RLS and Disc Herniation

[Sufferingscott]

I appreciate all the posts enough to feel inspired to write my own as well as ask foe support through your experience. I had major disc replacement in l5/s1 8 years back and the RLS began. I have tried benzodiazepines, opioids, evertthing to treat Parkinson’s and neuropathy. For a long time the best thing worked for me is zoloidem for sleep and plenty of leg exercises. Just in December I had disc herniatation surgery on L4/L5 (you can imagine what comes next); surgery is major success and after the hydrochldone and Tramadol ran out last week I have been in utter agony fighting RLS from yoga every night to walking stairs for an hour. Took a gabapebtin last night and was able to sleep, neurologist gave me Requip and I am hesistsnt to take; also bought all naturopathic cures in the book. Going to fight but would like your feedback on the Requip. Tramadol is great, but have never taken until this last procedure and will not take again ever knowing the impact to RLS.

Please help

[LotteM]

Hi Scott, terrible about your back surgeries and the rls that seems to result from it. But your are far from the first to report it. Am I right that both tramadol and recently gabapentin by themselves worked to reduce or completely suppress the rls symptoms? It would be helpful to know your doses and their effects on the rls (and pain, if applicable).

I have idiopathic rls (rls without specific cause) and take a combination of 50mg tramadol 1 hr before bed and 2x300 mg gabapentin, at c. 7PM and at bedtime (c. 11PM). Works for me for now; fairly normal sleep, few symptoms left. Before, I was on ropinirole (Requip is brand name). Initially on half a tablet of 0,25 mg, increasing after a month to the whole 0,25mg, then 0,5 mg and 0,75 mg. I augmented already after some 6 months, but didn’t realise that until a few months later, owing to info on this forum.

Requip can be very effective and for many for a long time too. Just make sure you adhere to two things: 1) don’t take a dose higher than c. 1 mg, and 2) make yourself familiair with the signs of augmentation and reduce and then stop the Requip once augmentation occurs. See posts here on HB (ise search) and rls-uk.org/augmentation-reb...

Also, liw iron, i.e. blood ferritin levels lower than 75mg/l appear associated eith rls for many. Thus have your blood tested and if necessary, take iron. Iron bisglycinate, for some daily for others every other day late night on empty stomach work to (slowly) raise the ferritin and keep rls at bay. Quite a few people report that especially Magnesium and also B vitamins are often hellful too

All my doses (before requip and now the combination of tramadol and gabapentin) are still fairly low compared to what some others take and experience as effective; I seem to be sensitive to meds.

I hope this helps. Keep reading and ask if you want more info. I hope you find something that works for you.

[Hishoney in reply to LotteM]

LotteM, I’m so glad that the tramadol and gabapentin are working for you. I also have numerous issues with my spine, but don’t have wrestless leg syndrome, but rather wrestless body syndrome. This has just started to become a real issue recently. I also take tramadol and gabapentin in the same doses and times as you, but it doesn’t help me at all. In addition I take Motrin and gabapentin when I go to bed.

I totally understand what you’re feeling. I haven’t seen a doctor about it yet except for my primary who is a sports medicine doctor. He had given me those meds for something else. I also have fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and Rheumatoid arthritis along with a few autoimmune issues.

After reading your reply, I feel like it could be me who wrote it. I’m going to see my doctor in 3 weeks. I’ve heard that a neurologist is who I’ve got to see for help. Just a silly question here....did you get a flu shot? I’m just wondering if that had any affect on this new problem. My first episode with the wrestless body syndrome happened after I git the flu shot. The symptoms are coming more frequently now.

Anyway, I hope for you all the good wishes that I can leave you with.

L

[LotteM in reply to Hishoney]

Hi hishoney, I didn’t get a flu shot. Also, I don’t have the other health problems you have AND I react fairly well already to low doses of meds. It is not unlikely that your effective dose simply will be somewhat higher than mine. You’ll have to try one step at a time. Please consult your gp and work together with him/her.

[Hishoney in reply to LotteM]

Thank you so much, LotteM. After reading so many entries, you’re right. I’m going to work with my primary and try to get help from more different angles this time. I think I’d like to see different specialists till I can get this under control. I haven’t been taking higher doses of the pain Meds, and I have constant pain, but I’d rather have that than be addicted. I was on morphine, five 30mg doses a day. I’ve downsized by myself to just one dose a day. I’m taking Tramadol instead now and I can’t believe how clear everything seems to me. I can think again. I feel happier again. But I’m having a hard time getting off that one dose. I will though. I like how you think, not wanting to be addicted either. Stay that way..I wish you every good thing, and success in your journey through this!

[JohnBeal]

Hi, I take Tramadol 3 per day for my Athritis pain but have found that Pramipexole 0.88mg x3 per day really help my RLS

[Neverquitting]

Keep up the good fight and from where I sit, avoid Requip and all dopamine agonists at all costs.

[Mjm192]

Hi I stop taking medication that had codine in it as was told by my GP that this makes RLS so much worse and as we know anything that makes this worse you avoid

I know it sound silly but the stymy daughter read on help with RLS and the wife writes husband suffers bad with RLS and ask for help in all ways he read that someone put ivory soap under bottom sheet underneath pillow she said he was a different man and could not believe it so my daughter got me the ivory soap ( imperial leather) and it does help so much so if I go away it goes with me

Don't know why it does must be something in it because it has to be ivory soap

With RLS we try anything and everything if it helps

Marcelle