Do I have RLS?

[cullenbc49]

I have been suffering from Parkinson disease for about 5 years. No matter what medication I take my legs and feet are always doing jerky movements .

My neurologist says this is a side effect of the Sinemet meds but I am not convinced

My condition is worse in the evening and it can be very difficult to relax in a chair.

Once I get into bed I feel fine.

I have no tremors apart from the feet so I wonder do I have RLS and/ or Parkinson ?

[Hidden]

I can't say for certain one way or the other, but based only on what you've written I have some thoughts.

I'm not sure whatever the medication you've taken is, so I can't judge if it would help RLS or make it worse.

Levodopa, as found in Sinemet was once used as a treatment for RLS. Hence if you started sinemet 5 yars ago and had RLS then, it should have improved the RLS.

However, one of the major complications of taking a dopaminergic agent for people with RLS is called "augmentation". Dopaminergic agents includes the three "dopamine agonists" and levodopa.

All of these cause augmentation, but levodopa is the absolute worst.

On the one hand then It's a possibility then that you DO have RLS and the sinemet has made it worse = augmentation.

On the other hand, augmentation usually means that the restlessness spreads to other parts of the body e.g. arms and torso and happens earlier in the day.

It does appear that to some extent, your symptoms match the RLS criteria. What I would suggest is that you find out more about augmentation and discuss with your doctor the possibility of this happening with you.

I'm afraid that if you do have RLS this puts you in a dilemma, Sinemet may be needed to treat your PD, but makes your RLS worse. The treatment for augmentation is to stop taking the dopaminergic agent causing it.

Here's a link to the RLS diagnostic criteria.

irlssg.org/diagnostic-criteria

Here's a link to some information about augmentation. I could give you more specific info if I knew where you live i.e. which country.

sleepreviewmag.com/sleep-di...

for "dopamine agonist" substitute levodopa (sinemet).

[bill54321]

Listen to anerva. However, day time jerks are NOT defined as RLS. Yes, I also am takinf Ropinrole for RLS> BUT the definition is a night time manifistation. day time jerks hyave a slew od Myoclonic jerk definitions. LET ME BE CLEAR< There is NO definition rhat discribes you and I with day time ankle knee Jerks. NONE< NONE<NONE< I havfe don extensive study. We fit into Exotic unknown medical conditions. I am sure you have done your iron deficiency studies. That aside, B 12 and Folic acid studies in the iron test may reveal Liver or enemia. But really, I think that the brain barrier protein studies need to be followed up on from Stanford. My friend, you and I are alone. If you did not have RLS in the 1st place, augmentation, byitself, does not solve the problem. What do we have Nothing in the literature. Rule out PLMD as night time. Only hypic night jerks with sleep onset discribes us, biut it is one clonic jerk. Be aware. Your day time jerks come after meals when you start hypnigoglic periods(drowsyiness). Anticipate by awaking t do a chore instead of reclining back. It is the drowsiness not the exercise. Coe awake to avoid the jerks. Never rest? Pits The dam medicine makes you drowsy, so it is a trap.