I had to look up 'SOMATIZATION'. Apparently they are emotional symptoms that express as physical symptoms. In other words- severe RLS is emotional rather than neurological or physical.
As this is a Turkish study, I will bet a fortune that most patients are on high doses of dopamine agonists. We've had a few members on here post from Turkey and they follow Germany in prescribing Levodopa. And therefore I'll bet most are experiencing severe augmentation.
As there are no statements in the study on whether patients are taking medication or not, it's rather frustrating.
No wonder many UK doctors are dismissive of severe RLS symptoms and believe they are physical manifestations of emotional distress.
When I was experiencing severe Ropinirole augmentation- I was extremely emotionally distressed. I would snap at anyone. And yes, it made my RLS even worse.
Now that my RLS is completely controlled on Buprenorphine, I know that Dr Buchfuhrer is 100% correct. 95 -98% of patients can be completely RLS free with the RIGHT doctor using the right TOOLS.
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Joolsg
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Hello Joolsg. Interesting and I completely agree with you, too much disinformation which is being followed rather than going to the true medical studies
That is a very good point. I have been ACCUSED of somatisation, yes, I did indeed feel accused. The psychiatrist I was seeing noted I have RLS and then ignored it, clearly didn’t know sh1t about it. I wasn’t augmenting, was just suffering, but he decided I was ‘somatising my anxiety’. Apparently I had admitted to it. I never had. I’m still trying to get the misdiagnosis off my records but no one wants to hear. Basically he decided there’s nothing ‘really’ wrong with me, only in the head. And I do have plenty of other diagnoses as well, but he wasn’t interested, he wanted to pin me down for something psychological so he could feel good about himself (misogynistic twat). I absolutely HATE the whole idea of somatisation because I think it’s a fictitious disorder in the heads of the psychiatrists themselves, ie. it’s a complete fabrication and if it exists then it is very rare.
I don’t have a clue what all that in the article is really supposed to mean, to me it’s just meaningless psychiatric jargon. BS: “Anxiety doesn't directly influence RLS severity; rather, its effect is mediated through somatization.” What????
I get SO angry with useless doctors blaming their lack of knowledge on 'somatization'. They did it for decades with MS until MRI scans showed the brain scarring. They still do it with ME and fibromyalgia and now Long Covid.And yes, they've been doing it for years with RLS.
Good, knowledgeable RLS doctors are extremely rare.
Yep, it’s disgusting, all it is, is a tool for gaslighting (women mostly). I’m a psychologist, not a clinical one, but I can still recognise garbage psychology when I see it. If something doesn’t seem to add up or make sense then it usually doesn’t. It’s just jargon.
interesting! I’m convinced that I’ve had RLS since a baby. My parents had to put foam rubber under my cot to stop it migrating round the room! Psychological, eh?!
Dr Buchfuhrer is in California. So you simply call his office if you live in the USA.As I understand, you would have to see him in person for your first appointment. After that I think he can do tele medicine for California residents. Not sure if he can prescribe out of state. You would need to check.
I am puzzled as to why this paper is accepted given the interpretation they present. Correlation - fine, nothing new. But an established correlation does NOT mean a causation. Although the authors’ wording is slightly evasive, I find they still fairly strongly suggest causation. An all too common mistake. Sigh.
I second your chicken and eggs question, Jools. And agree - also based on my own experience and the very many stories on this forum - that it is most likely the other way around. I wonder whether they even suggest this possibility in the full paper. Another big flaw if they didn’t.
In the introduction they do suggest path analysis, which is a fairly new method to help disentangle correlation and (still potential) causation, but the summary only mentions univariate analysis results (correlation of one factor to another). Again suggestive of a poor review process of the paper
I absolutely agree Lotte. I have written to the lead author to express my disquiet and asked how many of the study participants were taking medication. As it is a study of RLS patients at a Turkish hospital, I am presuming they will be medicated. And, as it's Turkey, that most patients will be on DAs - particularly Levodopa.
Sounds like rubbish to me. I like to keep an open mind so I did ponder whether the various medications which can work for RLS could be having an effect by changing our anxiety levels but it seems far fetched. If I have a ropinirole my RLS disappears immediately which seems a quick response for somatisation and I can't see how those who are helped by iron infusions fit into that category either. If there was any evidence of RLS improving as emotional problems were resolved then it might just be worth another look but for me it's down there with the bar of soap cures.
Absolutely. I was highly stressed and emotional when Ropinirole had caused severe augmentation. And during brutal withdrawal.Strange how I am now completely without RLS symptoms on Buprenorphine AND not in the slightest bit stressed/anxious/emotional.
So it's RLS that causes anxiety & emotion& depression. Treat it effectively & the anxiety/emotions/depression disappear.
But Turkey churns out so many 'studies' on RLS, yet they are decades behind best treatment. Levodopa is still prescribed first line in Turkey and Germany.
Years ago I visited my GP desperate for help with RLS - she accused me of using recreational drugs! I was about 55, a mum holding down a stressful job, no,sleep falling asleep in the office toilet, desperate for help and this doctor almost sent me over a cliff. I will never forgive her.
Thank goodness for Dr. Buchfurer and his advice on Temgesic. Without his email and my consultant listening to my plea for this prescription I would not have any control over my life. I will always be thankful to them.
Likewise. My GP read the research I provided & agreed to a trial of Buprenorphine.From the first night it stopped all my RLS. No more stress/anxiety/despair.
Now we just have to force the medical profession to listen, learn & change.
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