Susan's story sounds like exactly what I would have written. I was a skeptic about RLS, as it sounded like a "created condition" from the drug makers to sell more drugs.
When I was pregnant, I had an awful leg soreness. It was like a fatigue in the muscles, which is common with the extra weight, increased blood volume, and swelling. During the sixth month of my pregnancy, I noticed a strong need to move my legs, and it happened only at night. Not only was my sleep disrupted from a huge belly and aching hips (and everything else), now my legs were keeping me awake! I felt a sensation of pulling or tugging at my legs; it was like nothing I had experienced before.
In this study, the researchers commented, "We, for the first time, have quite direct evidence that RLS in pregnancy ... is obviously directly related to hormonal changes (estrogens)...". In fact, according to the RLS Foundation, "Up to 25% of women develop RLS during pregnancy but symptoms often disappear after giving birth."
Comment Reply
I just read an article, published two days ago (Feb 13, 2008) about Restless Leg Syndrome, and its link to Estrogen.
Susan's story sounds like exactly what I would have written. I was a skeptic about RLS, as it sounded like a "created condition" from the drug makers to sell more drugs.
When I was pregnant, I had an awful leg soreness. It was like a fatigue in the muscles, which is common with the extra weight, increased blood volume, and swelling. During the sixth month of my pregnancy, I noticed a strong need to move my legs, and it happened only at night. Not only was my sleep disrupted from a huge belly and aching hips (and everything else), now my legs were keeping me awake! I felt a sensation of pulling or tugging at my legs; it was like nothing I had experienced before.
In this study, the researchers commented, "We, for the first time, have quite direct evidence that RLS in pregnancy ... is obviously directly related to hormonal changes (estrogens)...". In fact, according to the RLS Foundation, "Up to 25% of women develop RLS during pregnancy but symptoms often disappear after giving birth."
More information about RLS can be found at NIH National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke
Original source of study can be found in the Journal Sleep, February 2009
February 15, 2009 - 6:52pmThis Comment
Reply