RLS and Augmentation

I have suffered with RLS for 20 yrs, my Mother did as well. I've taken magnesium and iron (no help) I have been prescribed a drug "pramapraxole" for ten yrs and kept having the dose increased, until I realized that taking the medication long term had made my RLS worse causing a condition called "augmentation". I've stopped medication and my RLS has moved into my upper body and happens 24 hrs a day. My personal and social life is greatly affected. I have to accept this, I've bought a Homedics massager and take baths with Epsom salts and use CBD oil with a low dose of THC to help me sleep, afternoon naps help and I got a rescue dog to keep me company through the long nights. Don't give up! Keep trying until you find some "small solutions for you"

Augmentation is the BIGGEST issue in my support groups! We NEED some more recent studies!

Hopefully this will help People. I have had RLS since I was 10. I am in my 30s now. Things that help. 1) Take Iron 2) Excercise everyday if you can. 3) Drink lots of water. 4) No Coffee/limit caffeine 5) Limit alcohol 6) Stress also brings it on for sure 7) Go to bed at the same time every night 8) Also anti histamines make it worse. So do many SSRIs. Hope this helps. Giving up coffee was huge for me, taking iron and excercise

Thank you for this video. I feel so alone. Have had RLS since I was 16 and then after the birth of my daughter at 20 it became a daily occurrence. After many trials of meds I augmented and eneded up having it all over my entire body, all day, all night. It's constant but worst at night. Its been 13 years now of a whole body experience. Pure torture that no one understands.

It can be horrific. There are times I just want to chop my legs off. The sensations are not pain, but they are extremely unpleasant in a way that can be utterly overwhelming. You just want to cry. As I write, both hips are 'on fire'. And I've no idea if the meds I took 3 hours ago will either stop this or I'll have to take more or take some codeine pain medicine.

This is an excellent video, it should be watched by all friends and family of RLS sufferers.

One thing I found very interesting, which I didn't previously know, is that RLS is most common in northern Europeans. I'm half Norwegian and half Scottish. My father had it, though I don't believe he ever took medication. I've greatly appreciated all of the information provided by the RLS Foundation, and the support they offer to all of us who suffer from the disease.

Thanks for the precious information! I am 50 years old Asian (South Korean) Male. I didn't' know that I had an RLS for 30 years old. I thought I have a bizarre experience. Now, I feel much better that I know what I have been experiencing and I am not alone.

I have RLS. I have never ever experience anything like this. It fells like something is crawling in my leg. My muscles tightens up. I shake he whole bed trying to get relief. It is a awful feeling. It drains me and makes me really tired. I am so glad to see this video. Maybe now people can understand what RLS sufferers go through.

Right now I have a fairly mild form of RLS, and it is terrible. I remember my mother having it, and just very much hope that it ends with me....

Thank you, your description of this condition, I think I have this.

Thank you!

I was a fidgety kid. I remember my mom getting very irritated with me, grabbing my legs, and hissing “sit still!” I was unable to explain that it was almost painful to try to not move, to stop fidgeting. It wasn’t until decades later, after treatment for psychiatric illness, that the nighttime rls started. And now added in is post menopausal hot flashes. Sleeping is a precious commodity.

Thank you for this informative video, especially the part about augmentation. This wan't so widely known about when I experienced it. Excellent video. - aka sleepdancer

Thank you for this video introducing what RLS and augmentation are. It's definitely an important issue that more doctors and patients need to be aware of. Personally, I would have liked to have learned a little more about how augmentation works in the brain and other relevant details (e.g. the idea that drug doses that are low by FDA standards are too high when considering the risk of augmentation). Also, some of the analogies are a bit tortured.

I have mild symptoms, but I describe it as similar to an itch, that is similar as a non-painful sensation in a particular body spot that is very distracting, like a itch is. An itch is relieved by scratching it. RLS symptoms are relieved by moving the body part with the sensation. But like a persistent itch, the sensation immediately returns. If one is trying to sleep, it can become impossible to drop off while having to move one or both legs every few seconds. Growing up, my mother had the same symptoms. We called it "the jumps". It was much later in life that I learned it was a medically identified condition.

It is very nice story

This might change my life finally after years of suffering.

This condition is ruining my life, and finding hard to cope twisting and turning till I eventually fall asleep in the early hours. struggling with my work as I am so tired everyday, with no strength in my body.

Mine is bouts of leg movements, and a feeling of the muscle crushing the bone. Im lucky as it is not constant, though always some pain. I have found electro stimulation pads can give some relief.