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Orthofix fusing machine

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 8:08 am
by barbeegee
I just had spinal surgery for 3 herniated disks. Part of the treatment is wearing a belt for 2 hrs a day. This belt releases something that tells the brain that I have a fracture and the brain then produces something that makes bone grow over m artificial disks. But since I started this treatment I've had RLS worse than I've ever had it. I'm getting only 3 or 4 hrs sleep and the RLS doesn't stop at night.,..it's all day too. I'm going crazy. Has anyone else out there had this treatment? I've had RLS for years but never this severe. :shock:

I don't know what to do. My doctor prescribed all the drugs for RLS but they all made me nausaus. So I'm on nothing. My spinal doc prescribed about 8 valium for spasms and I've been using them to just fall asleep.

So is RLS a nerve problem or a brain problem?

Re: Orthofix fusing machine

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 9:26 pm
by debbluebird
I have not had what you had but, when I ever had surgery there was some inflammation. My RLS is worse them.
Sorry you are having so much difficulty.

Re: Orthofix fusing machine

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 10:22 pm
by legsbestill
Poor you; that sounds miserable. When you say ‘all the drugs for rls’ could you specify which drugs? Have you tried opioids such as tramadol and OxyContin? There are numerous suggestions of dietary changes out there which some people find very helpful - fodmap, anti-inflammatory, veganism, gluten free etc etc. Magnesium works for some people. Would you consider trying Kratom which is very effective against rls? Also have you had your serum ferritin levels checked? It’s not an immediate solution (and you do sound like you need something ASAP) but it can be very helpful to raise iron levels.

Re: Orthofix fusing machine

Posted: Thu May 10, 2018 3:57 pm
by barbeegee
Can I get ferritin without a RX? My doctor isn't helpful at all. I just made an appt with a neurologist/sleep specialist but I can't get in until late June. I take magnesium for leg cramps already. I've tried Gabapentin, Miropex and both made me nauseous x 10. PTL I slept good last night. My doctor gave me 8 valium for spinal spasms and I broke them in half and have been taking half at bedtime to sleep. It works but I only have 5 left. :(

Re: Orthofix fusing machine

Posted: Thu May 10, 2018 4:59 pm
by Rustsmith
Ferritin is a measure of iron levels in your blood. To increase it, you need to take an iron supplement. But these work very slowly for those who can actually use them. For more info, take a look at Polar Bear's post dated May 10 on this discussion. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=10202

Re: Orthofix fusing machine

Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 2:51 am
by badnights
So is RLS a nerve problem or a brain problem?
The brain is made of neurons (nerve cells). I guess it' would be more accurate, based on what's known, to say RLs/WED is a brain problem, but apparently there's some evidence that peripheral nerves (non-brain, non-spinal cord nerves) might be involved too.

From the meds you listed in another thread, it seems you've tried meds from all three classes of medications used to treat WED/RLS : dopamine-type meds (Mirapex, Requip, levo-carbidopa), anti-convulsants (gabapentin, Horizant, pregabalin/Lyrica), and opioids (Tramadol is sort of an opioid, and oxycodone). Since you had issues with all of them except the oxycodone, and your issue with that is mainly a fear that they will pull it away from you in the future, the answer may lie in combinations of meds. A smaller dose than you previously tried of Mirapex, with a small dose of oxycodone, for example. **

Best first to get that ferritin measure though, and if your doctor agrees it won't harm you, take oral iron with vitamin C to get your ferritin levels up. That is a rough indication of how much iron is in a key part of your brain that is involved in RLS/WED when its iron levels are too low. It is important to have ferritin high enough - at least 75, preferably 100 or more - before taking dopamine-type drugs, otherwise you're at greater risk to have them augment the condition instead of help it.

To solve this problem, you need to tell your doctor of your suffering, if you haven't already, and work with him/her on experimenting with dose and combination of medications that will work for you. Sadly, it's different for everyone and some experimenting is usually necessary before the right combo is hit upon. I've been on a fairly stable combination for years, but it took some doing to get here.

**[EDIT: A fourth class is rarely used anymore, and that's the benzodiazepine class that your Xanax belongs to. It works really well for a small percentage of WED/RLS patients. ]

Re: Orthofix fusing machine

Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 8:27 am
by barbeegee
Thank you! Here I am, up at 4 a.m. dealing with RLS again