Assume Everyone has Seen Stories about Masturbation?

Please share your experiences, successes, and failures in using non-drug therapies for RLS/WED (methods of relief that don't involve swallowing or injecting anything), including compression, heat, light, stretches, acupuncture, etc. Also under this heading, medical interventions that don't involve the administration of a medicine to the body (eg. varicose-vein operations, deep-brain stimulation). [This forum contains Topics started prior to 2009 that deal with Non-prescription Medicines, Supplements, & Diet.]
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doety
Posts: 486
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:25 pm

Assume Everyone has Seen Stories about Masturbation?

Post by doety »

Google "Masturbation and Restless Legs Syndrome" and you will find an amazing number of stories just out about this.
The first one I saw (after ALL my friends emailed me):



Apparently, being master of your domain isn't all that it's hyped up to be.

Researchers say that for sufferers of the neurological disorder restless legs syndrome, a little self-pleasure could be just what the doctor ordered.

In a recent letter published by the medical journal Sleep Medicine, Luis Marin and colleagues at the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, report the case of a patient who, with masturbation and sexual intercourse, eased the symptoms of his RLS.

"The patient reported that he would get complete relief from RLS symptoms, granting him normal sleep following sexual intercourse or masturbation," the letter read.

RLS is characterized by the constant urge to move the limbs. It afflicts, to varying degrees, between 7 and 10 percent of Americans and Europeans.

California-based sleep specialist and RLS expert Dr. Mark Buchfuhrer says he's encountered at least one to two dozen similar cases -- and estimates that possibly "10 times as many" of his own patients, not surprisingly, decline to discuss their masturbation-induced relief.

But he also cautions against over-reacting to a single case study.

"Since we don't know what causes restless legs, it's very hard to speculate what makes it better," Buchfuhrer told AOL News.

One possible explanation, according to the letter, is that the chemical release of dopamine in the brain triggered by masturbation and sexual intercourse could ease the symptoms, an idea that Buchfuhrer has briefly discussed in his own writings.

"The theory that the release of dopamine with orgasm helps is a very good one and may even be the correct one," Buchfuhrer said. "I'd say that's a very reasonable and plausible theory, but it's no more than a theory."

In fact, the only two drugs currently approved for treating RLS are Mirapex and Requip, both of which are dopamine-based.

Buchfuhrer says he has also encountered cases when masturbation and sexual activity have caused negative effects for RLS patients. So while the dopamine theory is a good one, the five-knuckle shuffle is probably unlikely to catch on as the latest RLS wonder treatment.

As the doctor put it, "It's not something I routinely ask about."

badnights
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Location: Northwest Territories, Canada

Post by badnights »

I saw that letter in Sleep Medicine. For those interested:
Sexual intercourse and masturbation: Potential relief factors for
restless legs syndrome?
To the Editor:
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a distressing neurologic condition
characterized by urgency to move the legs usually associated
with unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs. The symptoms are
worst at night and at rest, and patients must move their legs or
walk to get relief from their symptoms [1]. Herein, we report a
41-year-old man with a history of severe RLS for 10 years causing
him difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. He fulfilled the four
essential criteria established by the International RLS Study Group
and he scored 32 in the International RLS Rating Scale [2]. The patient
reported that he would get complete relief from RLS symptoms,
granting him a normal sleep following sexual intercourse
or masturbation. Pramipexole was introduced 2 h before bedtime
with significant improvement of RLS symptoms, but whenever
he was without medication, he returned to sexual behavior to
get relief from RLS symptoms.
There are anecdotal reports that sexual activity and orgasm
may relieve RLS symptoms, although in some cases sexual activity
may worsen RLS [3]. One may speculate that the release of orgasmrelated
dopamine and opioid may play a role in the relief of RLS
symptoms [4]. Additionally, there is a previous report of a RLS patient
showing repetitive, rhythmic pelvic body movements resembling
coital behavior at the wake–sleep transition [5].
Conflicts of Interest
The ICMJE Uniform Disclosure Form for Potential Conflicts of
Interest associated with this article can be viewed by clicking on
the following link: doi: doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2011.01.001.
References
[1] Trenkwalder C, Paulus W, Walters AS. The restless legs syndrome. Lancet Neurol
2005;4:465–75.
[2] Allen RP, Picchietti D, Hening WA, Trenkwalder C, Walters AS, Montplaisir J.
Restless legs syndrome: diagnostic criteria, special considerations, and
epidemiology. A report from the restless legs syndrome diagnosis and
epidemiology workshop at the National Institutes of Health. Sleep Med
2003;4:101–19.
[3] Hening WA, Buchfuhrer MJ, Lee HB. In: Clinical management of restless legs
syndrome. West Islip, NY: Professional Communications, Inc.; 2008.
[4] Schenck CH, Arnulf I, Mahowald MW. Sleep and sex: what can go wrong? A
review of the literature on sleep related disorders and abnormal sexual
behaviors and experiences. Sleep 2007;30:668–702.
[5] Lombardi C, Provini F, Vetrugno R, Plazzi G, Lugaresi E, Montagna P. Pelvic
movements as rhythmic motor manifestation associated with restless legs
syndrome. Mov Disord 2003;18:103–10.
Luis F. Marin

André C. Felicio
Gilmar F. Prado
Neuro-Sono Sleep Center, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery,
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
⇑ Corresponding author. Address: Rua Claudio Rossi,
394, Postal Code 01547-000, Sao Paulo/SP,
Brazil.
Tel./fax: +55 11 50816629
E-mail address: luisfabianom@gmail.com (L.F. Marin

Betty/WV
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Location: West Virginia, Wild and Wonderful

Post by Betty/WV »

bethf: Hmmmm------very interesting article.

BETTY/WV
Thanks to rls.org, I have learned so much about my condition. I have received encouragement from my friends here. This is a site I can come to when I am up most of the night, and I vent, and know those who read my messages understand

johnnyo66
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:43 am

Post by johnnyo66 »

Yeah, I saw that aritcle too. The explanation made sense, especially when mentioning that the natural release of Dopamine (sp?) is simaliar to the dopamine found in meds like Requip. Sex always made me sleepy afterwards, so sounds like another good reason for it! :D

Rubyslipper
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Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 2:53 am
Location: Missouri

Post by Rubyslipper »

You know, if it works for him or others--great. This is ONE man, no matter how many others tell their doctors this works. I'm NOT knocking anyone for trying. However, because one person chose to let this be published, the rest of us have to suffer with the jokes and put-downs. If this was a real study that found across the board people could ease RLS by this method, then I wouldn't be fussing. As it is, it's just another chance to make fun of RLS.
You've always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself! (Glinda of Oz)

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Kimberly
Posts: 79
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:06 am
Location: Columbus, Ohio

Re: Assume Everyone has Seen Stories about Masturbation?

Post by Kimberly »

doety wrote:
Buchfuhrer says he has also encountered cases when masturbation and sexual activity have caused negative effects for RLS patients. So while the dopamine theory is a good one, the five-knuckle shuffle is probably unlikely to catch on as the latest RLS wonder treatment.

As the doctor put it, "It's not something I routinely ask about."


OK, I'll admit.....without exception, makes my RLS/PLMW worse!

Polar Bear
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Location: United Kingdom

Post by Polar Bear »

Me too. Makes mine worse.

Symptoms cease as soon as 'activity' begins, but return immediately afterwards.
Betty
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation

Andreadrea
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:30 am

Post by Andreadrea »

Works about 1/10th of the time for me. I WISH it was that easy!

Betty/WV
Posts: 587
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 11:11 pm
Location: West Virginia, Wild and Wonderful

Post by Betty/WV »

Relaxes me.
Thanks to rls.org, I have learned so much about my condition. I have received encouragement from my friends here. This is a site I can come to when I am up most of the night, and I vent, and know those who read my messages understand

badnights
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Location: Northwest Territories, Canada

Post by badnights »

Sometimes I think WED symptoms can include arousal.
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.

Lil72Shasta
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:42 am

Post by Lil72Shasta »

Gives relief at the time and then symptoms rapidly return. Thought I might be over sexed for years but now recognize it is part of WED

Rubyslipper
Posts: 992
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 2:53 am
Location: Missouri

Post by Rubyslipper »

At least it works for some people! As with everything else and WED, what works for some doesn't for others.
You've always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself! (Glinda of Oz)

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