1. < Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy, RLS and PLMD

Posted by barbarn @barbarn, Apr 26, 2018

My husband says "which came first, the chicken or the egg" - and I wonder, what did I have first? Neuropathy or RLS or PLMD? It almost seems they are totally connected. Even as a child, when I came home from school my grandmother would rub my legs because they hurt so badly. Back then, it was called "growing pains". Now I am 80, prediabetic, and my dr calls it "diabetic neuropathy". The worst of it seems to be only on one side, and last year while I was in the hospital I also got shingles on that same leg! Now, perhaps I can add post herpetic neuralgia to the list of symptoms. But worst is dealing with the RLS every. time. I. try. to. relax. in. the. evening! I take Gabapentin, Requip, Tramadol, Ibuprofen, Hyland's Restful Legs. Last night the RLS or PLMD started not until I went to bed, and finally after dealing with it for 3 hours I tried the little stem unit I got at Target. Voila!!! Sleep at last!!! It's a bit bulky to wear to bed, but HEY! I wasn't even aware of it again til I awoke this morning!!! Just one more thing for RLS sufferers to try?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 26, 2018

Hello @barbarn -- That's good news that you were able to get relief from with the gizmo from Target. Was it a TENS unit of some kind? I see that Target has a couple of them - a Omron Electrotherapy TENS Pain Relief Device and an Aleve Direct Therapy Wireless TENS Device. You might want to share your success with finding it works in the Restless Leg Syndrome discussion here:

-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/restless-leg-syndrome-2a74e5/?pg=1

Thanks for sharing.

John

REPLY
barbarn | @barbarn | Apr 27, 2018

sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to see it too, as it might help with their pain. Perhaps people would like to read the reviews of the Icy Hot tens therapy, and other tens units, that are on Amazon. For me, buying the tens unit was really "impulse buying" and after I brought it home it sat in the drawer for a long while - then one day, out of desperation, I used it and that's when I became a believer! Yesterday I went to the Amazon site and couldn't believe the number of tens units they have! The Icy Hot is easy to use - there are 2 different models, one for back and hip, one for knees. It uses CR2032 battereis, and I have ordered more refill pads as the adhesive does wear out after a number of uses. It comes with good instructions and if you put it close to your spine it just does seem to interfere with some pain signals (or also, in my case, the constant movement with RLS or PLMD).

REPLY
7 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @barbarn "sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to..." + (show)
@barbarn

sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to see it too, as it might help with their pain. Perhaps people would like to read the reviews of the Icy Hot tens therapy, and other tens units, that are on Amazon. For me, buying the tens unit was really "impulse buying" and after I brought it home it sat in the drawer for a long while - then one day, out of desperation, I used it and that's when I became a believer! Yesterday I went to the Amazon site and couldn't believe the number of tens units they have! The Icy Hot is easy to use - there are 2 different models, one for back and hip, one for knees. It uses CR2032 battereis, and I have ordered more refill pads as the adhesive does wear out after a number of uses. It comes with good instructions and if you put it close to your spine it just does seem to interfere with some pain signals (or also, in my case, the constant movement with RLS or PLMD).

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@barbarn -- Thanks for the information. I'm sure there are some here that might want to give it a try. I had a Zopec DT1200 tens unit for neuropathy, came with two pads for the bottom of your feet. Used it for about 3 months but it didn't really do anything for me...but then I only have numbness and no pain so it may help others.

REPLY
barbarn | @barbarn | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @barbarn "sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to..." + (show)
@barbarn

sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to see it too, as it might help with their pain. Perhaps people would like to read the reviews of the Icy Hot tens therapy, and other tens units, that are on Amazon. For me, buying the tens unit was really "impulse buying" and after I brought it home it sat in the drawer for a long while - then one day, out of desperation, I used it and that's when I became a believer! Yesterday I went to the Amazon site and couldn't believe the number of tens units they have! The Icy Hot is easy to use - there are 2 different models, one for back and hip, one for knees. It uses CR2032 battereis, and I have ordered more refill pads as the adhesive does wear out after a number of uses. It comes with good instructions and if you put it close to your spine it just does seem to interfere with some pain signals (or also, in my case, the constant movement with RLS or PLMD).

Jump to this post

does exercise help you at all?

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @barbarn "sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to..." + (show)
@barbarn

sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to see it too, as it might help with their pain. Perhaps people would like to read the reviews of the Icy Hot tens therapy, and other tens units, that are on Amazon. For me, buying the tens unit was really "impulse buying" and after I brought it home it sat in the drawer for a long while - then one day, out of desperation, I used it and that's when I became a believer! Yesterday I went to the Amazon site and couldn't believe the number of tens units they have! The Icy Hot is easy to use - there are 2 different models, one for back and hip, one for knees. It uses CR2032 battereis, and I have ordered more refill pads as the adhesive does wear out after a number of uses. It comes with good instructions and if you put it close to your spine it just does seem to interfere with some pain signals (or also, in my case, the constant movement with RLS or PLMD).

Jump to this post

Exercise definitely helps with my PMR and lower back problems. I've been working on my leg muscles by riding a recumbent exercise bike for 30 minutes when I wake up. It kind of gets my blood flowing and helps with the morning stiffness. I can't walk very much or far due to my lower back issues so riding the exercise bike is the next best thing for me.

REPLY
barbarn | @barbarn | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @barbarn "sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to..." + (show)
@barbarn

sure John, I'll add this to the RLS discussion. But would like all PN sufferers to see it too, as it might help with their pain. Perhaps people would like to read the reviews of the Icy Hot tens therapy, and other tens units, that are on Amazon. For me, buying the tens unit was really "impulse buying" and after I brought it home it sat in the drawer for a long while - then one day, out of desperation, I used it and that's when I became a believer! Yesterday I went to the Amazon site and couldn't believe the number of tens units they have! The Icy Hot is easy to use - there are 2 different models, one for back and hip, one for knees. It uses CR2032 battereis, and I have ordered more refill pads as the adhesive does wear out after a number of uses. It comes with good instructions and if you put it close to your spine it just does seem to interfere with some pain signals (or also, in my case, the constant movement with RLS or PLMD).

Jump to this post

Yep - I'm finding the exercise bike is a good way to get exercise.

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 30, 2018

@johnbishop and @barbarn

Yes, I'm finding a bike helpful as well. I've been using the NuStep (I think that is the right name). It looks like a recumbent exercise bike but the pedals and movable handle bars look like those on an Elliptical. I recently began having symptoms of neuropathy on the right inner leg. After having an EMG it turned out to be from a inflamed nerve at the root of a L5. The biking helps. I use it at my health club - it would be too expensive to buy for home use.

It works better for me than the traditional recumbent exercise bike - I don't get as winded from heart problems - not sure what difference it makes. Exercise bikes are also great for Parkinson's patients. There is a special program offered by YMCAs throughout the country called Pedaling for Parkinson's. It is group exercise for PD patients on the stationary bikes.

Teresa

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 1, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@johnbishop and @barbarn Yes, I'm finding a bike helpful as well. I've been using the NuStep..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@johnbishop and @barbarn

Yes, I'm finding a bike helpful as well. I've been using the NuStep (I think that is the right name). It looks like a recumbent exercise bike but the pedals and movable handle bars look like those on an Elliptical. I recently began having symptoms of neuropathy on the right inner leg. After having an EMG it turned out to be from a inflamed nerve at the root of a L5. The biking helps. I use it at my health club - it would be too expensive to buy for home use.

It works better for me than the traditional recumbent exercise bike - I don't get as winded from heart problems - not sure what difference it makes. Exercise bikes are also great for Parkinson's patients. There is a special program offered by YMCAs throughout the country called Pedaling for Parkinson's. It is group exercise for PD patients on the stationary bikes.

Teresa

Jump to this post

Hi Teresa (@hopeful33250),
I have an older ProForm Hybrid Trainer that is a cross between and elliptical and recumbent exercise bike. They are probably not quite as nice as the NuStep but a lot more affordable at $349. https://www.proform.com/hybrid-trainers/hybridtrainer. I very rarely use it in stand up mode. The elliptical exercise bikes are great for stretching and getting the legs moving which I really need since I can't walk very well or far.

John

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 2, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@johnbishop and @barbarn Yes, I'm finding a bike helpful as well. I've been using the NuStep..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@johnbishop and @barbarn

Yes, I'm finding a bike helpful as well. I've been using the NuStep (I think that is the right name). It looks like a recumbent exercise bike but the pedals and movable handle bars look like those on an Elliptical. I recently began having symptoms of neuropathy on the right inner leg. After having an EMG it turned out to be from a inflamed nerve at the root of a L5. The biking helps. I use it at my health club - it would be too expensive to buy for home use.

It works better for me than the traditional recumbent exercise bike - I don't get as winded from heart problems - not sure what difference it makes. Exercise bikes are also great for Parkinson's patients. There is a special program offered by YMCAs throughout the country called Pedaling for Parkinson's. It is group exercise for PD patients on the stationary bikes.

Teresa

Jump to this post

Hi John @johnbishop

Thanks for the information about the Trainer that you use. I'll check it out. I live in a small apartment, about how much space does it take up?

Teresa

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 2, 2018

Hi Teresa @hopeful33250 -- the base of the unit is 4/12 ft in length and the pedals go out another foot when a pedal is extended. It's about 2 ft wide. The pedals are adjustable forward and backward, and lay flat for using the elliptical. You can program the tension but I just use as is and use my watch as a timer. I just got tired of replace the AAA batteries in the display unit.

John
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