RLSdoes exist

[datsoon1]

why do some doctors still say that RLD does not exist

[Katerina22]

Because they know nothing about it!Its so simple!

[Madlegs1]

They were never taught about it in med school.

They have no personal experience of it, therefore - no interest in researching it.

Knowledge and up to date research results are not widely disseminated-- mainly because 90% of the population do not experience it. Therefore, media does not follow up on it-- unless ,of course, they can make a complete joke of it-- such as a recent certain unnameable TV programme.

It has a similar "ignorance "profile to Lyme disease. This is also largely misdiagnosed by an ignorant GP population.

Both issues have a common problem of not being able to test for definitively. Diagnosis depends on a series of qualifying signs or symptoms, all of which may be easily confused with other diseases.

So-- much more basic research is required. Once a doctor can satisfy herself that he knows what she is dealing with, then it is just a question of prescribing appropriate medications.

Oh oh! There is another whole can of wriggly bugglies.!🤣🐍🐛🦂🕷️🐜🐉

[datsoon1 in reply to Madlegs1]

i find many people make fun ofRLS especially that t.v program that was on last year, it should have been made by one of us that suffer with it ,,oh here i go wiggles away

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

I agree about the RLS but not about Lyme Disease, except in the later stages when there's little that can be done. But i think Drs know far more about Lyme Disease now than RLS and awareness is key and too especially in the general public. Not everyone gets the initial rash but most do though it can be on the back so not noticed if that's where the tick bites. ticks are now infected and present even in public parks. Lyme Disease is a preventable disease. Awareness of looking out for ticks on the body, what to look out for re the rash and presenting at a Dr urgently at that point are key. It is treatable at the rash stage by particular antibiotics.

Make sure we help to spread the word.

Once you've got the neurological and other symptoms it is hard to get rid off

[Madlegs1 in reply to Hidden]

That may be true, in some countries, certainly not in Ireland. My daughter got LD ,with the rash, and our GP wouldn't recognize it or prescribe the correct medication

She suffered horrendously for over four years. Due to medical ignorance.

There is some publicity about it,- but there is also the perception out there ,in some quarters, that it doesn't exist.

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

It's really dreadful if a Dr misses early Lyme disease, quite shocking. But there are definite markers in the blood ie positive antibodies to the bacteria in question, unlike RLS where it's all based on symptoms. By the stage of late Lyme disease, where the neurological and other symptoms develop, the antibiotics don't work and it needs the correct antibiotics. My husband developed the rash last year - walks the dogs on farm and forest areas - and needed 2 weeks of the antibiotics for it to clear.The main message is to alert everyone to look out for tick bites and the rash surrounding them and get to a Dr promptly. I've forgotten the time scale where treatment works to prevent the late complications but it's pretty short. For some there is no rash and the tick isn't spotted but for the majority the disease is preventable if treated promptly. I live in Scotland. I hope all uk drs now know about this.

[Hidden]

No money in it, pure and simple. There is oodles of cash for Cancer and Heart Disease as much is already known, there are definite markers that can be detected unlike RLS and the deaths are more obvious, (I'll not go into increase of cancer, HD, diabetes, etc, etc with RLS).

[datsoon1]

typical, if the queen had it,the damned thing would be first to be solved

[Madlegs1]

The corgis have it-- but nobody takes a blind bit of notice of them, only herself.

[Lash65]

Because they don't have it. Same with Fibromyalgia. Also, neither of these show up on tests. Doctors rely too much on tests these days, in my opinion.

[Hidden]

RLS is a very strange disorder with very strange symptoms. I want to reply further, but I need to ask: is your doctor actually saying that RLS doesn't exist? (You're reply will affect how I reply, hence the question).

[datsoon1 in reply to Hidden]

my rls really does exist at my age 60 i have found a dr who agrees that i have had it since i was about 10 _and thats a lot of wiggles_i have finally been put on 600mg gabapentin and some blood tests,oh to be believed by someone ,so keep going there will be a dr who believes you. like we all do

[Hidden in reply to datsoon1]

Thank God that yours is on your side! I’m so pleased!! Your original question implied that your doctor wasn’t believing you. That made my blood boil for you since I’m going through something right now that would make me empathize with your not being believed, so I am glad that that is not your case.

Thank you for your kind words at the end😀

[datsoon1]

thanks, it has only taken 50 YEARS to get a definate decision that it is rls,for years i was treated for parkinsons and i had to prove that was wrong, i could not believe that the dr said it was rls , a normal 10minuit appointment turned into 1hour,i have now had blood tests and other tests,but i am over the moon that someone believed me,keep going i had to go through all the drs in my town and a lot of other places,keep going dont give up,,,