I knew I had PLMD and not RLS in 25+ Years
25 + years ago, I began experiencing symptoms with leg jerkiness during sleep, causing me to rise and stretch and sit up until the movement stopped. The GP prescribed gabapentin, which led me down the road until 2016 with a move to Phoenix, and to visit a neurologist. After testing, and his patient for 5+ years, he prescribed different RLS medications, and would switch to another one when either augmentation world occur. I explained I didn't have the creepy tingling-anxious to move my feet during the night feeling, but he and two more neurologists ignored my call-outs that I felt I had PLMD. A caring PA from Mayo assigned me to see a sleep specialist at Mayo recently, and after listening to me, studying the two sleep studies, lab workout, and her experience, she determined I didn't have RLS, and had PLMD. Thank you! Finally I consulted with a specialist who really listened to me, and is treating me correctly. I am set for a nerve test (dreaded: I had one is 2016) very soon, yet she took me away from the methadone and prescribed Tizanidine to combat the nighttime movement. I am very early into this stage, but I finally am able to have what I know is the disorder I knew that has rocked me for many years. I will relay to the forum with future results on testing and another sleep study (the last sleep study in 2023 was so inconclusive, they mentioned they didn't detect anything abnormal?)
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@vikkitennis, that must've been such a relief to get the proper diagnosis after all these years. How is Tizanidine working for you? Has your sleep improved?
Hi Colleen,
The sleep is wonderful after so many years of interrupted sleep, rising during the night to read. The Buprenorphine/Nalox at 1 mg is a bit strong, and the side effects are high, with questions and concerns sent to the Mayo doctor yesterday and today. I took 1/2 of a Tizanidine last night, thinking it was the combined duo; it didn't make any difference, it is the B-oprhine. However, the opiate is working well, as I don't have the PLMD (diagnosed Friday by the Sleep Doctor) that I believe was causing me to wake during the night. I also had the nerve and muscle test yesterday morning as well. Results are not in. The Tizanidine at 4 mg is working well too.
Thank you for asking.