neurologist in so cal ?

[RCHD]

can anyone recommend a good neurologist in Southern California who understands restless legs? Any suggestions welcome

[SueJohnson]

He's not a neurologist but is one of THE best RLS doctors - Dr. Mark Buchfuhrer.

[RCHD in reply to SueJohnson]

yes but my husband can’t use opiods due to the bipolar.. and I know this guy prescribes opiates,

[SueJohnson in reply to RCHD]

Just because he often prescribes opioids doesn't mean he isn't an expert who will try other things. He is one of the authors of the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS and would certainly be my choice in your husband's situation.

[RCHD in reply to SueJohnson]

ok thank you so so much appreciate this. Downey is not far from where we will Be. I guess I just need to look him up online ,

[TeddiJ]

Well, of course the obvious choice is Dr. Buchfuhrer in Downey.

[RCHD in reply to TeddiJ]

yes but my husband can’t use opiates

[Joolsg in reply to RCHD]

As Sue explained, Dr. Buchfuhrer us one of the world's best RLS doctors. He won't prescribe opioids if they're contraindicated, as in your husband's case. He will consider all the other options and even the drugs not usually considered, like dipyridamol.Definitely see Dr B. There is nothing about RLS he doesn't know.

Your husbands bi polar meds may be triggering RLS and Dr B will work around that and consider the best drugs for him.

[RCHD in reply to Joolsg]

thank you so much. My husband is not using any bipolar meds. The only thing he’s currently using is kratom.

[Joolsg in reply to RCHD]

Kratom affects the opioid receptors and works in a similar way to opioids.I'm sure Dr. B will have lots of suggestions. If your husband's bi polar is not affected by kratom, there may be opioids he can tolerate.(For example Buprenorphine affects the Mu opioid receptors.)

Dr B is your best bet. He will discuss all possible medicines, including methadone, Buprenorphine and the Alpha2Delta ligands.

He'll also take bloods and consider whether iron supplements /infusions would help.

[RCHD in reply to Joolsg]

great thank you. Trying to get appointment right now!really hoping he’s available in the 5 weeks we are there!!!

[TeddiJ in reply to RCHD]

The thing is, kratom IS a kind of opiate, so keep that in mind.

I was using it when I had my appt., too. At any rate, you can't beat getting advice from one of the very best.

[DicCarlson]

stanfordhealthcare.org/doct...

[TeddiJ in reply to DicCarlson]

That link isn't correct, but thanks. That's Stanford, where he teaches, and he is there about once per month.

As I mentioned above, he is in Downey.

[RCHD in reply to TeddiJ]

thank you

[RCHD in reply to TeddiJ]

unfortunately he’s not taking people until December:((((((

[TeddiJ in reply to RCHD]

Did you call the Downey office and not the one above? Just making sure...if so, that is terrible.

[RCHD in reply to TeddiJ]

we miraculously got an appointment!! I’m so so grateful 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[TeddiJ in reply to RCHD]

Yay-so glad for you. I knew that didn't sound quite right. The wait can be 2-3 months, but not that long, usually! It's great the timing worked for your visit!

[RCHD in reply to TeddiJ]

I think my friend initially called the Stanford number.. they are the ones who said December.. but anyhow super glad we got appointments!

[TeddiJ in reply to RCHD]

Yes, that is what I thought. Very good!

[AnotherRLScase]

Hi RCHD, if you're California now, has your husband tried cannabis gummies? I don't know how those would interact with bipolar meds, but I have had a lot of help from gummies that have a blend of THC, CBN & CBD. They usually have names like "Sleep" or "Rest." One brand didn't help me much, that was Camino, but several others have been great, and prices seem to be reasonable.

I haven't gone to Dr. B; it hasn't been necessary for me at this point as my case is pretty well under control, but my understanding from people here who have seen him is that he absolutely does not use a blanket approach but rather takes each patient as an individual with different needs. For some that means opiates, but by no means for everyone! If I were having serious issues I thought weren't being addressed, I would do anything I could to get an appointment with him.

[RCHD in reply to AnotherRLScase]

thank you so much! Yes trying now to get appointments!! And yes once we are in Cali we he can also do cbd …

[Graham3196]

I think its worth traveling a long way to get a consultation and continuing advice from a genuine world authority on whatever ails you. In the meantime you just have to keep swapping doctors until you find one who helps you. It can be expensive so not everyone has the luxury but you have experts on this forum who can guide you to someone who knows what he's talking about. He might not be able to help you but at least you can be satisfied that you tried one of the best and you can ask the forum who is second best.

The [poor doctors have the problem that we, the patients, are not all the same. We can feel aggrieved that our local doctor doesn't want to read up on what the Mayo clinic recommends but that's a hint to try another doctor, even in the same local clinic. Remember the poor coot has hundreds of patients with thousands of diseases, some of the diseases are rare and he, probably sub-consciously, chooses to offer standard treatment to 100% of them and feel good that 90% go away happy and the other 10% just go away.

It just made me realise that I don't think I have ever emailed my doctor and congratulated him on choosing the anti biotics that cured me in a few days. GPs have a miserable job.