It's 3am in the morning with no chance of sleep my legs and body twitching and jerking. I took a 3.75mg zopiclone and that didn't work either. My pramipexole 0.52mg was taken at usual time of10pm but didn't do much good. Funnily enough before I went to bed I felt good I'm writing mainly to disguise the hell im going through at the moment in my effort to reduce my dependence on pramipexole.
During the years the severity of my rls has gotten worded apart from the early days of pramipexole when it felt like magic when the pramipexole reduce the rls and I could sleep.
I have made a list of my efforts to conquer this disease or at least to try and miminise the symptoms.
The Professionals
1:- visits to lots is different GPS all with little expertise some mire sympathetic than others conflicting advice
2:-Three different neurologists two nhs one private all with different "cures" the private one put me on the high dosage of pramipexole 0.52 mg and a 0.26mg morning and night extended release tablets which worked very well for a while until augmentation and that's where I am now suffering torture!!
3:-in desperation at a low point I saw a practising doctor specialist in positional release mechanisms which involved twisting the body into certain positions and holding there for some time and then connecting a tens machine to the toes on each foot turning up the electric current until the feet began to throb and then leaving the machine connected for 25 minutes. I visited the practice four times for treatment at great cost to my self in travel and his fees but to no avail. Also I bought a tens machine at extra cost as part of the ongoing treatment again to no avail
4:- I visited a masseur who was recommended to me who pummelled my legs fir 30 minutes and applied different oils again to no avail.
5:- at my very low point feeling almost suicidal I paid private again to see a counsellor to help my depression caused by my rls which did help me put it into perspective.
Medicines
Pramipexole this was by far the most effective but with the risk of augmentation which I am now suffering badly needs great care and to be administered carefully.
2:- Gabapentin I couldn't get in with this drug
3:- Zopiclone taken when desperate but the lowest dosage no longer works for me will have to up it to 7.56mg.
Lifestyle
No alcohol
No smoking
Exercise in moderation
Massage the legs every bedtime using albus oil or lavender oil vigorously
Special exercises developed for rls some success
Hot compresses some success
Foot bath with water circulation hot water with herbal oils sme success
Alternative medicine
Magnesium spray and tablets no success
Turmeric
Lavender oil
Diversion tactics Reading ,tv, walking up and down useful
Eating more red meat for iron
Iron tablets neither worked for me
Healthy foods plenty of green vegetables and fruit I've always practiced this but doesn't help with my rls
Sleep aids
Lemon balm tea for relaxation does help
Decaf tea and coffee
Pumpkin seeds almond nuts and cashoe nuts
Listenening to podcasts , cds for relaxation some success
I have tried all these things over the years some work some don't it personal but worth a try. I'm at a very difficult time at the moment but hoping things will get better good luck to everyone else suffering
Augmentation and Pramipexole
pramipexole - augmentation
Augmenting on everything
Mirapex and augmentation
Augmentation & No sleep
