This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

For a few years now(i am in my 40's) I have had the dx of severe RLS that started in my 20's. Now I am having another MRI because all of my tingling is on the left side (from head to toe on left side....in spots not the entire left side).
Neurontin and Requip eases some of these sensations but they never really go completely away. Also, I'm taking prednisone because I have an elevated sed rate and crp. I also was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata (1 sm. spot) a few months ago as well.
The RLS in both legs, along with the occassional leg jerk is indeed alleviated by the Requip but the deep-down, itchy,electrical buzzing is not relieved...I can feel it when I'm moving around but not as bad as when I am sitting or lying.
IT IS MADDENING.

QUESTION:
Does left-sided paraesthesia along with inflammation sound like MS or RLS or Pinched Nerves? Is there a medicine to get rid of the itch?

you could try magnesium. low mag is seen in ms patients. and can be a cause of RLS.

Clinical, EEG, electromyographic and polysomnographic studies in restless legs syndrome caused by magnesium deficiency. http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1995-33743-001

low magnesium is seen in patients with elevated crp. i'm seeing research links to sed rate too.

also my boss had such severe alopecia she ended up shaving her head. after she started taking magnesium her hair came back and she was able to grow it out again.

world's healthiest food sources of magnesium (www.whfoods.com):
1c. boiled chard, 1c, boiled spinach (you only need to boil it 3 minutes - it gets the oxalic acid out), 1/4c raw pumpkin seeds... etc
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=75

there are a lot of different forms of supplemental magnesium and all are not created equal. you need soluble forms for absorption. the most soluble is magnesium glycinate. i had problems taking that on an empty stomach at bed time. now i only take magnesium glycinate right before a meal, to get it out of my stomach and down in the intestine where it belongs. i can take magnesium citrate, a slightly less absorbable form, on an empty stomach before bed.

if you have any anxiety or trouble sleeping magnesium will probably help with that also.

magnesium can be depleted by stress, caffeine, exertion, etc etc etc.

hth!

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my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

Thank you for replying, and with such thoughtful advice.
I will try this....thanks for the recipe too.

How long should I give the Magnesium a try to feel a difference? (just roughly)

hey there, just fyi that was only a list, not a recipe ... except for the boiling info i suppose!

you should be able to notice a difference in a couple of days up to a week tops, after starting magnesium supplements.

you could see if you can find magnesium in either the citrate or glycinate form. then figure out how much elemental magnesium is in each one. then see if you can build up to 600mg elemental magnesium per day.

if you're interested in bloodwork, the 'normal' range for serum magnesium is 0.70-1.10 mmol/L. to be really sure you're in good shape, make sure the level is at least 0.90 mmol/L.

good luck and let us know how you get on

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com