12 Million Person Paradox

Restless Legs Syndrome: The SOLUTION of the problem... appears to be the problem.

         A modest estimate suggests that over 12 million Americans suffer from a nocturnal neurological disorder known as Restless Leg Syndrome.  If the syndrome were to confine itself to effecting only your unconscious sleeping hours perhaps it'd be possible to live with; however, any person who suffers from this disorder, or perhaps has shared a bed with someone who suffers from RLS will tell you that it's negative effects stretch far into the next day, week, and perhaps even months if gone untreated.

         Let's walk through a typical RLS sufferer's cycle, and as I walk you through this please take careful consideration in weighing whether you are one of the unknown but believed to be large number of undiagnosed sufferers which scientists and doctors know are out there.

         In your imagination go with me to the end of your work day, perhaps your occupation keeps you on your feet for long periods of time.  Upon returning home, eating a meal and engaging in whatever leisure activities you normally enjoy, you decide it is time to turn in for the night so that you may be well rested for the next morning's beginning of the same routine.

       Climbing into bed, closing your eyes and shutting off your mind to succumb to slumber, you begin to feel an irritating "antsy" feeling in your legs.  You concentrate harder on sleeping.  Your legs "see" your concentration and "raise you" a few twitches here and there to break your rock solid concentration on sleeping.  This type of one-upmanship could continue for hours before you finally achieve rest.  During this irritating and extremely restless time you may try several things without getting out of bed. 

         Feeling similar to legs cramping or spasms, you may be inclined to position yourself to be able to stretch your legs, the thigh stretch.  Or, if you're into bio-feed back you may concentrate on your breathing and contraction and release of your muscles in an attempt to find a Zen state for balancing your mind and body.  You find the only effective manner of relieving the agitating feeling in your legs is by moving them… constantly. 

          Now let's REALLY stretch our imaginations and say that you, as an American, finally achieved sleep and got 8 hours of sleep.  Or so you think anyway as you wipe the sleep from your eyes and wait for the normal temporary grogginess to wane and allow you to fully become alert.  Only, there's one problem.  The grogginess never goes away.  You endure this sleepiness all day.  And the day after that.  And the day after that.  All the while receiving "adequate" sleep by anyone's standards. 

          You may not connect the two symptoms and relate the restless legs prior to sleep with the sleepiness following sleep.  The reason, most likely, for not making this connection is you are not aware of any movement you make while you sleep... and unless you're a neurologist you do not know how this movement affects the sleep cycle/circadian rhythm which your mind tries to work its way through every night and following into the day- using the sun, light, and melatonin to orient the body to wakefulness or sleepiness.

*** See blog entries on Light Therapy as well as Hydrotherapy in the My Bath line of products.

            During the night, without being aware of it, this restlessness continues.  It stimulates areas of your brain- while it should be at rest -which disturbs your body’s ability to achieve R.E.M. sleep.  The result is all day grogginess and an off-set circadian rhythm.  Over time this is disastrous.  And, more frustrating than the actual disorder itself is its inability to be assuaged by any amount of concentration, relaxation, breathing, stretching, drugging, or anything else which you might think of to cure this syndrome and get to sleep.

          Hydrotherapy offers some solutions; temporary and repeatable on a daily basis.  I make this concession (of a stop-gap) to you because the single factor which influences recovery from this syndrome the most is setting a regular sleep pattern.  Sleep patterns are not reset quickly and there is no one thing which will result in the establishment of a healthy and regular sleep pattern. 

          What you may do for yourself now is practice Hydrotherapy by soaking in a hot bath prior to lying down for sleep. This may be coupled with massaging your leg muscles.  If you have access to a bath product which combines acupressure jets with, perhaps, steam producing capabilities to enhance the relaxing environment afforded by heat and massage you may be able to avoid pharmaceutical intervention. 

Right now there are drugs being researched to help abate the symptoms of RLS.  However, it is my hope that before you turn to the physicians and all the new drugs which will emerge from the upcoming research, that you will first consult common sense and attempt to take charge of your own life using natural cures which may be inside your home already, and if not, may be ordered, delivered and used by you on a daily basis without insurance, scheduling appointments, doctor’s visits, titrating medications and all manner of other time consuming events which ultimately wind up stalling the healing process instead of furthering it. 

As we continue to learn, I hope you’ll sleep well…

Comments

[Kent]

I'm a frequent victim of R.L.S. and I find myself wondering at night when I should be sleeping. I used to just wonder around at night and bother my family by my foot steps. I have purchased a SteamShower and the massage jets seem to almost eliminate my problem. I found out that my symptoms seem to almost vanish by the massage therapy. The showers steam, massage jets, and therapeutic lighting relieves my stress. The truth is the main symptom of R.L.S. is stress. So if you can just give one of these showers a try I know you will feel relief just as I do. Is their truly a price on health and state of mind I think not!!!!

[K. Danser]

My husband has RLS and it is impossible to fall asleep!! I would rather he snored like a freight train. He shakes all night. I will get one of these steam showers if it will help at all. I do like the whirlpool tubs. Would there be any problem with this if I take bubble baths in it? I don't want any soapy water sitting in the pumps after I use it. Do you all have any ideas how to make sure the pumps are clean for every use? Back to the RLS. I suppose I need to get a tub he can stretch his legs out in, Huh! :)

[Lukas D. Jr.]

RLS. It will wear you out! I hadn't had a full night sleep before the purchase of the whirlpool steam shower. I just sit in it for about 15 to 20 mins. It relaxes me almost to the point of falling asleep. I get out of the tub and feel fresh and ready to sleep for a full 8. I'll just say that this has been working for a full year and there are no signs of it letting up.

[Gene R. Smith III]

I don't know if I have RLS but my wife says I do. This information was a big key to my purchasing the steam shower. I'm looking forward to not hearing my wife complain about this.