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. It is accompanied by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, particularly when at rest. Massaging, muscle stretching or bicycling the legs while in bed provides some relief, but that relief is short lived. The overwhelming urge to move the extremities returns quickly and an individual so afflicted gets up from bed and walks the floors for countless hours for relief.

It is unknown what triggers RLS, but half of all reported cases are thought to have a hereditary connection.

Leg cramps from statin drugs feel like a charley horse, a painful contraction of the hamstring muscle marked by soreness and stiffness.

Did you have your condition prior to taking statin drugs? Did you strain, stress or tear a muscle that coincidentally occurred at the same time as initiating the new drug? Before a firm diagnosis can be made, you should return to your physician and provide a complete picture. In that way, he or she can differentiate between possible RLS and a drug reaction. Should it be the drug, your doctor might choose other possible methods of control for your high readings or adding co-enzyme Q10 to your daily regimen. Make an appointment promptly and get to the bottom of this troubling condition.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Understanding Cholesterol” and “Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 for each report to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).

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.

DEAR READER:
Restless legs syndrome is not a side effect of simvastatin; however, all of your other symptoms were.

I have received several letters about side effects from statin drugs and doctors claiming that the statin was not blame. I find this astonishing, especially considering all the publicity and manufacturer’s warnings about these potentially serious side effects.

I am glad that you discovered the source of your pain but urge you to return to your physician to discuss other cholesterol lowering options. A low fat diet combined with flax seed oil, omega 3, or niacin may be an appropriate option. Adequate exercise can also aid you in this aspect.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Understanding Cholesterol”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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.

As an aside, I recently received a product in the mail called Wilcox Family Products Leg Cramp Relief. The manufacturer claims that after seeing first hand the benefits of soap-under-the-sheets, he wanted to know how it worked. He interviewed soap manufacturers and formulation specialists from across the country. He then began working with a specialized chemist (40 years experience in soap, cream and lotion). Together they isolated and concentrated the common soap ingredients found in the most beneficial brands.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the product or purchasing it should go online to www.WilcoxFamilyProducts.com. I will also say that I have no financial, personal or business interest in the company and was not paid in any way to promote it. I am simply mentioning it because I believe it may be of great interest and benefit to my readers.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies” and “Stroke”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 (per report) to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).

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.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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, I suggest you first discuss the dosage you were on with your primary care physician or rheumatologist. Cut the dose and perhaps you will benefit from the modification.

Massage therapy will certainly make you feel better and is worth a try. I suggest you find a therapist who has worked with other PMR or fibromylagia sufferers. You may wish to experiment with acupuncture. Be sure to find a certified individual who practices in a clean office and uses sterilized needles. If you don’t wish to be stuck with pins, you may prefer acupressure. This is similar to acupuncture but doesn’t involve needles, rather the therapist uses his or her hands to apply pressure to certain areas of the body believed to relieve pain, increase circulation and more.

Relief may be found with acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) that reduce swelling and pain. Unfortunately, most individuals do not respond well to this therapy and require prescription pain relievers such as Lyrica and steroids such as prednisone.

Modify your diet to include garlic, nuts, grapes, curry, cherries, omega 3’s, and green tea. All these items have been purported to relieve some forms of arthritis pain.

Formulate a plan of exercise. You might even ask your physician for an out-patient referral to a local physical therapy group at your nearest hospital or sports medicine center. By obtaining professional assistance, you will not overdo, but will be able to incorporate what will work best for the degree of PMR you have. Should you have access to a swimming pool, fitness center or YMCA in your area, water therapy is an excellent indulgence for individuals with arthritis pain. Water aerobics provide gentle range of motion exercise and provide relief for several days following therapy. You might consider a whirlpool mat in the bottom of your own bath tub where you can do limited exercise right at home.

Barring unknown medical problems, the above suggestions should work toward relieving the pain and suffering you are experiencing.

Because I am not familiar with the community in which you live, I recommend you contact the Arthritis Foundation toll free at 1-800-283-7800 or go online to www.arthritis.org to determine the nearest support group in your area.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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. Other options include drinking eight ounces of tonic water before bed and the soap-under-the-sheets trick.

I am curious to find out if others have tried this remedy so please write to me with your experiences, either good or bad. When I get enough responses I will follow up with a results column.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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.

Professional athletes know all this. That’s why Gatorade was invented.

DEAR READER:
Gatorade was formulated in 1965 to replenish nutrients lost during rigorous exercise and sweating. It replaces electrolytes and carbohydrates, as well as glucose.

Today, there are numerous electrolyte replacement products. Pedialyte is one such product that was specially formulated for children suffering from vomiting and/or diarrhea. Most chain retailers now make store brand equivalents for both children and adults.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) has no identifiable origin and may result from multiple causes and mechanisms. It is an extremely complex disorder that can reflect, among other possibilities, a dopamine deficiency. RLS can be triggered by certain drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and physical trauma. If it were relieved by as simple a thing as Gatorade or other electrolyte replacement drink, I would be rather surprised and am sure the manufacturer would be elated. Nonetheless, if a reader is pacing the floors at an ungodly hour, it will do no harm to try your suggestion. I’d be grateful for comments.

I would like to reiterate the fact that Gatorade can only be useful once a cramp has started, whereas the soap-under-the-sheet trick can prevent the cramp. It would seem to me that soap is still a superior option for those suffering nocturnal leg cramps because sleep won’t be interrupted at all for most individuals.

If you would like to know more about RLS I recommend the book “Restless Legs Syndrome” by Robert Yoakum. In it the author discusses relief and hope for sleepless victims. It is available through most book stores, online or can be special ordered if your bookstore doesn’t have it in stock.

Maybe one of your readers has a suggestion regarding this dilemma.

DEAR READER:
Requip is a dopamine agonist. It is used for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome.

Requip is associated with a long list of side effects, including confusion, depression, trouble concentrating, and memory loss. If you are experiencing memory loss because of the medication, I urge you to stop taking it and make an appointment with your physician. Discuss your symptoms and concerns that the Requip was the cause. He or she may wish to send you to a neurologist for further testing to rule out another cause, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus or dementia caused by a vitamin deficiency. If your memory loss is truly a result of the Requip, you should see results within a few days or weeks after stopping it.

To the best of my knowledge there are no other approved medications for RLS. However, some of my readers have had great success using quinine. Quinine is a common ingredient in tonic water. Eight ounces before bed should provide results. If it does not, you may wish to try my soap-under-the-sheets therapy. This only works for some RLS sufferers. (It works better for nocturnal leg cramps.)

If your RLS symptoms are truly bothersome and interrupt your sleep several times a night, I suggest you see your primary care physician. He or she may know of some other treatment options of which I am unaware.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

A consultation with a neurologist, that resulted in prescriptions for clonazepam and carbidopa/levadopa used for Parkinson’s (which I don’t have), did not help. Several other doctors had nothing to suggest.

My own research led me to try calcium and magnesium, both at 200 mg per day. This did not completely stop the shakes, but greatly reduced them.

Finally a friend suggested taking three hawthorn berry capsules a day — the product is known as a heart tonic. Within two days the severe symptoms were gone and except for three or four minor episodes, there have been no problems now for six weeks. The relief is absolutely wonderful, and the solution is so simple!

I hope mainstream medicine will do more to learn about and promote nutritional approaches to our health problems and let “food be our medicine and our medicine be our food”

DEAR READER:
During my medical training, both in medical school and later in my residency, I was not exposed to alternative therapy because it was considered to be nonsense, dangerous and a money maker for phony medical practices.

In my 40 years of medical practice, I have had to change my orientation about alternative therapy because 1.) it sometimes works and 2.) many patients prefer it to the expensive, prescription alternatives so popular among physicians.

This is the reason I publish such therapies; in a sense, my readers are the subjects of a larger study, and this gives me some perspective on the success of various alternative therapies.

Such is the case with your experience with hawthorn berry curing restless legs syndrome. Do I believe this viewpoint? Let’s just say I’m skeptical. Nonetheless, I am willing to give it merit because if it works, it would be a tremendous help for hundreds of tired and discouraged RLS patients. There is no harm here (to the best of my knowledge), and the products are reasonably priced.

So with this lengthy explanation, I will now keep quiet until I receive some feedback from other readers. Thanks for writing.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.