Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation Blog

December 14, 2018 By Kris Schanilec New research has found that nerve activity outside the central nervous system may play a role in restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms. In a study published in the Journal of Physiology, scientists report that nerve cells supplying muscles in the legs behave differently in people who have RLS. Until now, RLS research...

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December 4, 2018 RLS Foundation Returns to Washington By Kris Schanilec In November, an RLS Foundation delegation again joined the Health and Medical Counsel of Washington (HMCW) in Washington, DC, to visit the offices of legislators and federal agencies involved in health care policy. The meetings took place at a critical juncture in the midst of the nationwide...

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November 14, 2018 How Guided Meditation Has Changed My Life By Erika Hallerman Erika is a Support Group Leader who held her first meeting this year. After finally discovering the resources embedded in the RLS Foundation, she decided to start the first support group in North Carolina. "The focus of my life has been to find a way...

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RLSF Board Chair, Lewis Phelps receives Ekbom Award The RLS Foundation has named Lewis Phelps as recipient of the 2018 Ekbom Award. This prestigious award honors individuals who have enhanced the lives of people with RLS and made significant contributions to the RLS Foundation. Phelps, who is currently chair of the Board of Directors, has served for a...

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October 27, 2018 Help, Hope and Treatment By Brian B. Koo, MD This is an excerpt from the fall 2018 edition of NightWalkers, the Foundation's quarterly magazine. To get your subscription to NightWalkers and to enjoy other benefits, become a member of the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation today! Individuals suspecting they may have RLS should consult a qualified...

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OCTOBER 25, 2018 First Patient Meeting in Over a Decade By Kris Schanilec Everyone’s RLS is different, there are many ways to relieve symptoms, and medical help is available for those who need it. These themes and more were on the program at the RLS Patient Symposium on Sept. 29–30, 2018. More than 150 RLS patients, spouses, partners,...

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October 12, 2018 Thank You for all your support! RLS Awareness Day on Sept. 23, 2018 was a great success! At the Foundation, all of our social media channels were flooded with the hashtag #MakeADifference4RLS. Photos poured in from across the country of people holding the latest NightWalkers magazine cover with its eye-catching RLS awareness graphic. We invite...

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October 4, 2018 Know Your Triggers A trigger is a stimulus that causes a worsening of your RLS. Certain foods, beverages, medicines, excessive stress or exercise can be the source of a trigger. Triggers can vary from one person to another and even among members of the same family. For example, caffeine may be a trigger for one...

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September 5, 2018 Ten Ways to Raise RLS Awareness During September RLS is still not widely understood and awareness remains one of our primary goals at the RLS Foundation. With your help, we hope to spread awareness about what RLS is, and to let the public know that information and support are available through the RLS Foundation and...

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 Appropriate Use of Opioids to Treat RLS About 1 in 33 Americans – 3 percent of the US population – have RLS that is severe enough that they need treatment with medications. Unfortunately, treatment options are limited and do not provide life-long coverage. Dopamine agonist medications (pramipexole, ropinirole and rotigotine patch) can actually make the...

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AUGUST 16, 2018 What You Should Know about Iron and RLS Iron deficiency is a known contributing factor to RLS, and many find some symptom relief from supplemental iron in pill form or by intravenous (IV) infusions. Healthcare providers have new guidance for treating RLS patients whose iron stores are low. A paper published in the January 2018...

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JULY 21, 2018 By Kris Schanilec If you have RLS, you know the relentless leg discomfort that can drive you out of bed at night. Chances are, you also have two other symptoms: periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) – 80 percent of those suffering from RLS display this symptom; and constant wakefulness or “hyperarousal” – people with...

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JULY 15, 2018 In June, the RLS Foundation visited Washington for a second round of meetings to advocate for research funding and for continued patient access to opioid medications to treat severe RLS. Led by Executive Director Karla Dzienkowski, the Foundation team met with members of Congress who are on key legislative committees that have jurisdiction over health...

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JULY 15, 2018 Contact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and ask them to maintain access to opioids in low total daily doses for patients with refractory RLS Decision makers at the FDA are requesting comments by September 10, 2018 from patients who utilize opioid therapies to manage their chronic conditions. Agency officials want to hear from refractory...

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