FARQ's
Frequently Asked RLS Questions
QUESTION #1: Why isn't there a cure for RLS?
ANSWER: There isn't a cure, because we don't know the cause.
ANSWER: I surely hope so, but I sincerely doubt it. In fact, I'm not expecting one in my lifetime. A lot of good research is being done, but this is an extremely difficult problem to cure, because there are so many different variables, responses, and apparent causes.
ANSWER: There's a great deal we can do, toward finding a cure.
~~~~~~~~Analyze and learn about your own RLS situation, and share what you find with others. We all learn from each other, and we help educate the doctors and researchers. They won't find their answers in medical texts. They'll find them from their research and from what WE tell them about RLS.
~~~~~~~~Give good feedback to your doctor and do NOT expect him/her to cure you, until a cure is found. Pharmaceutical treatment of RLS is done on a trial and error basis. So keep good notes and give good feedback to your doctor, as you strive, together, to adjust your treatments.
~~~~~~~~Volunteer for one of the various research projects across the country.
~~~~~~~~Donate your brain. Seriously!!! Look on the RLS Foundation website for more information on this.
~~~~~~~~Pray for the cure.
QUESTION #4: What prayer should we pray?
ANSWER: Let's all pray that the cure will be something easy, like eating an apple a day......
ANSWER: Here's what I think about using pharmaceuticals for RLS treatment:
~~~~~~~~We shouldn't expect one pill to cure all RLS.
~~~~~~~~Using only pharmaceuticals, is not realistic.
~~~~~~~~Most pharmaceuticals have side effects which need to be weighed against the side effects of RLS, itself.
~~~~~~~~Pharmaceuticals are definitely a useful tool, as part of a total approach to treating RLS.
~~~~~~~~People should be aware of what the pill is supposed to accomplish, and not expect other results. In other words, a sleeping pill does not stop RLS...it just gets you some sleep. A pain pill might relieve the RLS, but won't necessarily help you get sleep, if you suffer from insomnia, too.
~~~~~~~~The RLS rebel does not want to use pharmaceuticals for her own RLS. She worries that the long term side effects of the drugs will be more detrimental to her than any current effects of her own RLS. She tends to have very bad side effects from drugs, she hates spending the money on the drugs, and she doesn't really like going to the doctor or dealing with insurance companies, any more than necessary.
ANSWER: Awww, geeee, thanks for the offer, but this has been my pleasure to provide this free information. If you'd like to put your money toward RLS, join the RLS Foundation and support their efforts.
ANSWER: I WISH!!! Are you a publisher or agent????? I've been meaning to put all this into book form. Maybe now that my website is done, I'll work on the book. Keep pestering me. I work well under pressure and with lots of guilt. Meanwhile, there are other good resources out there on RLS, like "Sleep Thief", and "Nightwalkers" (the quarterly newsletter from the RLS Foundation.
ANSWER: The Rebel Program is meant to apply strictly to RLS. It's possible, however, that with some adjustments, it would also be effective with other problems. The big difference with PLMD and RLS, is that with PLMD you are asleep, and not consciously applying any treatments. You MIGHT be able to use the Reduction Plan to minimize your PLMD symptoms, and you MIGHT be able to apply the BOTA as a "before going to sleep" program, or a program for when you are awakened by the PLMD during the night. Experiment. Anything is possible.
ANSWER: I've given presentations to RLS support groups and to a regional conference of the RLS Foundation (about 300 people). I also give workshops, where participants can work on their unique RLS programs during the workshop. If you are interested in scheduling something with the RLS Rebel, just
Email Me!
ANSWER: Don't laugh! Many RLSers have thought of this, but hopefully none of tried it. We usually tell people they would probably just have the misfortune of having phantom RLS symptoms, and then they wouldn't even have the old standby of being able to walk.
ANSWER: This is a common reaction to the success I've managed, using the Rebel Program. The fact that I've had success, does not mean my RLS was less severe, or that it went into remission. It means the program has worked for me. When I began this program, I was averaging 2-4 hours of sleep, per night, and that was very restless and interrupted sleep, at best. I was in pain during the days, from nights filled with RLS cramping. I still have almost daily symptoms of RLS, but they are much less severe, MOST of the time. At times, they are as bad as ever. But most of the time, I'm able to survive situations I'd long ago given up. I can now get to sleep DURING an RLS attack, which three years ago would have kept me up all night. And 90% of the time, I'm sleeping through the night.
ANSWER: First, realize that many of us have had it since childhood, and we survived. So do NOT panic. Learn as much as you can about it, and learn how to use the Rebel Program. Give these tools to your child, teaching him/her to take control and stop it in its tracks. Help him choose appropriate tricks, like suckers (for distraction), sitting on aisle seats at movies, using music to get to sleep at night. And help him analyze what thoughts, foods, or over the counter drugs might aggravate RLS symptoms. Do NOT call it a "beast" in front of your children. Help the child see it as an obnoxious bully that can be managed and survived. Knowlege and a few good tricks, are very powerful for children.
