RLS: words/cures...Jeff

[Guest guest]

You guys are great! I know I sound nit picky about words, sometimes, but

when we pay a little attention to how we use them, we realize how we are

all coming from different places with different reasons and experiences.

There have been some real interesting discussions, lately.

Through some nice emails with Connie...she and I discussed what we meant by

" cure " . We were using it totally differently. If I remember right...she

meant " something that would prevent RLS for most people in most situations " .

I was meaning, " something that would work for myself, when my RLS showed

up " . I realized that I wasn't even thinking in terms of never having RLS.

It's always been here for me. It would be like trying to never sneeze

again....no...worse than that. I have RLS more often than I sneeze. LOL

I think Eugenia described what I look for.... " ways to live with this

condition " . And I'm NOT saying I'm right! I'm thrilled that other

people are looking for the other definition...the cure that will make RLS

obsolete.

Another huge difference I've seen this week, as a result of some questions

I posed, is how people take meds and what their purpose is. This may

relate back to asking whether we are trying to " cure " it, or " cure it " ?

Are we trying to deal with it when it shows up? Or are we trying to

prevent it from ever showing up.

Hal touched on it, in his letter. He'd like to take meds intermittently,

rather than constantly, for several reasons. But I've learned that for

some people, there aren't any periods in the day or night when they could

make it without help. We're all so different. The important thing is to

think about this stuff and get to know yourself and what YOU are looking

for. I've been surprised at the numbers of people who have RLS so

constantly, that they are looking for a treatment that will keep it from

ever showing up again, because it's so awful or ruinous of their lifestyle

when it appears. That is much different than someone who is free of it 80%

of the time, but has to be able to get to sleep at night (and that's when

it shows up)...or has to get through a plane trip (also when it shows

up)....but that doesn't really need meds for the rest of the time, because

the RLS just isn't there.

Yea...we're all different. But we're finding common ground and growing and

learning from it. I, for one, really appreciate the sharing.

Jeff...as for your question, whether anyone has found a cure through

natural methods....keeping in mind my own definition of cure...well...darn

it...I can't really answer that. LOL However, I can say that after 40

years, my RLS was the worse ever and getting worse by the day, last

January. I was not getting to sleep, or being awakened by it, and feeling

pain in both legs and arms DAILY. That's when I found the RLS foundation

site and this group, and started observing myself and putting together

treatments, or " tricks " as I call them...which I posted on my website. I

still haven't used any prescribed medicines, but now, ten months later....I

get to sleep and sleep very well hmmmmm....probably at least 5 nights a

week. The worst I've had is a 2-3 night spell of bad nights where I might

just get 2-3 hrs and full panic sets in. And for the last month, since

I've been experimenting with DHA/Neuromins....my calm periods have been

noticeably calmer than ever. I've been watching TV, reading in bed at

night *gasp*, and agreeing to let other people drive on long driving trips.

So...cure? Ehhhhh, probably not. But I've definitely used natural

methods to deal with it very effectively.

How's that for two cents?

And...one more thing...I've also learned that what I've been able to do,

has not been easy to learn or apply. It takes major mental energy and

determination...and not everyone has enough of that left, after having

dealt with more severe and constant pain, and losing so much sleep. Others

also don't have the time or flexibility to put up with several nights of

lost sleep and still be able to function at a job. So, I'm blessed...but

not any better than anyone else.

Jill, 46

Payson, AZ

http://www.netzone.com/~gunzel/rls.html