Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

Actually the suggestion of seeking a referral to a pain relief clinic is VERY good. I'm not based in the US and don't know the ins and outs of the latest regulatory restrictions but presumably pain clinics still have power to prescribe opiates.

I know not all RLS symptoms fall within the commonly understood perameters of 'pain' but (as I think Holland has pointed out previously) in fact it is strongly arguable that they should be treated as such given the impact on normal life.

Actually it was Rustsmith who helpfully shows that RLS symptoms do fall within the definition of 'pain' in another thread.

US docs can all prescribe opiates as long as they register (and pay yearly) with the DEA. The problem for US docs isn't not being allowed to write the prescription, but the monitoring of what they are doing. A few bad apples have put all docs under the microscope. This has resulted in many docs just refus3ng to prescribe opiates at all. The people I have talked to that have gone to pain docs (none with RLS) have not been very satisfied. Many pain docs refuse to prescribe opiates, instead referring the patient back to their primary to write the prescription.

stjohnh wrote:US docs can all prescribe opiates as long as they register (and pay yearly) with the DEA. The problem for US docs isn't not being allowed to write the prescription, but the monitoring of what they are doing. A few bad apples have put all docs under the microscope. This has resulted in many docs just refus3ng to prescribe opiates at all. The people I have talked to that have gone to pain docs (none with RLS) have not been very satisfied. Many pain docs refuse to prescribe opiates, instead referring the patient back to their primary to write the prescription.

I didn't figure this was a wonderful outcome for all or we would hear about it more. Glad it does work for some, though.

My version of RLS is also painful, now. Pain Management wouldn't do a thing for me for the RLS but a sleep clinic doc did.

by ViewsAskew » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:33 am

srgraves01 wrote:
I had the same problem. My wife who is a nurse suggested I consult a pain management specialist. I took some literature from this website to educate them and they have been treating me since then. Hope you can solve your problem.

Steve

ViewsAskew wrote:

"Several people have - I have always wondered how easy/hard it is to convince them. Did they have many questions for you or any issues with it?"

srgraves01

It wasn't that hard as long as I got a referral from my primary care physician. I also brought literature from your website on medications and augmentation, which was very helpful. It is interesting that pain management doctors were more responsive to the RLS literature, than neurologists or sleep specialists I have talked to.

Well, that is great news to hear. Thanks for sharing.