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I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 5:30 pm
by stitch
I have posted about everything. But this time I have a real problem. My restless legs have been under control until this month. I had eye surgery on the 1st of February and three days later came down with shingles. Since then my legs have gone crazy. It is all day and I am wondering if it's the RX he gave me on the 7th. I didn't mention where the shingles are. the groin area and the doctor told me it was a bad case. The RX is Valacyclover HCL 1 gram. Is shingles tied into RLS in any way?

Re: I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 8:38 pm
by Polar Bear
Hello stitch - I have never heard of RLS and Shingles being tied in any way. The only slim connection I can think of is that I think Shingles can be inflammatory and also there may be inflammation with regard to triggering RLS symptoms.
I have heard that prednisone taken with an antiviral ( Valacyclovir) helps with the pain.

I hope your surgery was successful.

Re: I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 10:26 pm
by stitch
The surgery went fine but the shingles are not so good. I am still lots of pain and its in the groin area which is a very painful place to have shingles. I never thought about prednisone.

Re: I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 11:09 pm
by ViewsAskew
Oh, you poor thing. Ouch.

For me, whenever ANY sensation is around my torso or legs, it can set off RLS. When I am itchy, I ALWAYS get RLS symptoms immediately. Could be that this is what is happening.

Re: I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:29 am
by stitch
It is now after 4am and I am still up with one of the worse case of rest legs I have ever had. I can not keep my legs still. I want to go to sleep so bad/ Maybe tomorrow.

Re: I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:53 pm
by Polar Bear
It's a horrible position. To have had your rls under control up until a month ago, and now it's going haywire !!
Although there doesn't appear to be a connection with rls/shingles I had a quick google on your medication for shingles and found this
http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/valacyclovir/rls/
It isn't much, but does appear to be making comment albeit minor about the valacyclovir and RLS.
Is it possible to discuss an alternative medication for your shingles or another pain relieving med to take along with your valacyclovir. Just in case it could make a difference.

What is your treatment for your RLS. Could it need adjusted while you deal with your shingles?
I think a discussion with your GP may be needed.

Re: I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 7:34 pm
by Rustsmith
stitch, Polar Bear asks a very relevant question about what you are currently taking for your RLS. I did a quick look and found that gabapentin and Lyrica are both occasionally used to treat Shingles pain. Both of these drugs can also effective for the treatment of RLS and often are useful in allowing us to fall asleep. So a conversation with your doctor about adjusting your RLS meds to help with the shingles pain/itching would certainly seem to be warranted.

Re: I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:16 am
by badnights
stitch, I remember seeing posts from you way back

I take Valacyclovir 500 - 1000 mg daily for cold sores and haven't noticed any effect on my WED/RLS symptoms. The link Betty found says 6 out of 7,272 people taking Valacyclovir had RLS. This is much less RLS/WED than you'd find in the general population and half of it might be explained by the fact that 3 of the 6 people took Benadryl too.

I suspect that your RLS/WED will improve once the shingles are gone. (I hope, too). It's just a problem of getting enough sleep to heal the shingles! I like the gabapentin/pregabalin suggesion Steve gave you.

Re: I am not new here. Have posted for years under stitch.

Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:58 pm
by Yankiwi
RLS and shingles are both bad enough alone but together, it must be awful.
Just a note to everyone over 60--there is a vaccine to prevent shingles so if you have had chicken pox, contact your GP or family doctor to get a vaccination. Stress can trigger shingles and RLS is very stressful.