It seems like more and more people are suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome. It is that tingly, creepy feeling in your legs that is only relieved by moving them, often when all you want is to lie quietly and sleep. I had a friend approach me last week because he is afraid he is developing it. He knows I am not a doctor, but that I am willing to do the research for him to help him sift through all the different theories. This article is written for him, and anyone else that wants a down to earth discussion on Restless Leg Syndrome.
We have all heard the description of what it feels like, but no one seems to know where it comes from. About 50% of the people diagnosed with RLS have a family history of it. I would like to see the opposite statistics, if someone in your family suffers from RLS how likely are you to get it.
Authors that approach RLS from a nutritional/holistic viewpoint seem to think that it is a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Dr. Ross Hauser, M.D. is a director of Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services at Beulahland Natural Medicine Clinic in Thebes Park, Illinois. He says, "A lack of calcium, potassium, and magnesium can make the large muscles in the legs hyperirritable." He recommends between 800 and 100 milligrams of calcium, 300 milligrams of potassium and 500 milligrams of magnesium at bedtime. He also recommends trying 400 milligrams of standardized extract of Horse Chestnut. Dr. Jay Lombard, M.D. an assistant clinical professor of neurology at Will Medical College of Cornell University in New York City and co-author of The Brain Wellness Plan recommends 100-200 milligrams of a supplement called 5-hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP, but cautions that it should only be used under close medical supervision because it can cause a fatal condition called serotonin syndrome.
Medical websites call RLS a neurological disorder. They tell us that manyphysicians prescribe either dopaminergics, benzodiazepines (central nervous system depressants), opioids, and anticonvulsants. Dopaminergic agents, largely used to treat Parkinson's disease, have been shown to reduce RLS symptoms and PLMD and are considered the initial treatment of choice. Good short-term results of treatment with levodopa plus carbidopa have been reported, although most patients eventually will develop augmentation, meaning that symptoms are reduced at night but begin to develop earlier in the day than usual. Dopamine agonists such as pergolide mesylate, pramipexole, and ropinirole hydrochloride may be effective in some patients and are less likely to cause augmentation. Augmentation is described as the onset of symptoms earlier and earlier in the day.
Both camps say that some medications may be causing the symptoms. These include medicines such as Antihistamines (like Benadryl) found in many cold, allergy and over the counter sleeping pills, Anti-dizzy, anti-nausea medications like meclizine, Compazine, Phenergan and Reglan, Antidepressants such as Elavil, Prozac, Lexapro, Effexor, Psychiatric medications that treat bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and other serious disorders such as haloperidol and phenothiazines. Underlying illnesses that can be contributing to your RLS include anemia, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, kidney disease, thyroid disease, varicose veins, or Parkinson's disease. These should be treated diagnosed and treated by your doctor.
You may also benefit from physical therapy and self-care treatments, such as stretching, taking hot or cold baths, whirlpool baths, applying hot or cold packs to the affected area, limb message, or vibratory or electrical stimulation of the feet and toes before bedtime. Mild exercise and relaxation techniques also may be helpful. Intense exercise seems to increase the problems. Other things that seem to help a lot of people are eliminating stimulants (such as caffeine), sugar, alcohol and processed foods from your diet. Look also for any foods you may have an allergy or sensitivity to.
As with anything general good health goes a long way in making disease seem to disappear. Donft neglect the little things that make your immune and digestive system stronger such as the Enriching Gifts Products. Something else that may help is a mild sleep aid that I recently came across. I can't say that it will definitely help with RLS, since no one in our household suffers from that. What I can tell you is that on those nights when our normal regimen of three Enriching Gifts Plant Enzymes and two Enriching Gifts Coral Life isn't enough these Sweet Dream Strips seem to work wonders for my husband.
