The sleep aspect of RLS

[RSL-RIP]

Wondering if any of you have tried the Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT) for the sleep apnea (and reflux, back pain etc- many targets). It has helped people especially with neurological issues or brain damage- like MS or post accidents. My husband has very resistant RLS with many trigger factors examined and natural regimes tried. The sleep apnea (with snoring that could be heard by passing walkers) and back pain are the two symptoms that have mostly responded to the IBT. Still apnea issues if too long on the back ( usually managed by the elbow of one's sleeping partner) but a recent all night sleep study showed it was no longer a significant issue overall.

His daily RLS symptoms are still recurrent and often severe but what has changed is that he does now eventually actually sleep. I felt the lack of sleep- more than any other however horrible symptom-was taking him to an early grave and decimating his mental function. Some days he will get up two and three times to walk around the block (the only method that temorarily stops the RL) before getting through that 'sleep gate'- and then he sleeps for the night. Occasionally he still resorts to Paracetemol or Codeine to induce sleep when the Sifrol isnt cutting it.

Here is link to the IBT resource:

inclinedbedtherapy.com/

Whether or not the theories are right, I have observed and experienced benefit from this method. Very important to make the adjustment slowly over months to find the sweet spot. I wish there was more conventional research on it as it it seems that it could be making a change to the way the brain clears its waste or manages repair.

Personally, I experienced greatly improved asthma (with less medication ) improved morning back pain and less bladder calls- just the 5.00 am dawn call- with the IBT. We have now used this system for over 5 years. We also notice that guests -sleeping in the raised guest bed-report with astonishment that they slept for the first time in years, or did not get up repeatedly for the toilet or awoke with no back pain and got up easily. Most of them would not have noticed the incline of the bed- so no placebo effect in what they report. Not the best idea to go straight into incline-but the guest bed is modest incline compared to our 'rocket bed'!

Would love to see a group here self select to try it over 12 months and note their changes- positive or otherwise. If it helps folk with illnesses like MS- just might do something for the RLS cohort.

No - I am not selling something or benefiting financially from sharing this info. Its available to anyone who cares to explore. Sleep- the great and irreplaceable healer. Best wishes.

[Joolsg]

You say 'when the SIFROL isn't cutting it'.And that is his main problem.

Dopamine agonists like Sifrol ALL severely worsen the RLS. Here's the link and a useful article.

rls-uk.org/augmentation-reb...

sleepreviewmag.com/sleep-tr...

[DesertOasis]

yes, I very much like my 8” wedge. It does all that you say. Better lower back, less reflux, less tongue relaxing back into throat. I can actually lay on my stomach on the wedge. In prone position RLS is “lessened.” I got the ultra expensive latex foam wedge. $180.

[Madlegs1]

That figures - I use a combination of cushions and extra pillows to achieve a similar effect!👍

[ChrisColumbus]

Inclined bed = good for many ailments, which is partly why they're used in hospitals, and may therefore help sleep (although when I experimented with my dad's old adjustable 'hospital' bed I found that raising both ends helped different things - with raising the legs being the part that helped relieve my RLS symptoms); pramipexole (Sifrol) along with the other dopamine agonists ropinirole and rotigotine = good for a while and unfortunately then bad for most as outlined by Sue in reply to your last post. Sue linked you to the Mayo Algorithm, and Jools has given you two more links. Dopamine agonists used to be first line treatment for RLS but no longer are amongst RLS experts (unfortunately a lot of doctors and specialists are not up-to-date on best treatment).

[RSL-RIP in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thanks. Aware of the Sifrol augmentation and the research. The drugs people are directed to when coming off it -like Lyrica- were tried for years before Sifrol. Negligible benefit for RL and turned him into (his words) a Zombie- total apathy.

The only time Sifrol gave enough improvement to be able to eventually sleep sufficiently was after changing first partial dose to 4.00 pm - to match circadian changeover. Still strong RL episodes - better and worse by turns. On the other drugs, however- next to no sleep at all. Too devastating.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to RSL-RIP]

Some patients are given poor advice by doctors - who often don't know much about treating RLS - on how to switch to gabapentinoids, how much to start on, how to increase the dose, when to take the dose - these differ between RLS and neuropathic pain - and on adjusting to side effects. However, some people just do not get on with gabapentinoids. The usual route recommended by experts is then low dose opioids, but in some places these can be difficult to get prescribed for RLS.

Interesting experiment with the inclined bed though!

[Tennis52]

how much incline or raising of the bed ( headside)

Is recommended. ? Would 3 inches be enough. ?

[RSL-RIP in reply to Tennis52]

Check out the website about it-link in my original post. People usually start at about 2" and stay there for many weeks to adjust to it before raising it further. Note that this is not raising the head alone -such as being on pillows: it is the angle of the whole base to the ground. Some people have the kind of beds that make it easier to achieve by lowering the foot end, for example. You will see on the site that people have lots of ways of getting there.

[DicCarlson]

Well, I had an inclined bed for years to combat GERD (blocks of wood). I took it down in the last year - but after reading this, I'm going back! It does slide my mattress off the box spring, but I can deal with it. Thanks for this!

[RSL-RIP in reply to DicCarlson]

Yes, a fair bit of climbing back sometimes. My handy husband added a wooden half round across the end of the base to stop the matress itself from sliding.

[Restless10]

A Lazy Boy recliner has been a great help for my sleep apnea. Now I rarely use a cpap. My RLS responded to stopping all non-organic vegetables and all chicken.

[BoldMove]

We have it. It's great for the back, hubby's apnea sinus, but it does nothing for RLS.