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Have you ever thought of restless legs syndrome (RLS) as a chiropractic deficiency? By chiropractic deficiency, do I mean a lack of chiropractic adjustments in the sufferer's life, or am I implying that patients are not aware that their doctor of chiropractic is quite capable of quickly correcting this very annoying symptom? Perhaps I'm implying that our colleges haven't adequately prepared their graduates to recognize the simple cause of this complex symptom. Actually, I believe all three causes are involved. Fortunately, however, the pharmaceutical industry has come to our rescue with an FDA-approved prescription drug, even though they readily admit the cause of RLS is unknown and the condition is lifelong and cannot be cured!
My purpose in writing this month's column is to show that chiropractors have no competition in diagnosing and effectively treating this condition, relieving many patients of lifelong discomfort and frustration.
RLS is described as a sleep disorder in which a person experiences vague, unpleasant, seldom painful, but always very annoying, sensations in the legs such as creeping, crawling, and tingling. These sensations occur anywhere from the thigh to the ankle. One or both legs may be affected and, for a small percentage, the sensations may also be experienced in the arms. The symptoms usually occur when the person lies down or sits for prolonged periods of time, such as at a...