Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: MS and Restless Leg Syndrome

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Multiple Sclerosis

Re: MS and Restless Leg Syndrome

Re: MS and Restless Leg Syndrome

Posted by CCF Neuro MD on October 29, 1997 at 12:06:26:

In Reply to: MS and Restless Leg Syndrome posted by Priscilla Givens on October 25, 1997 at 14:14:30:

: I have been diagnosed with ankylosing sponylitis and MS. Over several years
I have been getting twitching in my legs when I start to relax. I had an
exacerbation last October, and the twitching increasingly got worse. Then
my legs twitching at night would wake me up. So, my neurologist put me on
clonazepam, before I go to bed, which has relieved it at night. But, it
does come back if I lie down for a nap. I have several questions about this
First, is restless leg syndrome the same as myoclonus and which do I have.
Second, should I be concerned as to what's causing it, the MS or could it
be the Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Third, I heard a doctor at a seminar say once you go on clonazepam you should
never stop taking it - why?
Fourth, The muscles in my legs and arms seem to be getting progressively
weaker with time. Is this normal in MS? If so should I excercise more to
build up these muscles, when I excercise my arms - they shake from weakness
for up to an hour.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Sincerely,
Priscilla

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Dear Priscella,
Hello, I will do my best to answer all of your questions. First, the restless legs(RLS) is different from myoclonus in that myoclonus is a sudden movement
of any of the muscles and there are different types depending on what the cause of the myoclonus is. Restless LEgs are different in that there is usually a sensation of the need to move and frequently it only happens when you rest or are on your way to sleep.
The cause of RLS is unknown at this time. It does seem to run in families so therefore one day a gene may be discovered but as of now it is not known. I believe that it is unrelated to your MS or Ankylosing Spondylitis, but this is just an educated opinion only. The clonazepam should be taken if it is helping you but there is no reason to
think that you can never come off of this drug. You can always try and see how your symptoms feel. There are other medicatinf for the RLS but the Clonazepam seems to work the best for most people. As far as weakness of your legs, this is not caused by your RLS, it may be MS , as you said but it also may be deconditioning secondary to not excercising. Excersiing with MS is generally helpful nad seeing PT for an exercise regiment may be beneficial for you to get started.
Well Good Luck!

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