Leg and the Restless

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Leg and the Restless

Calm twitchy limb syndrome

By ELIZABETH BROMSTEIN

 

Leg and the restless can't sit still. it's not that

i'm just antsy. I am literally physically incapable of

sitting still because I have restless leg syndrome,

which means my legs hurt and I have to move them all

the time.

 

On a recent flight to California, the seats were so

close together that I drove my boyfriend absolutely

batshit for six hours. On top of it all, I suspect

that he thinks I'm making the condition up. Well, I'm

not .

 

This affliction affects approximately 10 per cent of

the adult population of North America.

 

Most sufferers are women. It gets worse at night and

is one of the main causes of insomnia (and probably a

lot of breakups). People with restless leg often have

a difficult time describing the sensation, though

commonly used words are " tingling, " " creepy-crawly "

and " pulling. "

 

Mineral deficiency may be a factor. Smoking and

alcoholism may also play a role.

 

(Ohhhhhh, right.)

 

What the experts say

 

" One simple thing you can do is put a couple of cups

of Epsom salts (magnesium phosphate) into a hot bath.

Or add 10 drops of pure essential oil of lavender and

several drops of pure essential oil of camomile to a

bath. You can also make a tea to be taken in the late

afternoon, a combination of cramp bark , passionflower

and camomile flowers. Pour a cup of boiled water over

1 heaping teaspoon of the blend and let it steep for

10 to 15 minutes. A calcium and magnesium supplement

would be a good idea as well. Avoid stimulants like

caffeine.

 

CELINA AINSWORTH , herbalist, Toronto

 

" One thing we find [in sufferers] is low magnesium;

second most common is low potassium, and third is low

blood PH. People eat a lot of sugar, and it lowers

their blood PH. We put them on a healthier diet . Our

foods are increasingly magnesium-deficient, and low

magnesium can cause high blood pressure, achiness,

fatigue and anxiety. Magnesium is the calming mineral.

Second-line treatment would be stretching the

gastrocnemius and soleus muscles [back part of the

lower leg] for five minutes right before bed. Low back

or pelvis injuries or degenerative disc disease can

sometimes sensitize the autonomic nervous system in

the legs, causing the syndrome. Here we use

prolotherapy , the injection of minerals and other

natural substances into the joint to stimulate the

repair of ligaments. We try to cure the problem rather

than using a medication to control it.

 

ROSS HAUSER , MD, specialist in physical medicine and

rehabilitation, Oak Park, Illinois

 

" Restless leg is common, but a lot of people don't

seek medical help because they think it's

insignificant or attribute it to insomnia, stress,

arthritis or muscle cramps. It could be caused by a

vitamin-mineral-electrolyte imbalance, so make sure

you eat fresh fruits and vegetables and calcium-rich

foods . There is a genetic link in about 50 per cent

of cases, and those with low iron and vitamin B12 tend

to be more prone to it. Often, if you correct anemia

you'll see a big improvement. Diabetes, Parkinson's

and kidney failure can trigger the condition. It can

also be caused by an impingement on spinal nerves, so

seeing a chiropractor is a good idea.

 

KATE WHARTON , naturopath, Toronto

 

" If we see patients with severe restless leg, we do a

blood test to see if they're anemic. SSRIs like Prozac

can provoke motor problems like restless leg. It's

also associated with medical conditions, the most

common being kidney problems. The syndrome has nothing

to do with people who are just twitchy or whose leg

constantly goes up and down. That's more habit. With

restless leg, a bed partner will tell you that you

kick while asleep. There are medications that increase

the drive to sleep , which allows you to sleep through

it. Drugs that are used to treat Parkinson's , when

taken at low doses, will eliminate symptoms. Opiates

can take away the sensations, but that's our last

choice.'

 

DR. JAMES MacFARLANE , lab director, Centre for Sleep

and Chronobiology, Toronto

 

" We check people's tongue and pulse and treat

accordingly. Spontaneous energy is common in restless

leg syndrome. It's like a match lighting up, but

there's nothing to burn. Or it could be a blood

stasis; the blood gets stuck, causing a blockage in

energy. Anything to do with pain or too much movement

has to do with too much yang, too little yang or a

stagnation of chi. We use herbs that bring up the yin

in the blood or move the chi. Acupuncture is useful on

local points. Six people can come in with restless

leg, and I treat them six different ways.''

 

KATE KENT , acupuncturist, TCM practitioner, Toronto

**

 

NOW | SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 4, 2006 | VOL. 26 NO. 4