and I was referred to a Neurosurgeon and was given Steroid injections in the lower back area...ever since then, I have been able to reduce the qty of my carb/Levo during the day from 2 pills- 3 times a day..to 4pills and sometimes 2 pills during the day. I still take my ropinirole at night , but when I wake in the morning I immediately had to take 2 carb/levo, but now I can go to about 2:00 in the afternoon and not take anymore and just take my ropinirole at night. It's wonderful...so happy. I asked the Dr when I had a follow-up appt..the injections didn't help my back at all but it seemed to help with my restless leg is that possible? He said yes it's possible, I just hope it doesn't wear off...which it might he said. Has anyone else who has had Steroid injections had this happen?
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travelingannie
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It's great to hear that the steroid injections have given you some improvement.
This isn't surprising since inflammation is a mediating factor in RLS.
Additonally the neuropathy caused by your spinal issues may be a contributing factor to your RLS.
Anti-inflammatory agents such as steroids aren't a long term solution for RLS because of their long term consequences.
I am a little surprised that you take the L dopa. This is only recommended for intermittent use for RLS, i.e. a few times a month, NOT daily use.
Daily use is usually restricted to treating Parkinson's Disease (PD). Perhaps you have PD as well as RLS?
In addition ropinirole or the other dopamine agonists, pramipexole or rotigotine are no longer recommended as the first treatment for RLS. This is because of the high risk for the agonist to cause "augmentation".
Unfortuntaely, the risk of augmentation occurring due to L dopa is even worse than for an agonist.
To have both L dopa and ropinirole is quite worrying!
The reason that you have RLS symptoms in morning or during the day may be due to your spinal problems. However, it's possible that this is a sign of augmentation.
If when you first had RLS it only occurred in the evening or was worse in the evening and then started getting earlier, this would suggest augmentation. It seems from your last post about 10 months ago you were suffering augmentation then.
If the pattern of your RLS symptoms are due to augmentation, then improvement could achieved by switching from L dopa/ropinirole to other RLS medications.
If you haven't already come across pregabalin or gabapentin , these are used to treat neuropathic pain, but can also be effective in relieving RLS. I really do suggest you discuss a change of medication with a doctor
I also take gabapentin 3- 300 mg 3 times a day for neuropathic pain, I have not been diagnosed with PD...I have had RLS since around 2002 started out with carb/levo then and have been on it since then.. recently upped to 6 pills a day but since steroid injection down to 2 to 4 depending on the day..I will call my neurosurgeon ..but he didn't say anything to me about my medications, but I guess it might be because the issue of my back pain was what I was there for. He has referred me for a vascular testing on my legs since the back pain radiated down the front of my thighs when walking or standing. He didn't seem to really take an interest in me.. when he first walked in he said you smoke I smell...and seemed to be put off by that. I know smoking is bad for you and I should quit but haven't been able to...so no lectures on that please...thanks for your advise to talk to a Dr...it probably wont be him tho.
Sorry to hear all that, your neurosurgeon sounds unnecessarily judgmental and not very familiar with RLS.
Since the L dopa and dopamine agonist appear to have failed, not surprisingly, the next option for your RLS is an opioid.
I wouldn't expect much from the neurosurgeon about that though, they don't appear to know about L dopa and augmentation.
Oxycodone is well accepted for RLS when dopaminergic drugs have failed. Low dose buprenorphine is also becoming more accepted.
A good idea about vascular testing, this can be a factor in RLS.
Whatever the outcome, your best bet is still probably to wean off the ropinirole and especially the L dopa. It seems they are doing you more harm than good.
The main cause of RLS is iron deficiency. Inflammation however is a factor in RLS, so reducung any inflammation can possibly help.
However, it won't address the iron deficiency so it's not going to be a total solution.
Steroids can reduce inflammation, but RLS is a chronic condition and long term use of steroids (unless life saving) should be avoided as the consequences can be severe.
You could however explore the possibility of reducing inflammation non-medically.
This can be be achieved at least partially by diet and by taking an antioxidant.
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Relief, finally!!!!
Desperate for some relief 
Relief finally?
Tried everything and have found relief
Finally Relief from RLS
