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Restless leg adventures
Nov. 5th, 2009 06:50 pmSince 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.
