Posted on 07/20/2007 6:32:23 AM PDT by Kimberly GG
"WEDNESDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- Icelandic researchers have discovered a gene that's linked to restless legs syndrome (RLS).
The research, which is in the July 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found a gene variant that increases the odds of having RLS with periodic limb movements during sleep by 50 percent. The researchers also found that those with the gene variant were more likely to have low iron levels.
"There is a strong familial and genetic basis to restless legs syndrome," said the author of an accompanying editorial, Dr. John Winkelman, medical director of the Sleep Health Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Winkelman's editorial also pointed out that two other soon-to-be-published studies confirmed the link to this gene variant and RLS in a different population, and found two other genetic variants linked to RLS."....
Yes, sometimes they tingle, then burn. It may be a spinal/poor circulation deal - mine go numb while walking too - mainly my thighs though. I just try to get through it and don’t worry about it much.
HOWEVER.... now this may sound absolutely crazy - but when the rls commercial comes on tv, I have to either change the channel or leave the room - it makes me think about it too much to where I think it is coming on when it isn’t.
This sounds like a miserable disorder to have. I don’t know anyone who has this or at least I haven’t heard anyone say that they do. If it were not for the ads on TV for Requip I would never have heard of this.
As we age we all will develop something. In the last 2 years I have been allergic to every prescription drug that has been prescribed for me. Add that to the previous ones that I already knew about and the list is long. I figure that I will probably die from something simple and preventable because I can’t take anything that would cure it.
I certainly hope that something comes along to cure your RLS.
Really? I wonder if there is a connection...just like for me, visual and mental distraction can relieve some of the symptoms, for you, thinking about it feels like it will trigger it. I wonder, and maybe you already said so, but I wonder if you have RLS during the night while you’re sleeping and aren’t aware of it? That’s the mildest kind, but bedpartners usually know...they get kicked around, alot!
Yep...thighs from knee to hip, go completely numb! As soon as I sit down, it goes right away. Am completely clueless, as are docs.
I can’t imagine not being able to take prescribed meds! Though at times I admit, I’d like to toss them all, in favor of the illegal variety since that’s the only one that every really worked for me anyway. Two puffs, no movement and out like a light! Just to chicken to try it again ;) I hope you never get anything that can’t be treated/tolerated, but there’s always hope...they are always coming up with something new and different!
By the way, last I read, more than 12 million Americans suffer from RLS and probably untold millions undiagnosed! Most people are too embarassed to tell their doctors and alot of doctors are clueless. I was fortunate to have had a doctor 30 years ago who had it too! And, of course, many won’t admit they have it just because of the stupid name. I believe the real name for it is nocturnal myoclonus. Probably not spelled right, but it beats ‘jimmy legs.
May you stay very healthy, always!
I don't think it's his leg - it's another appendage that's restless...
Whenever my Lord decides it is time for me to go, I’ll go. It is his decision not the medical profession’s. LOL! The very best to you from Ditter.
I have been taking carbidopa/levodopa under the name, "Sinemet"...it seems to give me some relief for sleep. I normally take it just before bed. But, I do suffer most during the evening hours, before taking my evening dose.
About 8 years ago I discovered that both of my brothers and my Dad also have it. I am Blood Type B+.
I found a Diet by your blood type book and got rid of the symptoms for about a month after giving up chicken and making sure I did not eat anything on my list of do not eats.
It is hard to live in America without chicken, and I’m sure there is a little in chicken gravy.
I put this on the Freepers network seeing if B+ Freepers could duplicate my findings...Not so.
I think it is diet related because there are evenings when I do not have it.
Latest thing is maybe acetylcholine. Mine shows up in the tendons in my legs and knees.
Someone said rub mustard on my knees. Well this should be interesting...
But you are right. There is no life after 5 p.m. unless you want to stand on those legs.
Why do people have a sense of entitlement to a long disease free life. When God created you all He also created bacteria and viruses all in His master plan. To fight the system is to delay going to a better place.
I doubt any of ‘we’ people feel any such sense of entitlement.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.