Take time to learn about Restless Leg Syndrome
“Trying to describe my symptoms is the challenge of the century,” said a retired TV producer in the October edition of Consumer Reports on Health. “They usually begin while seated, with a jerky and uncontrollable movement of either leg accompanied by creepy-crawly sensations, resulting in an irresistible desire to stand up and walk, which almost instantly results in relief.”
This man is one of an estimated ten percent of Americans who suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekborn Disease. The article states that he’s lucky he was properly diagnosed. A survey of 16,000 people reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2005, found that 7.2 percent had symptoms compatible with RLS but almost 70 percent of them were misdiagnosed with other ailments such as poor circulation, arthritis, back problems, varicose veins and depression.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says that “the most distinctive or unusual aspect of the condition is that lying down and trying to relax activates the symptoms. Most people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue.
“Many people with RLS report that their job, personal relations, and activities of daily living are strongly affected as a result of their sleep deprivation. They are often unable to concentrate, have impaired memory, or fail to accomplish daily tasks. It also can make traveling difficult and can cause depression.” Thus, the often overlooked diagnosis.
NIND also states that although RLS occurs in both women and men, the incidence in women is twice as high and it can occur at any age but most typically the individuals most severely affected are middle-aged or older. The symptoms may become more frequent and last longer the older you get.
Johns Hopkins Medicine adds that “in the last 20 years, there has been a substantial amount of research into understanding the cause of RLS. From that research there appears to be three factors which are pertinent to the disease: brain concentrations of iron, brain dopamine concentrations and genes.”
If you suffer from the following four primary features of RLS you should make an appointment with your health care provider:
1. Uncomfortable sensation in the legs with a clear need or urge to move them.
2. Symptoms are worse at night.
3. Symptoms come on when you’re resting.
4. Symptoms are relieved when you move around.
Although there is no cure at the moment there are medications available that may relieve the discomfort and to help you sleep. Some patients have had success with medicines that are used to treat convulsions. No single treatment works for everyone, so it may be a bit of hit and miss until you and your clinicians get it right. Is it hard to say be patient when you’re restless? Hmmmm.
What else can you do? An article published in US News in May of this year said that you should talk to others about RLS, because it helps people to be more understanding. It also suggested trying to find an activity that gets your mind off RLS. They recommended that you keep a sleep diary to share with your physician; beginning each day with stretching exercises; taking the stairs and walking more; raising your desktop so you can work and read standing up, and taking hot or cold showers to reduce symptoms.
“The only consistent relief I have found over the past dozen years has been from doing jigsaw puzzles,” the TV producer said. “I can sit for hours with no hint of RLS. Go figure.” You should figure on talking to your clinician and checking out the wealth of information at sites like www.rls.org.
Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at 264-4029 or kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.