 |
 |
At 05:22 PM 1/29/98 -0500, Judith Richards wrote: >http://www.ninds.nih.gov/healinfo/DISORDER/restless/RESTLESS.HTM > >National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 > >RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME > >DESCRIPTION: Restless legs syndrome is a motor (movement) disorder >characterized by uncomfortable sensations in >the legs, which is worse during periods of inactivity or rest or while >sitting or lying down. Individuals affected with the >disorder describe the sensations as pulling, drawing, crawling, wormy, >boring, tingling, pins and needles, prickly, and >sometimes painful sensations that are usually accompanied by an >overwhelming urge to move the legs. Sudden muscle >jerks may also occur. Movement provides temporary relief from the >discomfort. In rare cases, the arms may also be >affected. Symptoms may interfere with sleep (sleep onset insomnia). >Research suggests that restless legs syndrome is >related to periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), another more common >motor disorder which causes disturbed >sleep. > >TREATMENT: Treatment for restless legs syndrome is symptomatic. In most >cases, medications such as clonazepam, >temazepam, levodopa/carbidopa, bromocriptine, pergolide mesylate, >oxycodone, propoxyphene, and codeine are >effective in relieving the symptoms. However, some medications may have >side effects. Application of cold compresses >may also provide relief of symptoms. > >PROGNOSIS: Restless legs syndrome is a life-long condition for which >there is no cure. Symptoms may gradually worsen >with age, and their most disabling feature is the sleep onset insomnia >they cause, which can be severe. > >RESEARCH: The NINDS supports an extensive program of basic research >aimed at discovering the mechanisms behind >many motor disorders such as restless legs syndrome, especially those >associated with sleep. The goal of this research is >to discover ways to prevent, diagnose, treat, and, ultimately, find >cures for motor disorders including restless legs >syndrome. > >These articles, available from a medical library, may provide more >in-depth information on restless legs >syndrome: >McGee, S. "Restless legs syndrome." Journal of American Medical >Association, 265:22; 3014 (June 12, 1991). > >Pelletier, G, Lorrain, D, and Montplaisir, J. "Sensory and motor >components of the restless legs syndrome." Neurology, >42:9; 1663-1666 (September 1992). > >Judith Richards >[log in to unmask] > >At 02:01 29/01/98 -0500, MR SEYMOUR GROSS wrote: >>-- [ From: Seymour Gross * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] -- >>The current issue of Life Magazine has an article on Sleep. It states >>that sinamet is being prescribed for RLS (for other than PWP) , which >>seemed to me to be a new use for this medication. > >