Living with Restless Legs Syndrome

Gabapentin enacarbil (GEn) improves restless legs syndrome

2009-05-26T15:18:00.001-05:00

SAN DIEGO -- May 14, 2009 -- Gabapentin enacarbil (GEn) improves restless legs syndrome (RLS) while reducing associated pain, according to phase 3 results presented here at the 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society (APS).Results, which were presented on May 9, showed that at week 12 last observation carried forward (LOCF), significantly more patients treated with GEn reported a more than 50% reduction in pain...

Click here to read full article

April 19 – 25, 2009: National Volunteer Appreciation Week

2009-04-15T10:48:00.005-05:00

The RLS Foundation is proud to have well over 100 volunteers across the US and Canada. With National Volunteer Week just around the corner, we'd like to take a moment to thank the individuals who make our work possible.

Thank you Board Members: For all you do in governing our Foundation and fostering our mission of raising RLS awareness, bettering treatments and leading us to a cure.

Thank you Support Group Leaders: For offering meetings, phone calls, emails, hope and support to those living with RLS. You are the backbone of our support organization.

Thank you Contacts: Your emails and phone calls are helping individuals realize they are not alone and that information on RLS is just a click away.

Thank you Advocates: For allowing a strong voice to be heard at health fairs, meetings, in newspapers, as well as on the radio and television. Without you, RLS would still be "the most common disease you've never heard of."

Thank you Committee Members: You are singling out issues relative to the RLS Foundation in 2009 and paving a way for the future!

Thank you to everyone who gives to the RLS Foundation. Together we are reaching out to the RLS community, funding research, and bettering the lives of those living with RLS. We are sincerely grateful for your volunteerism and support.

"We must give more in order to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest." -- Orison Swett Marden (American Journalist)

World Sleep Day 2009

2009-03-18T16:13:00.000-05:00

WORLD SLEEP DAY 2009 -- MARCH 20, 2009

World Sleep Day is an international annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social aspects and driving. It aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. World Sleep Day 2009 is being held on March 20th, under the slogan ‘Drive alert, arrive safe’. This year’s theme is transportation, focussing on safety, travel and driving alertness.

The first World Sleep Day was launched... (click here to read more)

How to Spot a Scam

2009-02-19T14:42:00.002-06:00

The RLS Foundation recognizes there are many sites online dealing with restless legs syndrome. One quick and easy way to spot a scam or untrustworthy site/product is by simply reading carefully.

The neurological disorder nearly 10% of the American populations lives with night after night is restless LEGS syndrome. There is no such disorder as restless LEG syndrome. If you spot this error, do not trust the information.

For more quick facts on restless legs syndrome, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Potential New Drug for RLS

2009-02-03T14:31:00.000-06:00

XP13512 Shows Promising Results in Restless Legs Syndrome: Presented at AAPM
By Emma Hitt, PhD

HONOLULU -- February 2, 2009 -- An experimental treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS), XP13512, was found to improve symptoms in all patients and reduced pain associated with RLS compared with placebo, according to results of a study presented here at the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) 25th Annual Meeting."Pain is not a criterion for diagnosis of RLS, but many patients report ...

To read more, click here.

Exercise Reduces Leg Movements

2009-02-03T14:27:00.002-06:00

A recent journal article found exciting new information regarding exercise and sleep in January 2009.
Exercise Reduces Periodic Leg Movements, Improves Sleep Patterns

Great Press for RLS!

2008-12-18T08:00:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, The New York Times online posted their feature on RLS. The RLS Foundation is incredibly excited by this piece of great press for RLS!

Click here to read the story or click here to listen to the patients' accounts of RLS. We are so excited by this painted portrait of RLS. I work and know each of the individuals featured in the first-person accounts and am so excited to see RLS illustrated so appropriately!

Spinal Anesthesia Doesn't Cause Restless Leg Syndrome

2008-11-20T20:26:00.001-06:00

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Spinal anesthesia won't cause or worsen restless legs syndrome.

That's the conclusion of a new study published as a letter to the editor in the Nov. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The study compared people undergoing general anesthesia to those undergoing surgery with spinal anesthesia and found no difference in restless legs syndrome symptoms between the groups.

To read more, click here.

Clinical Trials

2008-11-06T08:09:00.001-06:00

We hope you take the opportunity to visit our website to see what clinical trials might be available in your area. Our Clinical Trials page is updated on a regular basis. We have recently added two new studies that might be of particular interest to our members. Visit today!

Regional Meetings

2008-10-31T12:37:00.001-05:00

Did you miss the opportunity to join us at one of our three 2008 regional meetings? This year we met with many people interested in learning more about RLS in San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta. If you missed these great events, you can still see what was talked about at these meetings. Click here to see for yourself!

Chicago Tribune publishes Q & A on RLS

2008-09-03T10:45:00.002-05:00

More great press for RLS. Check it out by clicking on the link below.

Chicago Tribune features Q & A on RLS

More great press for RLS

2008-08-09T17:12:00.002-05:00

RLS continues to have a presence in the media. Click here to read the latest.

CAM

2008-07-11T12:21:00.002-05:00

Many RLS patients seek help through alternative therapies. There is a new campaign which encourages open communication About CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine.) Click here to read about this campaign for yourself.

Take Action!

2008-06-07T09:19:00.004-05:00

The RLS Foundation wants you to help us fight back against bad press. To view our Take Action page, click here.

Our most recent bit of bad press surrounds actor Jim Carrey. At a recent rally for autism, Jim Carrey attempted to hound the drug companies and decided to use RLS as his soap box. You can see the video here. The comment comes about 4:12 into the video. We are in no way commenting on the rally, but are upset that a popular actor like Jim Carrey would mock our cause while supporting his own. We are currently attempting to find a place where our members can voice their concerns with Jim Carrey's comment. Please check back. Or, if you know a place where comments could be shared, email Wendi at kitsteiner@rls.org.

Portland Press Herald features RLS Support Group Leader

2008-06-02T04:53:00.001-05:00

Check out the article in the Portland Press Herald featuring RLS Foundation Support Group Leader Dr. Regis Langelier!

Mayo Clinic website

2008-05-27T13:08:00.000-05:00

Check out restless legs syndrome on Mayo Clinic's website!

FDA Approves First Generic Ropinirole

2008-05-12T14:45:00.001-05:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic versions of Requip (ropinirole hydrochloride) tablets for the treatment of moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome. To read the entire story, click here.

RLS and Fibromyalgia

2008-05-05T08:29:00.002-05:00

The National Fibromyalgia Association recently ran an article discussing the connections between RLS and Fibromyalgia. To read the article for yourself, click here.

Moonlight Walk

2008-04-29T13:26:00.000-05:00

Want to help spread awareness and raise money for RLS? Click here to read how you can participate in or plan a Moonlight Walk in your area. Spread awareness in your community so that no one has to feel alone as they live with this debilitating condition.

Getting support

2008-04-24T09:10:00.003-05:00

Have you visited the RLS Foundation's Discussion Board? This is a fabulous place to talk to other individuals who have RLS. You can read about what has worked for them in treating their condition or share your own ideas.

If you'd prefer to talk in "real time" you may be interested in our Chat Room where people come together to get instant support.

A third option is a brand new part of our Foundation. That is our voicechat program. You can talk on the phone for free to people all over the world who have RLS. For more information on this new program, email Craig at voicechat@rlsgroups.org.

We hope you'll join us in one of these places soon!

American Academy of Neurology News

2008-04-20T15:52:00.002-05:00

Two new studies presented at the American Academy of Neurology offered new insight on a two different pharamceutical treatments for RLS. To check out the studies, click on the links below:

Sleep Disturbance Reduced for Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome taking Pramipexole: Presented at AAN

Data Presented at the American Academy of Neurology Show XP13512/GSK1838262 Significantly Improved Symptoms of Moderate-to-Severe Primary Restless Legs Syndrome

To read more announcements on what is going on in the world of RLS, make sure to visit our Announcements page each day.

New blog!

2008-04-15T10:56:00.002-05:00

The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation is excited to announce the launching of our new blog! Check in to get announcements on what is happening in the world of RLS. We'll link to news around the web and share announcements for things happening at the Foundation and surrounding RLS. Welcome!