Introduction and Preface to Comments

Hi, All. My first post. For several months, I've been reading your comments and empathizing with those who have suffered with this condition. To the extent that there is anything that may be unique to my circumstance, it may be the volume of medical experts with whom I have consulted and by whom I have been examined or treated, the diverse specialties of these medical experts, and the venues in which these consultations, examinations and treatments have occurred.

In all, I have consulted with or been examined and treated by well more than one dozen physicians (MD and OD), engaged in general practice, cardiology, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, and neurology. The experts with whom I have spoken include some whose names may be well known to some of you. The venues included hospitals whose names also may be familiar to some (including George Washington University, Georgetown University, and Johns Hopkins University (in coordination with the National Institutes of Health).

The diagnoses were as varied as the expertise of the medical expert. The treatments included acupuncture, "stretching," and a variety of medications some of which were not available other than as a patent medicine when first prescribed (Mirapex, Ultram, Horizant, hydrocodone, codeine, and pregabalin among others). Along the way, I had my blood pressure, "Transferrin Saturation" and "Ferritin" levels checked.

My other RLS-related experiences includes: attendance at a United States Senate Subcommittee hearing on RLS (Subcommittee Chairman Senator John McCain); participation in various RLS Support Groups; and reading and studying.

I am not a health care professional, and heretofore, had been reluctant to post lest my posts appear to be counter to the generally accepted views regarding the nature of this illness and the efficacy of the suggested treatments de jure. Nonetheless, with the sincere hope that I might make a positive contribution to this forum, I decided to give it a go. In doing so, I emphasize now and will in future posts, that my comments will reflect only my opinions and experiences, made in good faith, and are not intended to disagree with or to disparage the opinions and comments made by others.

With the foregoing in mind, and to keep my comments as short as is reasonably practicable, if permitted, following this post, I will make discrete posts on some topics that may be of common interest: Why I do not believe that RLS a movement disorder; Why I believe that the current RLS algorithm is incorrect; Why some potentially valid treatments appear not to work; and My Hellish detox from pramipexole. Be well.

[Joolsg]

Delighted to make your acquaintance. Reading your posts was a joy. You write eloquently and beautifully.I look forward to reading your topics and will be very interested to hear your opinions on RLS as a 'movement disorder' and which parts of the Mayo algorithm you disagree with.

All views and opinions are welcomed here.

[Hidden in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you for your kind words. I just posted separately my comments on why not a movement disorder. RE: writing: I think it's genetic. My father grew-up in England before WW I. Though he never got passed the 5th grade, he could recite Shakespeare eloquently from memory; his penmanship (visually and substantively) were eloquent. I sometimes wished I had a dictionary nearby when one of my sister's spoke. Till later. Be well. ...Jerry