new to this site but not new to rls
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lizz
new to this site but not new to rls
Hello all, I'm new to the site but not new to rls. I've had it since I was litte. I use to ride horses and thought it was from riding. Then when I brought it to the attention to my mother the doctors told her it was growing pains. She didn't know better. The rls is progressing, it's "spreading" to my arms. I have this need to stretch them or "pop" my back. I didn't know it could spread until I looked on this site. I feel hopeless and alone. I'm now going to see a pain management doctor and I'm praying that he will help me. Can anyone give me suggestions on how to help this doctor help me? I'm just now beginning this hellish journey. I don't even want to go to bed anymore because I know wants going to happen. Last night I woke myself up several times, moaning or stretching. I'm a police officer and this lack of sleep will get me killed. Please help!
Well I would tell my family doctor whats going on and he will send you for a sleep test where they can count the amount of times you jerk and wake yourself up. I was considered severe rls as I jerk every 6mins in the the night and my brain was waking up at the same time. So from there they put me on mirapex however that made things worse so now I am on klonopin and everything seems to be settling down. But I would make a call to the family doc.
Jan 
Can't wait to sleep!
Can't wait to sleep!-
ViewsAskew
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Hi Lizz,
So sorry that it is progressing. I remember how horrid it was when it spread to my arms. IMHO, the best thing you can do it arm yourself with info, and you've come to the right place to do it.
http://beta.restlesslegs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=549
http://beta.restlesslegs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=94
These threads have great links of info you can take to your doctor to help him or her understand what the experts recommend.
jrowley makes good points. If you need to see a primary care doctor in order to see a specialist, make your appointment today and then take in the info you find in the above threads. If you can make appointments directly with a specialist, make one with a sleep doctor or a neurologist. If you can spend the time, calling them first is a good way to find out what they know and if they can help you. I used the list of doctors provided on this site, checked to see who my insurance would cover, and then called all of them and talked to their nurses. I explained how horrible my situation was and the nurses were very honest in helping my make a decision. Anywhere where they gave me a standard, "Of course he/she can help you," without providing any details about how he /she could help, I crossed the off the list. Good thing I live in a big city! At any rate, I'm going on and on, but finding the right doctor is essential and most of us find this can be a long process. Sometimes we think we have the right doctor and we don't and we have to find a new one.
I can't stress enough that knowing as much as you can will get you the best treatment. There are a lot of doctors that don't know as much and unless we know the cutting edge info, we can be taken down wrong paths and given medicine that can actually make the RLS worse.
Hope you'll stay around and get to know the group. The power of having us all here is pretty incredible.
Ann
So sorry that it is progressing. I remember how horrid it was when it spread to my arms. IMHO, the best thing you can do it arm yourself with info, and you've come to the right place to do it.
http://beta.restlesslegs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=549
http://beta.restlesslegs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=94
These threads have great links of info you can take to your doctor to help him or her understand what the experts recommend.
jrowley makes good points. If you need to see a primary care doctor in order to see a specialist, make your appointment today and then take in the info you find in the above threads. If you can make appointments directly with a specialist, make one with a sleep doctor or a neurologist. If you can spend the time, calling them first is a good way to find out what they know and if they can help you. I used the list of doctors provided on this site, checked to see who my insurance would cover, and then called all of them and talked to their nurses. I explained how horrible my situation was and the nurses were very honest in helping my make a decision. Anywhere where they gave me a standard, "Of course he/she can help you," without providing any details about how he /she could help, I crossed the off the list. Good thing I live in a big city! At any rate, I'm going on and on, but finding the right doctor is essential and most of us find this can be a long process. Sometimes we think we have the right doctor and we don't and we have to find a new one.
I can't stress enough that knowing as much as you can will get you the best treatment. There are a lot of doctors that don't know as much and unless we know the cutting edge info, we can be taken down wrong paths and given medicine that can actually make the RLS worse.
Hope you'll stay around and get to know the group. The power of having us all here is pretty incredible.
Ann