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Valerie Boggs, 42, of Roseburg has suffered from restless leg syndrome since high school and has started a support group for other sufferers.
About the time Valerie Boggs was in high school, she started to get the same restless feeling in her legs that her mother experienced day in and day out.
Whenever sitting down or resting, Valerie would feel an overwhelming sensation in her legs that made her want to stand up and move. In the evenings, the feelings would become more intense and the need to walk around for even the slightest relief would become stronger.
Finally Valerie, now 42, was diagnosed with restless legs syndrome (RLS) — a condition her mom had for years prior to Valerie’s diagnosis. A few major symptoms help doctors determine whether a person has RLS or is just temporarily restless, said Valerie’s husband, Dr. Jerry Boggs, a neurologist who has studied RLS for 17 years.
The most obvious symptom is an uncomfortable sensation in the legs — some describe the feeling as a crawling, tingling or burning sensation, he said. Along with the sensations, a person becomes restless and feels the urge to move. When the person does move, the sensations seem to dwindle somewhat, Jerry Boggs said.
Symptoms are more likely to occur at night or when a person is sitting and usually disrupts a person’s sleep or his or her ability to fall asleep at night, he said.
Doctors either diagnose a person based on the symptoms and medical history provided or can conduct a sleep study on the person to form a diagnosis, Jerry Boggs said.
Valerie experienced all of the symptoms when she was diagnosed, and continued to experience most of them until she started taking medication to control the sensations. Valerie said she takes Meriplex once a day and usually has minimal symptoms of RLS.
Valerie said she usually sleeps through the night, but occasionally feels restless in the evening. To try and reduce the symptoms, when she is relaxing at home she lies down and keeps her feet elevated.
When Valerie, who lives in Garden Valley, is preparing for long car rides or plane flights she makes sure to take her medication, but sometimes develops a claustrophobic feeling if she cannot move.
“I would never miss a day,” Valerie said of taking her medication. “I would never think of missing a day because its pretty awful.”
While Valerie’s RLS is hereditary, two other varieties of the condition exist, Jerry Boggs said. Another medical condition — such as Parkinson’s disease or kidney failure — can cause some people to develop RLS, and some people have RLS for no specific reason, he said.
People with RLS can reduce some of their symptoms without the help of medication, Jerry Boggs said. One of the easiest ways to reduce symptoms is to avoid caffeine, other medications or anything else that stimulates the person and could make the symptoms worse, he said.
Reducing the amount of exercise right before bed is also a way to reduce RLS symptoms, Jerry Boggs said. When legs are tired or fatigued the symptoms tend to be worse, he said. Taking a hot bath or sitting in a hot tub before bed can also help people reduce the restless feeling in their legs, he said. And Boggs said a whole slew of other home remedies for RLS symptoms also exist.
Valerie said when she was diagnosed back in the ’80s, the causes and condition itself was relatively unknown. It was common for patients to be prescribed Valium or another narcotic to treat the symptoms of the “creepy crawlies” — a treatment method some people still follow today, she said.
“I think restless legs syndrome has come a long way now that there’s a diagnosis and treatments,” Valerie said. “It’s taken more seriously.”
• You can reach reporter Marissa Harshman at 957-4202 or by e-mail at mharshman@nrtoday.com.
Whenever sitting down or resting, Valerie would feel an overwhelming sensation in her legs that made her want to stand up and move. In the evenings, the feelings would become more intense and the need to walk around for even the slightest relief would become stronger.
Finally Valerie, now 42, was diagnosed with restless legs syndrome (RLS) — a condition her mom had for years prior to Valerie’s diagnosis. A few major symptoms help doctors determine whether a person has RLS or is just temporarily restless, said Valerie’s husband, Dr. Jerry Boggs, a neurologist who has studied RLS for 17 years.
The most obvious symptom is an uncomfortable sensation in the legs — some describe the feeling as a crawling, tingling or burning sensation, he said. Along with the sensations, a person becomes restless and feels the urge to move. When the person does move, the sensations seem to dwindle somewhat, Jerry Boggs said.
Symptoms are more likely to occur at night or when a person is sitting and usually disrupts a person’s sleep or his or her ability to fall asleep at night, he said.
Doctors either diagnose a person based on the symptoms and medical history provided or can conduct a sleep study on the person to form a diagnosis, Jerry Boggs said.
Valerie experienced all of the symptoms when she was diagnosed, and continued to experience most of them until she started taking medication to control the sensations. Valerie said she takes Meriplex once a day and usually has minimal symptoms of RLS.
Valerie said she usually sleeps through the night, but occasionally feels restless in the evening. To try and reduce the symptoms, when she is relaxing at home she lies down and keeps her feet elevated.
When Valerie, who lives in Garden Valley, is preparing for long car rides or plane flights she makes sure to take her medication, but sometimes develops a claustrophobic feeling if she cannot move.
“I would never miss a day,” Valerie said of taking her medication. “I would never think of missing a day because its pretty awful.”
While Valerie’s RLS is hereditary, two other varieties of the condition exist, Jerry Boggs said. Another medical condition — such as Parkinson’s disease or kidney failure — can cause some people to develop RLS, and some people have RLS for no specific reason, he said.
People with RLS can reduce some of their symptoms without the help of medication, Jerry Boggs said. One of the easiest ways to reduce symptoms is to avoid caffeine, other medications or anything else that stimulates the person and could make the symptoms worse, he said.
Reducing the amount of exercise right before bed is also a way to reduce RLS symptoms, Jerry Boggs said. When legs are tired or fatigued the symptoms tend to be worse, he said. Taking a hot bath or sitting in a hot tub before bed can also help people reduce the restless feeling in their legs, he said. And Boggs said a whole slew of other home remedies for RLS symptoms also exist.
Valerie said when she was diagnosed back in the ’80s, the causes and condition itself was relatively unknown. It was common for patients to be prescribed Valium or another narcotic to treat the symptoms of the “creepy crawlies” — a treatment method some people still follow today, she said.
“I think restless legs syndrome has come a long way now that there’s a diagnosis and treatments,” Valerie said. “It’s taken more seriously.”
• You can reach reporter Marissa Harshman at 957-4202 or by e-mail at mharshman@nrtoday.com.
So you know...
WHAT: Umpqua Valley Restless Legs Syndrome Support Group meeting.
WHEN: 10 a.m. Aug. 23. Group meets every three or four months. WHERE: Faith Lutheran Church, 820 W. Kenwood St., Roseburg. WHY: Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation support group for people living with the condition and their spouses. Free group, and educational literature is provided. Neurologist Jerry Boggs is the medical advisor for the group. This meeting’s speaker is from Mercy Medical Center’s sleep lab. INFORMATION: Valerie Boggs, 817-4511. |
