Summary: Tonight on Beating Neuropathy & Chronic Pain, we'll discuss Restless Legs Syndrome, or RLS. RLS affects middle-aged and older people and can result from several underlying causes. Some of these include kidney disease, iron deficiency, Parkinson's disease, spinal problems, pregnancy, or either not enough or too much physical activity. It can also be the result of withdrawal from certain drugs, including caffeine. Often, RLS is associated with patients who have peripheral neuropathy. RLS symptoms occur when one is at rest (sitting or lying down) and can manifest as sensations of pain, discomfort, pulling, and so on. These feelings can usually be immediately alleviated by walking around. These symptoms can also occur occasionally in someone who is dehydrated or low in magnesium. As with neuropathy patients, it is important to determine the underlying cause because it could be serious. If laboratory tests are not definitive, a trend in past tests can be observed. Drugs such as Requip/Ropineral can help with RLS symptoms. Patients who are more fit, in general, are less likely to get RLS. Stretching, massage, and yoga can be beneficial. Warm baths with epsom salts can be helpful as well. Supplementing with oral magnesium malate is also indicated with a physician's consent. We welcome suggestions for our future shows at Beating Neuropathy on Facebook. Please post any questions or comments there. Thank you for listening!
