1 in 3 People with CFS Have Restless Leg Syndrome
Vitality101 Newsletter
Do your legs kick around while you sleep? Are your sheets and blankets scattered about when you wake up? Does your spouse complain that you kick him or her during the night? If so, you probably have restless legs syndrome (RLS, more accurately called PLMD, or Periodic Leg Movement Disorder of Sleep), a condition that contributes to both fatigue and pain. You may think you're sleeping comfortably all night, but if you have RLS your legs are running a marathon and you're waking up more exhausted than you realize!
Restless legs syndrome is actually fairly common, but a startling 1 in 3 people with CFS and fibromyalgia have it!
What Causes Restless Legs Syndrome?
One of the most common and easily treated causes of RLS is iron deficiency. If you think you have RLS, you should get a ferritin level test from your physician, as this is the best way to find out. Studies show that bringing your ferritin level above 60 will help eliminate RLS. But be sure it's a ferritin level test and not one of the other iron tests such as total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) tests and transferrin tests. These tests typically consider anything above 12 to be "normal." But that does not mean that you don't have iron deficiency. Explicitly ask your doctor for a blood ferritin test. If the results are under 60, you need iron supplements.
Are you ready to kick your restless legs syndrome out of bed?
Tinnitus in Fibromyalgia
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is very common in fibromyalgia. Although I have seen it resolve over time with the S.H.I.N.E.® protocol (likely when the tinnitus is caused by tight muscles pinching nerves related to the ear, or by nasal infections), when it doesn't, I have little else to add.
Dr. David Berg is a chiropractor and author known for developing a fascinating "tapping" technique to treat thyroid issues. He recently came up with another fascinating technique for tinnitus. The technique actually makes sense when you consider that there is an embryologic communications between the skin, muscle, and underlying organs in each region. For example, I routinely find tender muscles in the solar plexus area in people who have severe indigestion. I have found that I can make both the indigestion and tenderness go away by treating either the muscle pain, or the stomach pain (of course, it works best to treat both together).
If you have ringing in the ears, watch this video on Dr. Berg's technique. Give it a a try and let me know if it helps. Thanks!
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Energy Revitalization System (Berry)
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Consultations With Dr. T
I treat people with CFS and fibromyalgia all over the world by providing consultations over the phone or in person, with a comprehensive "new patient" consultation session including four hours of one-on-one time with me. During this initial session, I'll review your medical lab records, thoroughly discuss the experiences you've had with this illness, answer all of your questions, and recommended a detailed treatment protocol for your case.
Fun Stuff
Kids Dancing
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
