A recent study article from Pakistan shows that around 50% of patients with spinal cord injuries ( including scars from MS) have RLS.
I keep saying there are several distinct causes of RLS. Iron deficiency is one, kidney disease another. But any trauma to the spinal cord can also cause RLS, including operations.
If we can separate the cause, we may find out which patients would respond better to different treatments.
Those with brain iron deficiency can be treated first with IV iron infusions etc.
This is where research is needed.
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Joolsg
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Very interesting. Many people have noted this phenomenon on this site.I've always had RLS from an early age , remembering Comet flights from Africa to UK at age of 5, being agony.
Gradually, over the years ,discovered the food/ drink causes. But still suffered.
Then 10 years ago ,had spinal reconstruction and suffered desperate RLS.
My own thoughts are that most of the post op RLS was due to withdrawal symptoms from coming off the Fentanyl. Given for post op pain. Took me 18 months to get off the Fentanyl. Then the RLS really kicked in.
Long story short, I'm now back on opioids and doing grand ,thank you very much.
But ,I agree that there is no one direct cause for RLS, and no one relief.
Low iron is probably not the cause of the RLS but is merely a marker and symptom of the root cause I asked ChatGPT about the connection between lowiron and inflammation.
"Inflammation and low iron levels are often related, but the relationship can be complex and multifaceted. Inflammation is a natural response of the body's immune system to infection, injury, or tissue damage. During inflammation, immune cells release various cytokines and other molecules that trigger a cascade of reactions designed to protect the body from further damage and promote healing.
One of the effects of inflammation is to increase the production of hepcidin, a hormone that regulates iron metabolism. Hepcidin works by reducing the absorption of iron from the diet and blocking the release of stored iron from cells. This is an adaptive response because iron is essential for the growth and survival of many pathogens, so limiting its availability can help the body fight infections.
However, if hepcidin levels remain elevated for a prolonged period, it can lead to iron deficiency, particularly in people who already have low iron stores or increased iron requirements. This is because the body may not be able to absorb enough iron from the diet or release enough iron from storage to meet its needs. Inflammation-related iron deficiency can also occur in people with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or chronic infections.
Therefore, while inflammation is a natural and necessary process in the body, chronic inflammation can lead to imbalances in iron metabolism that can result in low iron levels. If you are experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency or have a chronic inflammatory condition, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and the best course of treatment."
Chronic systematic inflammation is most commonly caused by eating processed foods like white bread and other similar wheat based products and refined sugars. Inflammation can also be caused by the ingestion of refined seed oils like canola oil or sunflower oil.
I have had a lower back fusion, however my RLS started with a vengeance two months after my knee replacement surgery which I had a year before my back surgery 10 yrs ago. Last year I had two hip replacements . All of it is due to osteoarthritis. Fingers are extremely deformed. Thank goodness for CBD as it calms my legs and helps with pain. Small amount of THC gets me to sleep. This combo works 90% of the time without problems waking in morning. But still have some PLMD at times while trying to go to sleep.
I have talked to several people that didn’t have RLS until after an orthopedic surgery. Who knows.
In my case, there was fairly clear evidence of RLS years before I had my back issues, it rarely woke me up, but people who slept in the same room reported that I was cycling all night i.e. PLMD type symptoms. When I had back issues, slipped disc, the RLS seemed to get worse but it doesn’t seem to have been the cause. Unless of course there were back/nerve issues I wasn’t aware of until the big problems.
It would be wonderful if they could do that. It's too bad my grandmother is no longer alive,. She had it my mother has it and I have it.None of us have any of the above diseases.
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RLS link to iron deficiency and dopamine. Interesting article.
For those seeking rest from RLS
Scientific information about RLS
RLS and omeprazole advice
