Deborah J. Ross (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
deborahjross) wrote2009-11-05 06:50 pm
deborahjross) wrote2009-11-05 06:50 pm
Restless leg adventures
Since my 20s, I have had what I now know is Restless Leg Syndrome. At first, my doc didn't know what it was -- had to look it up in a book. It was called "tibialis anticus" or something like that. Now it's much better understood. We know it's not due to a calcium deficiency, or lack of exercise, or too much exercise, or dehydration or anything like that. Some cases are caused by low iron, not detected by your usual CBC, but requiring a serum ferritin test. In my case, it's most likely familial. Sorry, kids.
For those who've never had the pleasure of the experience, it feels like a crawling feeling under the skin, gradually intensifying and relieved only by moving the entire limb. Over the years, the episodes got more frequent, longer in duration and intensity. For a long time, there was no treatment. I'd haul myself out of bed, move around, do toe raises (I had incredibly strong calves as a result), sometimes take a hot bath. Eventually, when it was keeping me up for hours every night, I tried clonazepam (generic Klonopin), which knocked me out but really didn't do anything about the creepy-crawlies. I'd just sleep through them... until they got too intense.
Earlier this year, my doc (not the one from years ago and cities long past) and I decided to try the current therapies. As I said, we've come a long way in understanding RLS. It's a movement disorder, not muscular, so you target the central nervous system. The first line of treatment are a class of drugs called dopamine agonists. They also work for Parkinson's disease.
They worked for my RLS. Alas, they also gave me terrible insomnia, which rather defeated the purpose. We went through 3 of them, and the best result I got was 2 or 3 days of no crawlies, then a night or two of no sleep. So, off I go to the local sleep specialist.
Now I'm trying gabapentin (generic Neurontin). In research trials, it did as well as the dopamine agonists. I took my first dose last night and had not a twitch. However... both doc and pharmacist warned me I might be a little groggy until my body adjusted. Groggy is not the word. Stoned comes much closer. Apparently (according to beloved spouse) I am bubbly, talkative, and rather less inhibited socially. If this goes on, things could get interesting. I know I'm not safe to drive, so I do hope it wears off. Meanwhile, I'm ... um... enjoying life.
For those who've never had the pleasure of the experience, it feels like a crawling feeling under the skin, gradually intensifying and relieved only by moving the entire limb. Over the years, the episodes got more frequent, longer in duration and intensity. For a long time, there was no treatment. I'd haul myself out of bed, move around, do toe raises (I had incredibly strong calves as a result), sometimes take a hot bath. Eventually, when it was keeping me up for hours every night, I tried clonazepam (generic Klonopin), which knocked me out but really didn't do anything about the creepy-crawlies. I'd just sleep through them... until they got too intense.
Earlier this year, my doc (not the one from years ago and cities long past) and I decided to try the current therapies. As I said, we've come a long way in understanding RLS. It's a movement disorder, not muscular, so you target the central nervous system. The first line of treatment are a class of drugs called dopamine agonists. They also work for Parkinson's disease.
They worked for my RLS. Alas, they also gave me terrible insomnia, which rather defeated the purpose. We went through 3 of them, and the best result I got was 2 or 3 days of no crawlies, then a night or two of no sleep. So, off I go to the local sleep specialist.
Now I'm trying gabapentin (generic Neurontin). In research trials, it did as well as the dopamine agonists. I took my first dose last night and had not a twitch. However... both doc and pharmacist warned me I might be a little groggy until my body adjusted. Groggy is not the word. Stoned comes much closer. Apparently (according to beloved spouse) I am bubbly, talkative, and rather less inhibited socially. If this goes on, things could get interesting. I know I'm not safe to drive, so I do hope it wears off. Meanwhile, I'm ... um... enjoying life.
no subject
I'm on 300 mg at bedtime, and for the last 2 nights slept so peacefully I've been able to cut way back on my other bedtime meds.
The goal -- oh hope! -- is to control the restless leg crap enough so that I can stop taking the PTDS sleep meds and sleep naturally. I've been on and off them and always sleep and dream better when off. It's always a matter of tapering and re-learning how to signal my body it's time to sleep.
no subject
The back, btw, with which you are somewhat personally familiar (what a way for us to meet! lol - still remember that?) is slowly getting crankier and crankier with degenerative disc disease, but so far the bulging discs haven't entirely prolapsed yet. One of them is on the edge, so we're keeping an eye on it. I'm very lucky that Dartmouth's facility (about 2 hours north of us) has an excellent neurosurgeon, whom I've met -- love her -- in case that does ever happen. In the meantime ... it's back to the chiropractor for me. (Ah, a neurosurgeon who recommends chiropracty -- don't you love it!)
no subject
Your neurosurgeon sounds like a true gem.