Will expensive light therapy help RLS?

June 28, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 74-year-old male with severe RLS and have been taking Mirapex and gabapentin, which do an acceptable job of controlling the symptoms. Since I’d prefer not to take medication, I am wondering about pulsed infrared light therapy. A chiropractor claims that my problem might be caused by small fiber neuropathy and that PILT has proven 90% effective in treating such problems. It’s an expensive treatment not covered by insurance and I’m having trouble finding any evidence that it can work. Can you offer any insight?

DEAR READER: As a reference for those unfamiliar with restless legs syndrome (RLS), it is a disorder characterized by an almost uncontrollable urge to move the feet and legs that commonly occurs during periods of inactivity. [Read more...]

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RLS and leg cramps aren’t the same

April 23, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I just finished reading your article about RLS and at the end you mention leg cramps as they are the same as RLS. I am puzzled about this because I suffer from severe nighttime leg and foot cramps which haven’t been helped with soap-under-the-sheets. I never think of my cramps as RLS but as a separate condition. Is this correct or are they the same?

My doctor put me on a magnesium supplement which seems to have lessened the frequency but not the duration of the cramps. He did this after looking at my electrolytes.

I am 82 years young, get enough exercise, don’t smoke and drink one glass of wine a day. I am also on Losartin and HCTZ for a high blood pressure, simvastatin and thyroid medication as well as vitamins and calcium. [Read more...]

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RLS sufferer looks for relief

January 10, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I need help solving my restless legs syndrome. I have been trying numerous things and nothing is working. I have been on two different medications and I have seen a neurologist. What do I do next? I can’t handle not sleeping. I haven’t slept well in the last five days. Last night I was awake from 2 am on. I tried different positions with pillows. Nighttime medication (Tylenol PM, Advil PM, cough medicine, etc.) just makes it so much worse. Please help!

DEAR READER: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) can be one of the most frustrating conditions known to man. I have written about it several times in the past with the most recent article being found here: http://askdrgottmd.com/restless-legs-syndrome-responds-to-calcium/.
[Read more...]

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Is It Really Restless Legs Syndrome?

February 25, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I read your article about statin drugs and their effect. My question is what, if any, drugs can cause restless leg syndrome? I’m currently taking a cholesterol-lowering medication and wonder if that is the reason for my discomfort.

Your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

DEAR READER:
As I have indicated numerous times in the past, almost every drug, even over-the-counter aspirin, carries side effects for some individuals. You don’t indicate what medications, other than your cholesterol-lowering drug, you may be on. Most major brands of cholesterol lowering medications can cause serious muscle pain and/or leg cramps.

Now we can approach the next issue. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is characterized as an uneasiness, fatiguing, twitching, and itching deep in the muscles of the lower part of the leg. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 5, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
You have written several times about restless legs syndrome but I feel you left out one very important thing. Were any of these people taking statin drugs?

I took simvastatin for four years. After about two years, I started having a slight weakness and muscle pain in my left leg. I talked to my doctor about whether the statin was to blame and he said no. The pain got worse and I started having restless legs syndrome and cramps at night in my left leg. The weakness progressed to the point that I had to hold on to a railing to climb stairs. When it got to the point that I couldn’t depress the clutch pedal in my stick shift truck I stopped the simvastatin without my doctor’s approval. One month later the weakness, pain, cramps and restless legs syndrome were gone. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

September 3, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am an 87-year-old female. June 2007 I had a very bad stroke and am now in a rehab facility because my left side is paralyzed. I have Restless Legs Syndrome. Requip no longer works, I get little sleep and it is driving me nuts. A friend told me you had a soap remedy which might help me. I am counting on you!

DEAR READER:
The soap-under-the-sheets remedy was originally sent to me as a cure for night-time leg cramps but since then many RLS sufferers have also found relief using it. It does not work for everyone but it is worth a shot. Simply place a bar of soap under the bottom sheet of your bed near your legs. That is it. Many individuals have also found that if they have a problem while not in bed, putting soap in their socks or rubbing liquid soap directly onto their legs also reduces pain. Let me know if it works. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

August 5, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’ve had restless legs syndrome for almost four years. After many medications failed, my wife bought Bigeloil gel, a veterinary aid, from our local co-op. When I use it, the jerking stops immediately. It’s good for minor arthritis and sore muscles, too.

DEAR READER:
This is one product I’ve never heard of, but I will pass it along for what it is worth.

Other aids for pain include Castiva in a warming or cooling form that contains capsaicin and is a topical ointment for arthritis relief, topical castor oil, Hawthorne berry, omega 3 oil, and purple grape juice and pectin. Thank you for your tip. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

July 4, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a lot of health problems. One is polymyalgia that makes me stiff and in a lot of pain. I’ve taken prednisone but the side effects were terrible, so I stopped that drug.

I have sleep apnea. During my sleep test, they discovered my restless legs syndrome. I now take Mirapex and Clonazepam and that is controlled.

Would massage therapy be helpful in reducing my pain and stiffness? Also, I’d like to know if there’s a support group I could attend in my area with people who have these same symptoms.

DEAR READER:
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an autoimmune disorder that causes stiffness and pain in the muscles of the hips, neck and shoulders. The disorder occurs most often in women and in the elderly.

If you are willing to try prednisone again, [Read more...]

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Daily Column

July 1, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I don’t remember where I read it, but a while ago I came across an article stating that dill pickles would relieve nocturnal leg cramps. Let me start by saying it works!

I have suffered from nighttime leg cramps all my life just like my mother before me. Before the pickles I had tried just about everything I could find but the only thing that worked was to jump out of bed once one started, stand on the affected leg and drink lots of water. Needless, to say it wasn’t exactly conducive to sleep and I often awoke feeling tired and irritable. Now all I do when I get a cramp is take one or two bites of a dill pickle and go back to bed. It works very quickly.

I hope this helps your other readers as much as it has helped me.

DEAR READER:
Dill pickles for nocturnal leg cramps is new to me. I have no idea how this would help relieve the pain of the cramps but if it works for you, stick with it. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

June 22, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would like to comment on the problem of severe nocturnal leg cramps. I was a victim myself until I found the solution, so I understand the misery and frustration cramps cause.

The activities of the day cause fatigue and perspiration, resulting in depletion of saline and other electrolytes from the bloodstream. Tired and sensitive leg muscles respond by cramping. The cure is simple. Replace the electrolytes!

As soon as the cramps begin, drink an entire glass of Gatorade and wait five minutes. If the cramps have not stopped, drink another glass of Gatorade, go back to bed, and enjoy a peaceful and painless sleep! Forget the soap and prescription drugs. I have a hunch that restless legs syndrome (RLS) will respond to this therapy as well. And, for Heaven’s sake, stop the quinine. I’ve been told it can be harmful.
[Read more...]

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