I recently posted about tingling in my legs and basically my doctor prescribed more deep sleep. Well that's easier said than done as I know you all know. However, I have given it my best effort despite a hurricane and having the worst four days of my life with almost no sleep. Other than that I feel I was able to improve my sleep as much as I can without taking a sleep aid. The doctor did at one point prescribe Belsomra but I did not take it since I did not know how it would affect me and I have two young kids to take care of. I cannot be in a fog from sleeping pills. Anyway the tingling has not stopped although at times is doesn't seem to be as bad. I was able to get in to see a neurologist. He is a spinal surgeon (recommended by my chiropractor) and after his examination he didn't seem to believe he would find anything but did order a battery of tests. He also said he didn't see anything alarming for whatever that's worth. I have scheduled all tests over the next few days. I have an EMG tomorrow (Wed), another EMG on Thursday, X-rays and two MRIs on Friday. I know this isn't RLS related but I would appreciate any positive thoughts sent my way! Praying that they find something to explain my symptoms. Also praying I'm still able to continue to sleep despite being anxious about all the tests.
Week full of tests 😔: I recently... - Restless Legs Syn...
Week full of tests 😔
Hi bsoenning,
It's good that your neurologist has ordered all those tests. They are probably looking for anything else that could be causing the tingling , llike compression on your nerves.
They probably won't find anything specific as it sounds like you have RLS which doesn't show up on MRI .
Hopefully, once your neurologist confirms this, he/she can start you on meds which will let you sleep. If you're getting symptoms every night, you will need meds.
Have you had your serum ferritin results? It may be that low iron is causing the RLS.
If your serum ferritin is more than 100, RLS meds looks like your best option to get sleep.
Let us know how it goes.
Sending you positive thoughts and best wishes
Jools
Thank you! I have not gotten my serum ferritin checked. I will keep that in mind when reviewing results. You are right it is good they are running all these tests I'm just nervous. Mostly about the EMG as they use needles to test the nerves and muscles and I hate needles. I've gotten better as I've gotten older but I still struggle.
My guess is this doctor is not going to rally find anything and refer me to a non surgical neurologist. I started here because it was recommended my my chiropractor and I needed a place to start.
Ugh, I'm having an EMG next week for issues with my cervical spine. Not looking forward to it...
Well I'm done with the first one and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Good luck!
Hi Bsoenning,
I too get pins and needles in my legs which feel as if they're connected to my rls and plmd. My neurologist sent me for an MRI scan to check for spinal cord lesion. There isn't one.
My GP ordered a lot of blood tests of which I will get the results tomorrow. None of this is much help to you but, at least, you're not alone in experiencing unexplained tingling
Try Co Q 10. It worked for me. I took 400mg each night. It's not a prescription but was recommended by my diabetes doctor.
Thank you for the suggestion. I will do some research on that.
This nighttime routine helps me get about 3-maybe 4 hours of uniterrupted sleep before my legs wake. It's very simple-not medical based but it's worth a try. I assembled it from tips I got from this site. Here it is- I am on Xanax for anxiety- don't need much and am often able to get by with 1/2 of a 0.5mg tablet. Then I don't go to bed too early-makes the night too long, then I take a hot shower to help relax and let the water run down my legs for a while. A bath-maybe with some epsom salts is even better-but I have knee probs so use a shower chair. When I get out I spray some homemade magnesium oil -my recipe is from wellnessmama.com- making your own is easy and cheap. Then I listen to music from my playlists til I feel sleepy, All this is designed not so much for the rls per se but to relax me and be able to drift off comfortably. I am basically very anxious and the anxiety runs away with me when my legs are hurting; also in anticipation of a sleepless night. So calming down is essential for me in many areas. Especially the legs. Maybe this will help a little. I hope so. The one thing that doesn't help me EVER is when a well-meaning person says "Don't get upset. Just calm down. Duh!. I'm 73 and if staying calm was this simple I would have done it by now.. Also, from reading blogs you might begin to put together your own nighttime routine that works best for you. The solutions are out there-so many good tips from this blog. Take care, burmag (Burma G)
Thank you so much for sharing what works for!
What about any blood tests? Ferritin level should be tested first before all of these other tests.
Question: How does a doctor prescribe deeper sleep? How do you control that?
All my regular blood work looks good. They have not checked the ferritin level yet. It's on my list of things to inquire about if the test reveal nothing.
My doctor just told me I need deeper sleep with no insight on how to achieve that. At the tims she didn't even want to prescribe anything. Basically I continued with taking magnesium, went to bed sooner and would listen to some white noise wich did seem help me fall asleep.
She prescribed deep sleep?!! Seriously?!! Wow -- how insightful (being facetious). You need a new doctor ASAP. If you don't act now, a "prescription" for chamomile tea will come next!
My deep sleep is virtually non-existent and I can't do anything about it. I am so freakin' annoyed. Thankfully, no doctor has "prescribed" deep sleep -- probably because every time I go to an appt. they can sense getting punched in the face if they do so!
Love your reply. I agree. It's time to move on to another doc.
Haha! I'm sorry but the punch in the face got me good! I know my husband and I have discussed finding. A new PCP but have not done it yet. That is why I bypassed her and went to the neurologist. He may not be the right one for me being a surgeon but he came nightly recommended and is a place to start. He was very polite and new I needed to start somewhere. He admitted based on his exam he wants sure he would find anything he would be able to help with but said we would stay with tests and go from there. Sorry for the long reply but I guess the point is I know my doctor hasn't been the best. I think part of it is she is getting older. I don't know.
Completely understand. We all need to start somewhere, don't we? I wish you all the best!🙂
GREAT question. Whoever figures this one out should patent it. They could make bundles of money!!!!!
No kidding! I'm just waiting for the "and the algorithm for deep sleep is...."
Hi there. Re algorithm: Be patient. I'm surfing as fast as I can. There's just NOTHING on the net re 'deep sleep. LOL LOL LOL Burma
Well, hurry it up, will ya?? I haven't got all day! 😁
(Kidding)
Me too. My little fingers are just flying over the keyboard trying to break this caew open.LOL... Sgned: Columbo in Georgia.
PS I'm having a hard time letting go of this one.. I can 'one-up' you on the "punch" idea. I have a cane. Always good for knocking one up the side of the head'. To be fair he did come up with some good stuff re tests, etc. We're all entitled to a senior moment every now and again-even people under 65. OK- I'm thru with my 'comments'. Bye for now.
Thanks, but I would never do that in reality.
Yes you're right, he did.
One more comment. When I was working I had a file for humorous e-mails. This would definitely make the cut! Bye (Really)
UPDATE: I had my follow up with my neurologist to go over all the results and they found some very mild buldging discs but nothing was touching a nerve. They did notice that my neck is no longer curved like it should be and is straight. He said that really isn't that big of a deal and is probably due to the fact that I look down a lot. When I was working out of the home I worked as a CPA and was always looking down reviewing the returns that the staff had prepare. I also do a lot of reading. Anyway the results of the EMG were also normal. I guess it's good news but I still don't know what is causing the tingling. He did recommend an MRI of the brain and actually offered to order it but said other than that I should return to my primary care doctor for more blood work. I do have an appointment with another neurologist (non surgical) in a couple of weeks so hopefully he will have some ideas.
I'm glad you're getting somewhere. It's time-consuming, isn't it? And it's maddening when you don't get the answers you're looking for. Hang in there!
Take care,
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