Dr Richard Allen

[Joolsg]

Very sad news today that Dr Richard Allen of Johns Hopkins University, a leading RLS expert, has died.

I am so grateful to him for his work & I rely on his brilliant book(co written with Drs Buchfuhrer, Hening & Lee) daily.

RIP

google.com/amp/s/www.dignit...

[Shumbah]

Words cannot express the gratitude for the hours and hours of research Professor Richard Allen has left as legacy for us who suffer from Willis Ekbom Disease. I feel so privlidged that even at his age he was still responding to my emails.

You will not be forgotton and Thankyou from he bottom of my heart for caring about all those people you did good for and yet never met. May this be of some comfort to his family.

Rest now kind man Professor Richard Allen

[LotteM]

Thank you for posting and sharing Jools. I read the news yesterday and was saddened. Never met the man, but he seemed so very approachable, as Shumbah indicates. He was at the heart of the development of the scientific interest in RLS. We may not realise it, but we will dearly miss his dedication, inspiration and quiet charisma.

[DicCarlson]

Johns Hopkins Neurology Dept. and Dr. Allen along with Dr Early and others were THE Key to helping me with my Restless Leg Syndrome. I don't know where I would be today had I not found the information on their website. I'm sure they will continue his excellent work.

[WideBody in reply to DicCarlson]

Same here. I have googled his name many times looking for reports. One of the few names I have learned to trust. He graduated from MIT the year I was born! and I am old.

I have never met Dr. Allen but my heart sank when I heard of his passing. Dr. Allen's life touched and will continue to touch a lot of people. R.I.P. Thanks Joolsg for posting.

[SueJohnson]

His leaving may have been why I couldn't get an appointment there as they would have been shorthanded. (I live in the Washington DC area). What was the name of his book?

[LotteM in reply to SueJohnson]

Clinical management of restless legs syndrome. By Lee, Buchfuhrer, ALLEN & Hening. 2012 (2nd edition). Still available.

[SueJohnson in reply to LotteM]

Thank you. I just ordered it from Amazon.

[WideBody in reply to SueJohnson]

That should help you get some sleep.

😉

[SueJohnson in reply to WideBody]

That's a coincidence because last night I got only 10 minutes of sleep.

[Reb0013 in reply to SueJohnson]

I'm going to order it as well; thank you for bringing the subj up . Speaking of books, someone in this group had mentioned a book called "A Perfect Night's Sleep - Eliminate Restless Leg by Dr. James Anderson who started as a podiatrist but studied later and is now supposedly a re- known Peripheral Nerve Surgeon. His practice concentrates on nerve tunnel decompression for RLS.. mainly (3) nerve tunnels in the legs. I ordered and read it- as much as the scientific thought behind it makes sense (I think we all believe in hope and a possible cure) there are symptoms that I have that make me wonder if this kind of surgery could actually work... i.e. restless leg feelings, twitching alternate from one leg to the other at any given time... then some nights it is mainly on my left leg which I did have a traumatic injury snow skiing 3 yrs ago... but right leg never any problems and no other underlying diseases... anyone?

[Joolsg in reply to Reb0013]

I have RLS mainly in my right leg but still get it in left leg / alternating. I think most people do.

I’ve read about these operations but as with most ‘cures’ they work for some but not others.

I’m not sure I’d have an unresearchec operation without extensive trials.

You’re right though- we need hope.

[Reb0013 in reply to Joolsg]

Exactly!

[Doings in reply to SueJohnson]

Can I ask has the book helped at all ?

[SueJohnson in reply to Doings]

Not really

[involuntarydancer]

Thanks for posting this, Jools. We are lucky to have (have had) some amazing advocates for our condition when it is so far from the ‘sexy’, ‘interesting’ neurological conditions that most medical experts choose to concentrate on.

[Noddedoffagain]

RIP Professor Allen - I have the book and it’s like a bible for me.

[Sampsie]

So sad. My thanks go to Dr Allen and my heart goes out to his family, colleagues and friends.