WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR TREATMENT SESSION for RLS

I will take full details from you about your restless legs – how they behave, when they are worse and what helps them. I also take a full general medical history to see if there are any problems that need to be addressed and which may be affecting or causing the RLS. I will also sometimes evaluate you using the Restless Leg Syndrome Rating Scale which gives a baseline for the severity of the problem. In addition I need to know what drugs, if any, you are taking.

This is followed by a physical examination with careful attention to areas of tension in the lower back and pelvis.

After the examination we can start treatment which consists of ‘turning off’ the tender points associated with this condition. This treatment is very gentle and non invasive, and is designed to rebalance the muscle tension. This in turn reduces the spinal irritation and stops the inappropriate messages to the brain. No force, no violence. No loud cracks or clicks.

Most patients find this approach very relaxing and many are surprised that the tender points seem to switch off almost immediately. Some feel ‘different’ straight away.

3 more sessions of treatment at weekly intervals and most sufferers will find that their symptoms have gone.

Although this technique will work for many restless legs sufferers, it may not help everybody. It seems that it will not work if you are also taking Ropinerole. When it doesn't work some people  will respond to acupuncture and I occasionally find it necessary to use trigger point needling or nNEAP instead, or as well (Electroacupuncture; a practical manual and resource. David Mayor. 2007. Churchill Livingstone).