Anonymous wrote:
But I was struck by the fact that you did not seem to have received any opioids (unless I missed some of them). If one ignores the prejudice of the doctors against them, they can be useful in otherwise hopeless cases.
You did not mention pain. And only lately they admit that pain can be associated with RLS (except that early publication in 1695 ), but they did not call it RLS then.
"Anonymous" is actually our friend Mr Owl and the original post can be found on page 1 of the "self diagnosed" thread under this subject header.
I am wondering about the actual defintion of Pain in assocation with RLS. I have read in both medical articles and personal posts that people have pain with their RLS.
Is the definition of RLS pain that of pain from symptoms that are actually painful/causing pain ???
or
Is the definition of RLS pain that of pain which is a direct result/consequence of the actions taken to relieving the symptoms???
For me, my RLS symptoms themselves are not "painful" (i.e. the feelings don't hurt) they are more "excruitiatingly frustrating" or frustrating to the point of madness because I cannot relieve the symptoms.
I consider the pain I have to be more of a direct consequence of the actions I have taken to relieve the pain e.g. "normal" leg pain from walking for "miles", knotted and tender muscles from hours of stretching, constantly aching hips from all the exercise, lower back pain from putting myself in awkward positions to stretch, etc etc. I also get pain in my fingers and toes, however that is a result of my RLS exacerbating my Raynauds.
I honestly don't rate my pain factor very high, even though it is almost constant. The most intense, indescribable, unforgettable pain I have ever experienced was when I had a meningitis-type virus in 2001. I have also been through more than my fair share of surgery in my life so my benchmark for pain could be considered pretty high.
Would I benefit from an opiod.....I really don't know.
To date, I have survived with over-the-counter pain meds that include a small amount of codeine.
If you have not caught up with my other posts, my most recent neurologist visit was last Saturday (24.04.04). Opiods were not even mentioned despite the fact that I mentioned the pain in my muscles, hips, back, fingers & toes. My neuro had a hard enough time prescribing me a sedative back in January (and an ultra-weak one at that); so my chances of even talking him into an opiod just yet don't seem too hopeful.
The other neuro i'm going to see on May 21st might have a different opinion. We shall just have to wait and see.
Can anyone tell me if their symptoms ARE painful?
Does anyone just have pain as a direct result of trying to relieve their symptoms?
Do I sound confused? Yup Is it past my bedtime? Yup
Any thoughts/comments would be most appreciated
Sweet dreams to you all
Nadia