Restless Leg Syndrome

[Bay Ganyo]

Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with RLS but thinking about it I must have had it for agood number of years. Symptomwise my RLS is in the moderate to severe category as the symptoms are present almost 24/7 but my sleep is not impacted at all.
As a holder of PPL and freqent flyer this has not had any negative effect on my flying at all so far and I consider myself to be a safe pilot.

I would be interseted to hear from people with knowledge in this area or any AMEs as to how this could impact on my PPL and on my plans to pursue flying as a career. I already have a Class 1 but this was obtained before the diagnosis.

thankyou :)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

They often treat it with a drug used for Parkinson's Disease, although having RLS doesn't mean you have, or are likely to have, PD (luckily).

I don't know how the medics would view your fitness if you were prescribed these drugs.

Good luck and somebody who really knows will surely reply soon...

[gingernut]

I'd agree, it's likely that the drugs used to control it woukd pose more of a problem than the condition itself.

The text books suggest that we concentrate on ruling out underlying causes, (which I'm assuming has been done in your case), but in practice, this b*gger of a problem generally doesn't have a cause.

[jetset lady]

Apologies to the OP, but could I also ask some questions regarding this condition? I suspect I have had the same thing for some years, but doctors over the years have either said it doesn't exist or that there is no treatment. It does, in my case, affect my sleep badly. The only thing I have ever found that comes close to touching it, is Codeine. I buy the over the counter products, such as Solpadeine Max. But now, thanks to the government warnings, I am made to feel like a drug abuser every time I go to the chemist. I am not taking more than the maximum limits and only ever take it at night. Without it, sleep is not an option. On getting stuck down route on a trip, I ended up going 40 odd hours without sleep, my legs were so bad. I'm getting desperate. This is ruling my life and, frankly, costing me a fortune in over the counter remedies. I have tried everything I can think of. Is the fact I'm cabin crew likely to be aggravating it? And could it have been triggered by the fact that most of my younger life was spent horse riding and in particular, eventing? (Involves some pretty hefty drop jumps and a lot of strain on the knees in particular) Finally, how can I get my doctor to recognise this condition?

Sorry, once again, for hijacking your thread BG. I hope you manage to find something that fits in with your flying.

[Thames virtual]

Jetset Lady, you need a proper assessment. Have you ever been to see a specialist about it?

You might like to look at the website of the UK support group at Welcome to the Ekbom Support Group (http://www.rlsuk-esa.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1) There's a whole list of possible treatments, but at minimum you need to see a consultant physician, and preferably someone who specialises in either neurology or sleep disorders. You are entitled to ask your GP for a referral.

Sorry I can't help with the effect on a PPL medical.

TV

[onetrack]

Many people suffer from RLS, due to excessive consumption of carbonated soft drinks (pop drinks, soda pop, cool drinks). Coca-Cola is one of the worst offenders. Try eliminating these drinks from your diet - they're poison, anyway, with vast quantities of sugars, food acids, and artificial flavours and colours added.
These drinks are well known for inducing aberrant behaviour in susceptible people with criminal inclinations. You'll often find these drinks banned from prison diets.
Any time I see people carrying a 2 litre Coke under one arm, and sucking on another, I cringe. If these drinks were totally eliminated from Aboriginal diets, the crime rate would fall by half.
No-one in positions of importance will ever come right out and state this, and nowhere will you find well-funded research that comes to this conclusion - because the soft drinks industry is huge and well-backed - and has popular support from the masses, who love their fizzy, coloured drinks.
Sit in Maccas or Hungry Jacks and watch the teenagers sucking on their Cokes, and I'll wager you'll see at least half that can't keep their legs still. Stick to natural, no added flavours/colours, fruit juices, they cost less, and are better for you anyway.

[Bay Ganyo]

onetrack - I totally agree with you but I hardly ever indulge in carbonated drinks...a can every couple of weeks is probably all I ever have so I think the cause lies elswhere...

jetset lady - I fully empathise with you and in a selfish way feel quite lucky that although I have the symptoms in my limbs on a near full-time basis, for the last decade or so I have had minimal problems with my sleep...I have however heard that it gets worse with age so I hope its not a sign of things to come...

still would be interseted to read the views of any experts

BG

[jetset lady]

Thanks for that, Thames virtual. I didn't even realise I could request a referral myself, so shall be asking for one ASAP. I also checked out the link, which looks very interesting. Hopefully I can finally get this sorted! :ok:

[skyhaze]

On and off for quite a few years I've had these symptoms. In my teen years it was horrible.

I do believe caffeine and nicotine makes it worse, and although I still indulge I have found something that works for me: Magnesium. I take pills containing magnesium whenever I get these troubles, but it also seems a couple of bananas also does the trick.

Anyone else who has been able to manage RLS with magnesium/bananas?

[Koezy]

yup, tiredness and too much coffee will bring on the restless leg thingo for me too. magnesium tabls ... immediate relief and keep up the magnesium tabs for a couple of days. can buy them at any health food store and some supermarkets. i wouldnt be without em but only take em when needed for a few days. dont know about bananas..that would be a potassium (K) boost. other diet suspect is lack of selenium... i live in a very selenium deficient place and eat out of the veggie garden so i suppliment with a couple of brazil nuts a day so get the selenium.
cheers.

[waji]

it is a common condition, varies in severity and usually no cause can be identifed. Life style changes such as avoiding excessive caffeine, alcohol helps. Avoid drinking tea or coffee in the evening if symtoms are worse at night. Gentle exercise also helps and to drink plenty of water.

Certain medications such as statins for high cholesterol and betta blockers can make symptoms wore.

I would suggest seeing your GP first for an "MOT" blood tests i,e FBC, renal and liver function, B12, folate, thyroid functionand myscle enzymes.

good luck

[priapism]

And while you are at the Gp's , I suggest he check electrolytes - particularly potassium and sodium. I heard that hypokalaemia had been linked with restless leg syndrome. Can't find my source though. Perhaps google search the subject and try to get some info from reliable medical journals.

[Constable Clipcock]

onetrack:

Most of the "major brand" soft drinks such as you mention are loaded with phosphoric acid, which may not only trifle with the very process of ATP transport itself (adenosine triphosphate is the meaning in this discussion, not one's ATPL!), but presents the high likelihood of phosphorus intake that is far in excess proportionally to one's calcium intake. Just as sodium and potassium need to be within a certain proportion to each other, so do calcium:magnesium and calcium-phosphorus(phosphate). You may care to look this matter up in any good pathophysiology text.

An off-subject issue WRT RLS, but the same beverages also contain inordinate amounts of high-fructose corn syrup (especially those manufactured in here North America), which which a connection has been identified with the horrendous increase in the incidences of adult-onset diabetes as well as obesity. Bad news all around.

skyhaze et al:

The dietary-based suggestions for mineral balance appear quite sound; keepining one's electrolytes up to speed via real food whenever possible seems to be a pretty good idea. Aubergine is also an excellent magnesium source, and selenium can likewise be found in mushrooms and garlic.

For those taking mineral supplements, a course of calcium:magnesium:zinc tablets, together with an iron supplement has been recommended by a number of physicians, physiologists and clinical nutritionists. Make certain to take only the recommended dosage on the label. More is not better. Several years ago, I experienced symptoms consistent with RLS and use of the aforementioned supplements cleared it up in a matter of days.