Restless Leg Syndrome evidence based treatment

This video explains #Restless #Legs #Syndrome (#RLS) and how it is treated. I explain the five diagnostic criteria needed to make this diagnosis as well as explaining current scientific understanding of why it occurs. Secondary causes can also include peripheral #neuropathy, #uraemia, #varicose veins, medications such as #antidepressants and #anti-histamines and pregnancy. I also explain augmentation and how we attempt to reduce the risk of this happening.

You can see the full and latest guidance of the IRLSSG, EURLSSG, and the #RLS-foundation via the link below. You can also click on the download PDF button to keep a printable version of the original:

NICE also discuss RLS and they also have some guidelines based on the 2012/13 guidelines, and so is a little out of date; via:

The AAN (American Academy of Neurology) also have their own guidance just recently published Dec 2016 which, for completeness may also be useful for some via:

[hunnyyy]

who else is watching this while struggling to sleep cause of the pain ;(

[yzmei]

usually, i cant sleep.. it feels like i need to go for a jog in the middle of the night..

[nadel]

Omg I’m so sleep deprived because of this! 😭😭😭 the creepy crawly sensation is also in my arms and happens even during the day when I’m trying to make up for the previous night sleep deprivation!

[BellsandJess]

I get it in my hands and arms as well. Have had it ever since I can remember.
It’s like silent torture.

[ilovelasagna]

It's 5 o'clock in the morning and I've been up for 2 hours, and no matter what I do it won't go away

[euphoria]

I have this and I literally cannot sleep!! I feel like cutting my leg of I’m so desperate I can’t handle it 😭😭

[rustycrumpton]

Had this since childhood. Didn’t even know it was a condition until recently, just thought it was me.
Doing leg lifts, pacing, massaging and slightly pinching my legs, or running freezing cold water over them are all things that help me personally. It is very annoying, especially when you are so exhausted 😩 but your legs will not let you rest. However, it is such a normal part of my life because I can never remember a time I didn’t have it.

[empty__]

the lecture was great: clear, comprehensive, and 0 informational noise. big thanks from an rls sufferer.

[SacredGeometric]

For what it's worth, here's what's made a huge difference for me... :)

I've been a long time sufferer of RLS and after 12 years of research and personal trial and error, I found that toxicity... caused by drugs and the highly compromised stuff we tend to call food now... is definitely what led to a compromised digestive system and subsequently my RLS.

Once I had it, it took me several year's to notice that what I was eating, was definitely effecting it. The liver, which removes toxins from the body, also makes the bile (which helps break down our food) that's then stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. The bile from the gallbladder works in conjunction with the digestive enzymes from the pancreas, to break down our food. When the liver gets overloaded with toxins, it has more difficulty making bile. The concentrated bile in the gallbladder also starts to thicken, turn into "sludge" and (many people believe) gallstones. This in turn effects the pancreas, which also becomes blocked and can't function correctly and that's definitely not a good thing because it can begin to basically dissolve itself with its own digestive enzymes if it gets blocked.
A compromised gallbladder can lead to neck pain on the right side, since there is a nerve that goes from the gallbladder to the neck and when the gallbladder us swollen, it'll press on that nerve. In my experience, I also developed pain in the left side of my neck (even a lump actually) and experienced pain in the middle of my back. I also had pain, that lovely "knife in the shoulder blade" feeling as well. I went round and round with doctors, specialist and treatments to try and figure out what all my intense neck, back and shoulder pain was being caused by for years. Each doctor scratching their head, referring me to another one, or just deciding that it must be arthritis.... ie: inflammation.
I also began to develop food sensitivities, which were also signs of a compromised digestive system. In fact my digestion finally got so bad... and my RLS along with it... that I couldn't eat without pain, so I went on a 3 day water fast. ....and within 3 days, almost all my pain went away, I cut my RLS in half and I began sleeping like a baby. The swelling around my eyes, my face in general (jowls, under chin, etc.) lessened dramatically. All the bloating around my middle (which I thought had been fat), went almost entirely away. In fact, I went down a whole pants size in that 3 days. There was a big improvement in my cognitive function and clarity. All my "menopause" symptoms evaporated. The list went on and on. In the end I realised that all these numerous, "different" physical symptoms, we're all being caused by the same thing. Toxicity and a compromised digestive system.

The other things that made noticeable differences over the years, more than others, included liquid diets (soups, smoothies, juices) and taking potassium citrate powder (a high dose) and magnesium citrate powder. Of course, those were good because they also help reset your bodies digestive system and are excellent for your pancreas and gallbladder. One of the ironies of being put on medication for RLS, is that this also backs up and adds dramatically to the toxicity of your liver/gallbladder/pancreas. Bad fats, bad sugar's, stress and nonorganic diets are pretty much the majority of the others.

Other interesting things to note... a high percentage of people with IBS, another "digestive disorder", also have RLS.... surprise. More women than men have RLS. Also twice as many women also have gallbladder issues as men. Another digestive correlation. The list goes on. Personally, after years of research, I'm convinced that toxicity (which trust me, is pretty much all of us these days!) leads to digestive issues, which causes inflammation all over the body. Since inflammation is the cause of almost every "disease" out there, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise what the cause of all these diseases are.

Anyway, I hope this information helps others to connect the dots if their experiencing these same issues to. :)

[phubblewubbphubblewubb]

Had it for 60 years, now affects my entire body not just legs. Finding mega dosing B1 aka Thiamine plus Magnesium is helping hugely.

[CareyGrayson]

I've suffered my whole life from this neurological disease and it's horrible. However, more recently I found a fix that works for me:
1) lo-carb diet. 2) Vitamin B1 supplements. 3) No alcohol 3 hours before bedtime.
While it isn't a cure, it vastly reduces the intensity of RLS episodes, allowing me to fall and stay asleep.

[frenchycanada]

I suffer from RLS since I can remember and in 2015 I was diagnosed with Parkinsons which worsens the RLS. I thought it was bad before but its almost out of control now. I patch up with Neupro which helps but sometimes I have to updose with ropinirole. My fellow suffers, I feel your frustration. The amount of positions I put myself in in bed, the electric feeling, the insomnia…….until the meds work, walking or doing chores around the house at 4am remains the best antidote but watch your driving….

[el_argent]

RLS runs pretty deep in my family (3 generations), but we don´t get it as bad as I read below. For me, it's been more than 30 years of having it now, and sometimes I get it on my arms and chest. My top 3 last-minute "cures" have been (in decreasing order of effectiveness, drum roll) 1) Extremely hot but bearable immersion bath right before going into bed (a great night of sleep guaranteed), 2) sex (creates a 15min window to fall asleep), 3)stretching (but I´ll go with one the first two if possible).

[ernestoiidelacruz]

Thanks, after years of cluelesness, it's a relief to know that there is some people who understands this crisis within me. Huhuhu

[meandyourmom_]

I have RLS and it’s the w o r s t. I’m always up really late and usually when I sleep I listen to rain sounds on my phone, so by the time I’m finished with my legs either my headphones died, or the video ended. I wish it would go Away

[georgecaballero]

I usaully get it when I don’t get much sleep the night before and it’s always my right leg. It’s more annoying than painful! 🙄

[Kevinegan]

People who have never had RLS cannot imagine how horrible it is. I've had my left foot smashed off and reattached and I would rather go through that ordeal again rather than suffer from RLS. God only knows how many have died due to the consequences of RLS. When the prickly feeling it's just a matter of a few seconds before it explodes with an uncontrolled leg jerk that sends shockwaves over the whole left side of my body. I get it in the right leg sometimes but usually, it's the left that I get the worst of it. The only thing that stops it is Oxycodone 10-325. I've been taking Oxycodone, Morphine Sulfate and Tinazadine for the last 7 years for the pain in my left foot, left hip replacement, and back pain. I get a bonus taking the Oxy for my foot as it helps the RLS. But if it ever starts, it's a good two to six hours for even Oxy to stop it.

[lyricchesse]

If feel so weird when i stop moving my leg. 😔
Like i havee to move my leg.
If i don’t, it feels tingly

[teasip]

I have depression and insomnia so that’s probably why I have this too.
It’s just weird because my legs feel like they’re in pain but I’m not feeling it and I just can’t stop moving them around. Sometimes I just cry it’s so bad

[lariancroft]

I closed my eyes around 10PM to sleep earlier and now its 12:42AM here and I'm still awake because I have rls and I keep on shaking my leg and I can't fall asleep.