If you have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), you are not alone. Up to 8 % of the 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.
To determine whether you may have RLS, answer the following questions.
1. When sitting or lying down, do you have unpleasant or creepy-crawly sensations in your legs (and sometimes in other parts of your body), tied to a strong feeling or urge to move? 2. Do the sensations and urge to move come on during periods of rest or inactivity and are they relieved by movement? 3. Do the sensations and urge to move bother you more in the evening and at night rather than during the day? 4. Do you often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? 5. Does your bed partner tell you that you jerk your legs (or your arms) when you are asleep; do you sometimes, have involuntary leg jerks when you are awake? 6. Are you frequently tired or fatigued during the day? 7. Do you have family members who experience these same sensations and urge to move? 8. Have medical tests not revealed a cause for your sensations and urge to move?
If you have answered "yes" to more than half of these questions, you may have RLS. By arming yourself with information, you have taken the first step toward defeating RLS. Your optimum treatment plan requires a close interaction between you and your healthcare provider. Choosing a healthy lifestyle, eliminating symptom-producing substances, taking vitamin and mineral supplements as necessary, and engaging in self-directed activities will all work toward reducing or eliminating the need for pharmacologic intervention.
If you do need medications, careful trials are typically necessary to find the best medication and the best dosage for you. Many patients report that a combination of medications works best, and some find that a medication that has worked for an extended period of time suddenly becomes ineffective and another medication must be substituted. Quite clearly, you must be cautious when combining a variety of medications and should only do so under the supervision of your healthcare provider.
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, working closely with your healthcare provider, interacting with a local support group, and exploring non-drug treatments as well as pharmacologic therapy will help you find the answer to living a happy productive life in spite of having RLS.
Living with Restless Legs involves developing coping strategies that work for you.
• Talk about RLS Sharing information about RLS will help your family members, friends, and co-workers understand when they see you pacing the halls at night, standing at the back of the theatre, or walking to the water cooler many times throughout the day. • Don't fight it If you attempt to suppress the urge to move, you may find that your symptoms only get worse. Get out of bed. Find an activity that takes your mind off of your legs. Stop frequently when traveling. • Keep a sleep diary if you can't sit to write, dictate into a small tape recorder. Keep track of the medications and strategies that help or hinder your battle with RLS, and share this information with your healthcare provider. • Occupy your mind Keeping your mind actively engaged may lessen your symptoms of RLS. Find an activity that you enjoy to help you through those times when your symptoms are particularly troublesome. • Rise to new levels you may be more comfortable if you elevate your desktop or bookstand to a height that will allow you to stand while you work or read. • Stretch out your day Begin and end your day with stretching exercises or gentle massage. • Help others Support groups bring together family members and people with RLS. By participating in a group, you can not only help yourself, but your insights may help someone else.
Pharmacists planning service, Inc. 09.08.03 PPSI, a California non-profit corporation, offers a large number of health awareness programs to promote public health and education. http://www.ppsinc.org/menu.htm
