relief with dopaminergic agents, and unfortunately, increasing your dosage will probably worsen your symptoms. If augmentation occurs, you and your doctor can work together to find a new drug regimen that will work for you. No one should ever stop taking a medication abruptly. |
| LINKS TO HELP YOU WITH RLS |
| FIND A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BELOW |
| LYMPHLAND |
| Restless Legs: In Your Head or In Your Genes?
MUNICH, Germany (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Restless legs: it's a syndrome that keeps about 12 million people in the United States awake at night. The cause is still a mystery. Some believe it's all in your head, but now, some researchers say restless legs could be in your genes. Now you can discover the cause and find some natural remedies. Betty Shaw and her daughter Cyndi Foshee work side by side. Not only do they share their love for flowers. This mother-daughter team share the same genes … some they wish they didn't. "My legs jerk first, and then it feels like something crawling in it," Shaw told Ivanhoe. "Just when you get to sleep good, it would start, and then you're up," Foshee revealed to Ivanhoe. Both suffer from restless legs syndrome, or RLS, and now, another female in the family is getting up during the night with leg pains. "My 18-year-old daughter is starting to show signs of it," Foshee said. Fifty percent of all sufferers say family members also have it. That's the case for this man. "He's a member of one of the largest RLS families in the world," Juliane Winkelmann, M.D., a neurologist at Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, Germany explained. Out of 70 family members living in Bavaria, 20 of them experience pain, itching and an incredible urge to keep moving their legs. Until now, there's been no cause, but a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute in Germany has tracked down genes that may be responsible. "We identified genetic variants in three genes and these variants increased the risk to develop RLS," Dr. Winklemann stated. It you have these genes, researchers say you're 20-times more likely to get RLS. This new finding could lead to a cure to stop the pain. For now, some natural ways to relieve symptoms include an increase in folate, taking a multivitamin, eliminating caffeine and taking two aspirins before bedtime. Symptoms can affect everyone in your family differently. "It's possible that some individuals only have symptoms a few times in their life and don't really recognize their symptoms as a disease, and on the other hand, in the same family, there are some family members which are really severely affected," Dr. Winklemann revealed. A recent Harvard study found that people with RLS are two-times more likely to have a stroke or heart attack. RLS may also be linked to pregnancy, anemia and iron deficiency. As for Shaw and Foshee, they're hoping to get relief tonight and a cure in the near future. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation http://www.rls.org National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/ http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=19364 |
