Fibromyalgia and Restless Legs

[Guest guest]

Since I also have Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder or

Willis-Ekbom Disease as they are both now called, I belong to the RLS support

group too. They are having a discussion about people having fibromyalgia being

more prone to having RLS also. I was wondering how many of our members also have

it.

According to Wikipedia, “Willis-Ekbom disease is a neurological disorder

characterized by an irresistible urge to move one’s body to stop uncomfortable

or odd sensations. It most commonly affects the legs, but can affect the arms,

torso, and even phantom limbs. Moving the affected body part modulates the

sensations, providing temporary relief. RLS sensations could be pain, an aching,

an itching or tickling in the muscles, like ‘an itch you can’t scratch’ or

an unpleasant ‘tickle that won’t stop’, or even a ‘crawling’ feeling.

The sensations typically begin or intensify during quiet wakefulness, such as

when relaxing, reading, studying, or trying to sleep. In addition, most

individuals with RLS have limb jerking during sleep, which is an objective

physiologic marker of the disorder and is associated with sleep disruption.â€

Of course some of the same drugs that are used for Fibromyalgia will also help

with RLS, but if you have or have had any of the above symptoms you may still be

considered as having Willis-Ekbom Disese. It can also run in families. I

remember my mother complaining about feeling as though ants were crawling up and

down her legs. Like Fibromyalgia, it also seems to affect more women than men

although men can have it too. And yes there are now a couple of drugs for it,

but you need to have your doctor refer you to a neurologist to be diagnosed.

So, do you have this, whether you’ve been diagnosed or not?

Judy H

To Health Through Knowledge

Started taking Low Dose Naltrexone on January 20, 2009 for

Fibromyalgia, Restless Legs Syndrome, Hashimotos Thyroid and PCOS

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LDNforFibro/