Response to Dr. Meadow's letter

[Guest guest]

I just had to respond to Dr. Meadows letter.

>The clinical studies do not support the current theories of neurological

causation but do support the principles of Ekbom that RLS is primarily a

vascular problem.

That's interesting - what studies are these? It is interesting to note

that the vascular system is run by the Autonomic Nervous System - back to

the nervous system again.

>I don't want to impose myself on the group, but, without trying to be

offensive, it is obvious that many of you have very little knowledge of the

multiple previous studies that have been done. Please let me know if you

don't want me to stay in the group.

Again, I would love to see the studies and don't take this group too

seriously. We just don't respond well to people who think they are the

only ones that have an answer. What works for one person in this group

will not work for another. We as a group have been jerked around a lot.

Personallly, I think everyone should question their answers.

> summary of some of the arguments against a neurological origin. Reasons

why restless legs is not of neurological origin, but vascular

> Some people are relieved by vasodilators

My mom was helped in the past when she was mild, by niacinmide, I am not.

> Stopping vasodilators makes the symptoms worse. Giving vasoconstrictors

makes the symptoms worse.

Stopping didn't make my mom's symptoms worse, it stopped helping. The

symptoms were the same.

> A reduction in physical activity relieves symptoms overnight in many.

Pregnant women who are put on bed rest in the third trimester usually get

relief

Drove my mom crazy to have to be on bed rest. I didn't have RLS during

pregnancy.

> After delivery, 94 of 97 women obtained complete relief most in 10 days.

For one thing, the pelvic ligaments loosen during pregnancy and of course

delivery. They tighten up afterwards - many women have low back problems

for a week or two after delivery, sometimes longer. It takes 6 weeks for

the ligaments to tighten up completely. In this group many women stopped

the RLS after the pregnancy was over but had reoccurances in their later

years. Has a study followed those 94 women for many years later to see if

they started to have RLS again?

> At least 15% of sufferers have spontaneous remissions, frequently of a

month or more. When symptoms occur, physical activity usually gives

temporary relief.

I have very mild RLS also. I used to have no problems at all for 3 weeks

out of the month, then along with my cycle, I would have RLS. Now, in my

later years, I have symptoms most days, still mild, worse during my cycle.

Exercise helps.

> Symptoms can be improved by a long-term exercise program.

It does help when I exercise regularly.

> Symptoms are made worse by alcohol, and smoking and relieved by stopping

smoking and reducing the alcoholic intake.

Alcohol helps me but I am very, very careful not to abuse it. This group

is full of ex-acoholics. I don't smoke but my mom did at one time. I will

have to ask her if it helped.

> Symptoms are made worse by and can be caused by caffeine, and improve

when the caffeine is stopped.

This one made me laugh. Caffeine makes me worse and will keep me awake at

night, but it helps my mom. She drinks caffeine at night to sleep. I

didn't realize how common this difference was until I joined this group.

> People with mild restless legs get symptoms only after strenuous exercise.

> Symptoms are worse after a physically tiring day

Strenuous exercise helps me. I am better after a long day on my feet

though stress on the job makes me worse.

> RLS is associated with microemboli to the lungs and to the legs.

This is scary. Has there been a study done with strokes and TIAs?

> Why does iron deficiency anemia make the symptoms worse in some people

but 75% of people with iron deficiency do not have RLS.

I would like to see this study also. How long were these people followed,

what were their ages? I was a very anemic child with no problems with RLS.

I really didn't develop RLS until I was in my 40s (possibly after a back

injury though I have a hereditary factor) but I have always been careful to

keep my iron levels up because I have been a regular blood donor (O neg,

CMV neg - perfect for transfusions for babies). Was there any attempt to

see what their hereditary factor for RLS was?

So, I think you have brought up some interesting points. I would love to

see the studies. Hang in there with us. We love new information.

Lee, PT

51 and in Citrus Heights, CA