RLS fuzzy math musing

[ziggypiggy]

So supposedly 5% to 10% of the adult population experiences RLS to some extent. Does this 5to10% hold true as well for Physicians who also have RLS? I've mentioned before that my very first doctor 25 years ago had RLS and how that was so comforting. Yet, I have never come across anyone else mentioning having the same experience. You would think 5-10% might. Anyone here?

Maybe med school and a residency program would be too burdensome if you couldn't sleep on demand because of RLS. We need more Docs with RLS!

Just kidding(kind of).

[Hidden]

Kidding or not, an interesting muse.

I don't know whether RLS is disproportionally distributed in the doctor population than in the general population.

There may be more people with RLS than the statistics identify since, especially if it's only mild, some people may not recognise it.

My own wife appears to have it. Some evenings she can't sit still and complains her legs are fuzzy. She has no trouble sleeping though. She doesn't admit she has it.

I have read of one member who's spouse has severe RLS, denies it, gets angry and refuses to talk about it.

I have read of a few members whose doctors have RLS. This has made them sympathetic towards other sufferers generally. I seem to recall however one member with severe R.S whose doctor had mild RLS who was quite dismissive.

In addition, sympathy doesn't necessarily imply knowledge. Hence I've read of doctors with RLS who still apparently mismanage it. Physician heal thyself?

I do know there's some members of this forum who are doctors, but not many. So docs aren't immune to it.

It does all point to the need for more training for doctors about RLS and also for health promotion for members of the public.

I recall sitting in doctors waiting rooms ( a distant memory) and seeing leaflets on all sorts of things from beart dixease to earwax, but RLS, nothing.

[ziggypiggy in reply to Hidden]

Good point about those with mild RLS often being more dismissive than those who don't suffer at all. I have a couple of siblings with occasional symptoms and it's tough to talk to them about RLS. Every conversation they insist that if I just did this or that, or tried this or that, I too would have only have mild symptoms. Every time I have to remind that yes I've tried it all. It still sucks.

[Joolsg]

Shame you're in the USA or you could take part in the RLS UK campaign (see post and pinned post) to get RLS taught to doctors. It's not taught during medical school or during GP training so here in the UK, doctors know nothing about it unless they've taken the time to do some research. As we only get 10 minutes witha GP on the NHS It's unlikely we'll see a knowledgeable doctor.There are 3 or 4 doctors on this site with RLS.