RLS: A malady or a symptom?

[72rover]

I am new here and so this may have been discussed many times before.

Thinking of RLS as caused by a single event (like an infectious disease is caused by exposure to a single pathogen) may be very misleading. Thinking of RLS as a symptom that is triggered by any of a number of different types of assault on the nervous system may be more to the point. For example, a headache may be the symptom but a number of things can cause them. If most RLS is caused, or at least exacerbated, by any of a small number events( e.g. inflammation), dietary issues, the wrong type of exercise etc) the sufferers could be divided into groups. Comparisons could be made within groups as opposed to between groups and greatly advance our chances of gathering statistically useful information.

Would defining different groups be difficult. Yes. The hope of finding them would be in the fact that RLS appears to cluster in families indicating that it has genetically related components. Genomic analysis of data, which has already been collected to compare other genetically related diseases, might be surveyed to see if any of the participants also had RLS( the chances are good).The hope is that one would find a limited genetic number of mutations that correspond to RLS. If one found that this was the case, the cost of further DNA analysis would not be prohibitive and so follow up would be possible. If we found,, for example, that 5 different things all caused RLS and we knew how to identify each, the treatment of the disease would greatly benefit.

[LotteM]

Hi Rover, Very interesting observation - I have had thoughts along the same line re the different 'triggers' yielding RLS-symptoms. I tend to think that many issues may cause a neurotransmitter inbalance, triggering RLS. But no-one yet know THE cause.

Re the genetics, quite a few genes correlating with increased incidence of RLS have been identified. However, as is almost always the case with genes and diseases, they enhance your predisposition to the disease, your susceptibility to it or its potential causes and in any way thus the likelihood to get it. There is never a 1-on-1 chance if your have a disease-gene that you'll get the associated disease. So we still plod on with our various treatments to our very variable and multifarious RLS.

[nightdancer in reply to LotteM]

Exactly, Lotte. I, and both my sisters have RLS, plus my nieces and my oldest nieces' kids all have it. Neither of my parents ever showed any symptoms, but one of them had to have had the genes to pass down , since the entire family has it.

[nightdancer]

There are tons of triggers for RLS, and yes, lots of discussions about that. Certain meds, some people have food triggers, alcohol, certain medical conditions, etc. RLS is a neurologically based sleep disorder, and 70% of all cases of RLS ARE genetic, since it was mentioned. The genes were discovered and named in 2004 and 2007. There is no "small list" of events that we can lump together. There are long lists. I have been managing RLS groups for 25 years and believe me what triggers one person, does not necessarily trigger the next person. The list of triggers can be endless and inflammation is only a theory at this point. many things to look at. MANY MANY classes of meds can exacerbate of CAUSE RLS.

[beeckey]

Sorry coming in very late with this i have been prescribed 6 mirapex a night a very high dose but have cut it down to 5.I know i need to get it down more but as you know it is not easy.I missed a night last week and i suffered all night.when i was going back to my GP when the RL was getting worse she put the dose up till the dose was at as high as it could go and at the time i would have taken anything it was so bad.I was just reading about inflammation as i also have RA sorry for going on a bit