Does RLS Run in The Family? - Restless Leg Syndrome Message Board

SJC1973 · 09-01-2001, 08:33 PM

Hello All.
I believe I've been suffering with RLS for the last 4 or 5 years and have never even bothered going to my doctor simply because my dad has had the same complaints of jumping, painful legs in the evening and during his sleep for many years, as far back as I can remember. When he saw his doctor years and years ago they couldn't find anything wrong with his legs at all.
I didn't even realise that it was as widely known until the other day when there was an advert in a newspaper for a book on RLS, and that lead me to do some searching on the internet to find out a bit more, hence that's why I'm in here. Anyway getting on with my question does RLS run in the faimly or is my case one in a minority?

SJC

RLS64 · 09-02-2001, 03:56 PM

HI SJC, I WAS FIRST TREATED FOR RLS ABOUT 2 YRS. AGO . I HAVE HAD RLS FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 20 YRS. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL FOR MY LEGS TO FEEL THIS WAY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL IT HAD GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I WENT TO THE DR. I WENT FOR 6 MONTHS, GETTING ONLY 1 TO 3 HRS. OF SLEEP A NIGHT. NOW TO YOUR QUESTION. MY DAD HAD THIS FROM HIS LATE 30'S TELL HE PASSED AWAY. HE OR HIS DOCTORS DID NOT KNOW THAT HE HAD RLS. THEY THOUGHT HE HAD BONE CANCER AT ONE TIME. SO IT CAN BE PASSED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. I HAVE TRIED SO MANY KINDS OF MEDS IN THE LAST 2 YRS. THE BEST MEDS I HAVE FOUND TO WORK AND KEEP WORKING IS KLONOPIN AND LORITAB. I TAKE THE RIGHT AMOUNT BY THE WAY MY LEGS FEEL. SOMETIMES 1/2 EACH, OR WHOLE IF I NEED IT. I HOPE YOU GET SOME RELIEF SOMEHOW. THE ONLY WAY I DESCRIBE MY RLS IS TORTURE.. RLS64

deb416 · 09-05-2001, 09:31 PM

I have had rls for 30 years. Started right after the birth of my first child. My dad has had it all his life, my daughter has it. and we believe my granddaughter has it as she is constantly kicking in her sleep. She is only 6.

MNBeth · 11-19-2001, 12:50 PM

I have RLS and the doc said that it does run in the family. My mother and brother have it. It ususally occurs in older people but I have had it since elementary school. There are medications that help.