This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

3 years ago a general neurologist thought my spasms in right leg were due to RLS and prescribed Requip that worked well but just for a few weeks so I discontinued. 2 years ago I saw an MS specialist who said it was NOt RLS because it was only one leg. He was not interested in talking about what it might be. He also said I did not have MS and to just go work with a physical therapist on my wobbly walk The new MS specialist I saw in July said I do have SPMS. He prescribed Tizanidine HCl that helps some with the spasms but really helps me sleep through the night for the first time in years. I now have dreams because of this medication. When I took 2mg I had crazy sci-fi dreams but have normal dreams with 1mg.

Anybody have any comments or suggestions?

Yes many people with MS are diagnosed with RLS but over time many find they have flexor spasms a type of spasticity common in MS. I am glad you found tizanadine helped.

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Hi SB,

I don't have any real suggestions for med treatment, but just notes from my personal experience & research. I've had RLS off and on for many years, I've been charting my symptoms for 5 years, and keeping track of what I eat for about 1-1/2 years.

So here's my tiny bit of information. I was surprised to find out that MY RLS happens entirely in one leg, my left leg (the probable MS one) and NEVER the right leg. Or at least it has for the last 6 years. I also have several other issues in both my legs, with completely different things going on in the right and left ones. I also know that RLS is often confused with many other spasms and twitches - even by doctors.

I've posted about RLS many times in many places, but just found a great site (RLS.org) that might help inform people about it. Unlike many other spasms, RLS is pretty distinctively characterized by a creepy, crawly sensation deep within your legs. In my case, I noticed it always happens in regular patterns with a number of seconds between each jolt (I count myself to sleep that way ) A few years ago, each jolt also ended with 3-5 myoclonic kicks too. Pretty wild.

But I've also found it seems entirely related to foods, meds, supplements, etc. (confirmed at RLS.org) and since I found many of my own triggers I haven't had it for several months. My charts show it twice since June - on days I broke down and ate junk food from the machines at work. And a few twinges during the period while I was trying out a new BP med and fish oil (I have nasty reactions to Omega 3s).

I hope you figure out what is actually the cause of your problems and get some relief!

Here's a great page explaining RLS and giving non-med suggestions:
http://www.rls.org/Page.aspx?pid=543
Check this out:



And this is about myoclonus (in case someone wonders what that is):
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myoc ... clonus.htm

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Dx'd with MS & HNPP (hereditary peripheral neuropathy) 7/03 but must have had MS for 30 yrs before that. I've never taken meds for MS or MS symptoms except 1 yr experiment on LDN. (I found diet, exercise, sleep, humor, music help me the most.)

I used to have a good memory; but, remember, I have MS...

I seem to recall a paper a few years ago from the University of Illinois Department of Kinesiology which addressed RLS and exercise (specifically, with an exercycle). I don't have the paper, but as I remember exercise helped a great deal. This may be due to increased oxygen (or -- remember, I am the "insulin girl" -- the exercise reduces the level of insulin).

Could someone help me find the paper? I would like a copy for my own files.