I have only recently begun to realise that what I have is RLS. I ended up ill health retired on Skye because 7 years ago increasing back problems finally ended my working days. I must have started getting restless legs maybe 10 or more years ago but recently it has become a very serious problem and I don't know the cause. I have mentioned it to my doctor many times but probably not in the right context; I believed that it might have been happening because of gaps in pain medication coverage. I am type 2 diabetic, not very well controlled, and suffer from high blood pressure which is very well controlled. My main problem is two prolapsed discs, one cervical and one lumbar together with osteophytic growths crushing my lumbar nerves and a spodylolisthesis. My leg muscles are wasting and weak and I get fasciculation in the calf muscles. I am currently waiting for the Aberdeen neurosurgeons to talk me into a decompression on the cervical prolapse. I take 250mg of Tramadol a day for the pain (nothing else works) and to complicate matters missing a couple of doses will cause somewhat similar withdrawal symptoms.
I'm hoping that the neurosurgeons are going to take an interest in the RLS but I would really like to engage the interest of my GP without him thinking that here is another hypochondriac. All suggestions gratefully received.
My RLS has recently become much more severe involving my arms fully. I'm losing an awful lot of sleep, frequently unable to get to sleep until 5 in the morning. The only sure fire way of stopping it, and I'm not telling my doctor this, is to take a slow release Tramadol capsule pour out the contents and chew them up. Don't try this at home children. After about an hour all the symptoms stop but I'm like a zombie the next morning
Reading through some of the descriptions on various sites convinced me of what the problem is. While watching telly at night in my recliner I'm thrashing my legs back and forward and in bed I'm having a fully fledged dance session waving my arms about as well. The weird sensation inside my arms are sometimes so bad I wish I could stick my arm in a garden shredder. I guess you know all this. The sleep deprivation is making me very dopey in the daytime robbing me of all the pleasure that the Tramadol has not already taken away and making it even more difficult to take care of my 92 year old mother who moved here with me. My relationship with my partner is taking a battering as well.
Well, now that I've thoroughly depressed you all I'd better shut up but, seriously, all suggestions gratefully received.
