Vagus Nerve Stimulation for RLS

[Joolsg]

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/378...

An interesting study on Vagus Nerve Stumulation on 15 drug resistant RLS patients showed significant improvements in quality of life scale and that 2 of the 15 reduced their IRLSS below 5.

The study doesn't say what meds the patients were taking.

Sadly, they don't show or explain the method of Vagus Nerve Stimulation, but it seems to involve the ears.

I found this article which seems to involve an electrical device to stimulate the auricular vagus nerve.

frontiersin.org/articles/10...

Hopefully, someone will start manufacturing a specific device for home use.

[Madlegs1]

I think Raff's posted on this a few years ago.

Perhaps there are comments on that thread?

[Joolsg in reply to Madlegs1]

healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/po... seems to have come up a few times. It also appears in other Help Unlocked forums, especially Parkinsons.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Joolsg]

Yes! I discovered that!!👍💚

[pennygates]

Interesting Jools. A quick Google showed me that Vagus Nerve stimulation is being considered for various diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and others. It would be good if a non invasive device could help RLS.

[Joolsg in reply to pennygates]

Yes, the Chair of RLS-UK mentioned it at the AGM. It definitely seems to be gaining traction at the moment.

[RCHD]

My sister bought an electric vagus nerve device( she didn’t buy it for restless legs) but she does feel the device works for the vagus nerve stimulation which helps to reduce her cortisol levels.

[Edengirl58]

I have been trying to use a VNS device on my ear for a few months. Limited usage as it is causing contact dermatitis. It is a Nurosym device from Parasym. Fits on the tragus. It was very expensive-£600. I bought it for help with long covid- a similar device is being used in a long covid research project in Newcastle (uk), but ironically I wasn’t accepted onto the trial due to my RLS. Interesting to hear it’s being mentioned in RLS circles as well though. Also interesting to hear that Vagus nerve is being cited re rls - a dysregulation of which is being connected with long covid. Lots of videos on You Tube of exercises to improve Vagal tone- and cold water showers etc are also said to help this.

[Joolsg in reply to Edengirl58]

That's really help. Thanks.How frustrating that you've developed contact dermatitis. I hope it settles.

[AmyMac5]

Thanks for posting this. I had been generally looking into Vagus Nerve Stimulation after coming across a device called Nurosym as my brother has Parkinson's and I have fibromyalgia (which I try hard to ignore) but at $700 for the machine I didn't get very far. Then I came across a lady called Dawn Wiley who runs a Facebook group which is very informative for anyone considering it. I joined the group and was impressed, she is not trying to sell anything and is very supportive.

facebook.com/groups/4920411...

It's not directed at RLS, but there's lots of practical help on how to buy and use these devices which can range in cost from tens to hundreds of pounds. They are basically Tens machines used in a particular way on low settings to stimulate the vagus nerve. The

Thanks to the contributors here on this site, my RLS is well controlled but I recently bought one of the recommended tens machines to see if it could make a difference to my fibromyalgia symptoms, particularly pain. Yet to start using it as things are a bit hectic at home right now and this is really not a device that you just plug in and start feeling better, more a case of starting on very low settings, listening to how your body responds and being prepared to give it a fair trial.

[Joolsg in reply to AmyMac5]

Thanks for sharing the link. It's very helpful.

[Kakally]

Very interesting and exciting!

[Bantamdyno]

I've found a Acupoint pen works🤔