MRI Test?

[ChrisFB]

I'm new on this forum so please excuse if this exact same question has been asked many time before. Has anyone had an MRI as part of their investigative process in order to determine what exactly is going on with our bodies in terms of the symptoms of restless legs?

I'm coming to the end of my rope and finding that the mental anguish is having just as much impact on my life as the physical pain (along with severe lack of sleep). Just this weekend I developed boils on the lower inside of my eye lids due to the extreme lack of sleep. The doctors answer ~ try and get more sleep. I would almost laugh if I wasn't so depleted by the whole condition.

[Hidden]

Chris.

If you're being investigated for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), then it's diagnosed by comparing your symptoms to 4 criteria AND by excluding other conditions that might be causing the symptoms.

There are no direct tests for RLS.

An MRI will not help diagnose RLS. An MRI for someone who ONLY has RLS will show nothing.

However, an MRI may help to detect if there is any other problem causing your symptoms. Along with other tests, perhaps blood tests, if the tests detect nothing and your symptoms match the 4 criteris, then you have RLS.

Hardly anyone is given an MRI for RLS. Perhaps they think you do NOT have RLS but something else.

I have had RLS for decades, I finally saw a neurologist 10 years ago because of its severity. I had some blood tests and the neurologist carried out s brief neurological exam. He listened to my description of my symptoms and diagnosed idiopathic RLS. No MRI.

However, I have had 3 MRIs since. None of them anything that would explain RLS symptoms. They did show that my lower back pain and nerve pains and numbness in my legs was due to spinal nerve compression. However, the symptoms I get from this are distinctly different to my RLS symptoms.

Some forms of peripheral neuropathy, particularly "small fibre neuropathy" can cause RLS symptoms. SFN is diagnosed by biopsies. It can be caused by diabetes.

You can compare your symptoms to the official criteria by following the link below. If there is any single one of the criteria doesn't fit you don't have RLS.

irlssg.org/diagnostic-crite...

[martino]

Hi Chris

I agree with Minerva about the diagnostic tests for RLS. I have had two MRI scans plus two DAT scans trying to find out what is causing RLS . Most recently I think the neurologist thought that Parkinson’s may be the cause. So the scan will not prove you have RLS but will possibly show what else might be going on.

[Eryl]

You can use the search bar at the top of the page to find previous posts on the subject.

[dklohrey]

I have neuropathy and RLS. They did an MRI and found some damage at the lower end of my spine from an old injury but they concluded that it would not have been responsible for either the neuropathy or the RLS. They blamed my condition on heredity . I have started to wear compression socks lately and have found them to relieve most of the symptoms during the day and for the results to carry over into the night (I also take ropinirole, though that drug has become less helpful as of late). I have also found that diet can effect my condition with sugar being a main culprit and for some reason, the less I eat the better the condition. I have yet to figure that one out.

[Tamaroy]

Ends of lots of ropes at common. I have never been offered a MRI, I would like one but they are just too expensive.

[DicCarlson]

Yeah - get more sleep! I love that advice!