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Restless Legs Syndrome

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Differences between RLS & Peripheral Neuropathy

7 Replies

If I am right RLS is associated with deficiency of neurotransmitter( dopamine ) in the brain, but PN is peripheral nerve damaged.

It looks like those with RSL may have a greater hope to achieve their nerve health, but how could we make sure we are dealing with which since the symptoms are not much efferent? ;)

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7 Replies
thedragon profile image
thedragon

That is a really interesting question....no idea what the answer is!!!! Ha ha ....as you say Rahim....the symptoms and treatment are not very different...I don't expect we would get the help from the NHS to differentiate the two......much too expensive I think...it would be lovely to know all the why's to our problems but I think we can only really deal with the card we have been dealt as we will probably never find out why . X x

in reply to thedragon

Dear Dragon

I think those specialists act like wise robots do their offer for us is in the rigid paths. since we are the main victims of this bad luck, we need to try harder to at least clarify some of unanswered questions regarding to RLS issues, I am sure this would help some of us to flee from the cage...............lol :)

dekker profile image
dekker

There is a BIG difference: RLS symptoms get better or disappear when you are going to move and with neuropathy that is not the case.

thedragon profile image
thedragon in reply to dekker

Yes I agree that's true, but the human body is such a complex machine . We will probably never understand how different mechanisms react with each other ....especially neuro....there must be much more involved than what We will ever learn!

thedragon profile image
thedragon

Did anyone see the programme on UK tv last night on sleep disorders....it was made clear to me that doctors can only work on what has worked for other peoplmoe...one poor young lad was sleepwalking himself out of windows....it was for him just a matter of trying one drug after another....no one had any answers for him....

insect profile image
insect

Peripheral neuropathy can be due to diabetes, where the nerve endings die. Loss of sensation and feeling. Dangerous as the toes, ankles, feet can be injured by knocks or heat causing on-going problems.

RLS is not connected.

Hi everybody

I just found a review article regarding on rls & pn, I thought it wouldn't hurt to look at it, so I am putting the abstract and it's address here :

Much of our pathophysiologic understanding of the etiology of restless leg syndrome (RLS) incriminates abnormalities within the central nervous system (CNS). However, peripheral neuropathy is classically listed as a risk factor for RLS. This discrepancy is difficult to reconcile. If there truly is a connection between neuropathy and RLS, it has important implications for the screening and treatment of RLS, and it challenges our current concepts of RLS as a predominantly CNS disease.

The proposed association between RLS and peripheral neuropathy is based upon case reports, conflicting case–control studies, and findings from pathological studies. Prevalence estimates of RLS among peripheral neuropathy patients range from 5.2% to 37%. Initial reports found increased prevalence of RLS in patients with acquired neuropathy, but recently a large blinded case–control study did not confirm these results. Furthermore, in this recent study, neuropathy subjects often endorsed RLS-like symptoms, which could not be confirmed on diagnostic evaluation, suggesting that symptom overlap between RLS and neuropathic pain may be a common confound. This study also showed an increased prevalence of RLS selectively among hereditary neuropathy patients, which raises questions about the genetic relationship between RLS and neuropathy. Small pathologic studies have detected features of subclinical sensory neuropathy in some RLS patients.

If confirmed, these findings may suggest the existence of a separate subclinical neuropathy/RLS syndrome, the nature of which must be further delineated.

neurocaretv.com/wp-content/...

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