Can damaged/irritated nerves cause RLS?

[kcraig]

I've had RLS for a few years now. I've also had to have RFAs in a couple of places around L5 and my sacroiliac joint because of really bad pain from inflamed nerves. The RLS started well before I had the RFAs, but after I started having the pain. The doctors I've asked say RLS isn't caused by that (inflamed nerves) but by low dopamine. This is what makes no sense to me. When the RLS first started, as long as I was standing or sitting with my back straight and my knees bent 90 degrees, it never happened. BUT, if I ever sat back on a couch, reclined, or God forbid, laid down, within 20 minutes it would be raging. Ropinerole was only 50% effective at best and made me horribly nauseous. Gabapentin was useless. The only thing that literally kept me from suicide was my current doctor tried me on 5mg Methadone (pain med) specifically for the RLS not for my back pain. They are 2 different doctors. Since then, the only two or three episodes I have had were mild and only when I break the rules of eating after 6pm, especially sugar, dairy or caffeine. If it's caused by low dopamine, how would my body position effect my dopamine level? Why didn't the Ropinerole really work by raising my dopamine? To me, it just doesn't match up. Any insight is appreciated.

Keith

[Rayme]

hi, I'm unable to answer your questions. But my own experience with RL is that nerve injury to my hip/s and lower back and sciatica from the injury has made RL significantly worse. I used to have 4 to 6 hrs sleep, that is 2 to 4 hrs RL (no medication) but since the injury it's been horrible, all night, but not during the day, only at night. I take medical cannabis which has been ok so far but will eventually go on methodone. I wish I could be more helpful. Maybe someone else can shed some light on this. All the best for quiet calm legs.

[Joolsg]

RLS can definitely be triggered by inflamed or damaged nerves. That's why 30% of people with MS have it. Our spinal nerves are all damaged.RLS isn't caused by low dopamine. It's caused by low brain iron and faulty dopamine receptors.

So you are on the right track.

Many people first have RLS after spinal or bone operations.

There are several causes of RLS. Kidney disease and pregnancy, low brain iron, nerve damage, bone operations.

But we usually all respond to the same treatment.

We need more money spent on research so we can find out exactly why we have RLS.

[NJB71]

I have suffered RLS since childhood (I’m now 72) and also a have had severe back problems for at least 10 years. I suffer tingling and numbness in my feet as well as pain in my back due to disc degeneration and compressed nerves. I can’t say the back problems made my RLS worse but side effects from the antidepressant Sertraline did.

I am now on Pregabalin which is prescribed for nerve pain, generalised anxiety disorder and RLS (off label). So I’m getting three in one medication and each of my problems are treated. The RLS has disappeared ( mostly), my back pain is less severe and my mood is stabilised.

I know this doesn’t answer your question specifically, but thought I’d share with you as I think it might be worth your considering Pregabalin.

However we are all different and all respond differently to specific medications.

Good luck.

[Munroist Administrator]

I believe there is a connection. I had RLS/PLMD before I had spine issues but it rarely woke me up. After a sciatica type episode I aggravated the nerves in my spine and they have never fully healed, I still get odd sensations, tingling and numbness and occasionally pain or discomfort if I overdo things - too much exercise or heavy lifting. At the same time I noticed an increase in RLS, some twitching late evening and a lot more waking at night so I feel the nerve issues made the RLS worse. I tried pregabalin for a year for the nerve issues and it helped a little, reduced the sensations and associated anxiety but I’m not sure it did much for the RLS. I believe low dopamine is part of the root cause, which is why symptoms come on at night, when your dopamine levels drop following the circadian rhythm, but other things can make your limbs and muscles more prone to RLS for example, exercise, nerve damage, and for many people what they have eaten that day.

[PoorRichard]

I had spinal fusion (T4 through L4) for scoliosis in my 20's. Bone material for grafting was taken from my right thigh. I also used SSRIs beginning in my 50's. I'm 72 now. RLS started intermittently for me in my 60's and has increased over time. There is no other history of RLS in my family so I've laid it on my spinal surgery, exacerbated by SSRI use. I have flare ups but mostly control RLS via diet and exercise. I recently discovered that stress is also a large factor in my RLS symptoms. Gabapentin helps - I recently resumed using it on occasion.