Restless Legs and Sleep Paralysis

[Trudie999]

I suffer from both RLS and sleep paralysis. I also have suffered from waking panic attacks. I'd say I'm a pretty normal person during day time hours, but at night, I'm one of the rare few who suffer from these two things. The sleep paralysis does not bother me as much as the RLS. I have not been able to predict when I will get sleep paralysis, it seems to just happen whenever, probably once every couple of months. I find the sleep paralysis scary when it happens but doesn't bother me in any other way. I've suffered from restless legs since I was a kid and it comes on worse when I haven't slept properly or when I drink coffee. I cope with it by meditating, which helps most of the time.
SO my question is, is it common for people who suffer RLS to also suffer sleep paralysis also. I've read RLS sufferers commonly suffer the waking panic attacks, which I've also noticed I suffer more when I'm overly tired too. But is it common for someone to suffer both rare sleeping disorders? I also am one of those people who flinch as I'm falling asleep (don't know the technical name), which sometimes wakes me up, and annoys my partner. Am I just a freaky sleep problem sufferer?

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
You need to consult a sleep specialist. A sleep study might be advised. He might prescribe you some medication to help you both with the restless leg syndrome and the sleep paralysis. But you furst need to discuss all your symptoms in detail with him and get yourself evaluated clinically.

[Trudie999]

Yes I do believe my sleep issues need to be clinically assessed. Just wondering if other RLS sufferers also suffer sleep paralysis?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

I must say I have not been able to find any reference of such a case. And in my clinical practice, I have not seen a patient with both these complaints together. But it looks theoretically possible to have RLS with Sleep paralysis. I will keep searching for any references, though. Till then, you may consider yourself a rare case !

Regards

[LNick]

You are not alone! I have the exact same problem. I had waking panic attacks a few years ago. Before that I slept like a baby, but it's been progressively getting worse. Every once in a while I'll sleep fine, but I frequently suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome and Sleep Paralysis. Usually at the same time. When it's bad I estimate I wake up every 15 minutes or so, and have sleep paralysis many of the times I wake up. Sometimes I get the sensation of a panic attack while being paralyzed (Which is just a blast). I also have frequent heartburn.

I've been pretty sure that they are all related, because they all started at about the same time. Plus I get panic attacks, while being paralyzed. I just wake up out of a dead sleep (usually just a regular dream) paralyzed with everything "buzzing" like when you have a panic attack. RLS really has a similar sensation to a panic attack, so I've always assumed it's related. They're both kind of electrical buzzing sensations to me. One last thing that happens is during the day I get "cold shivers" a lot. The kind that originate at some point and travel throughout your body.

I've been to a couple doctors, who both say it's stress related. I'd have to say there's something more.

[Suri123]

Hi, how are you and hope you are doing well. Have you been to consultation for sleep study and evaluation. Can you pls keep updating about progress. Take care.

[dai3symae]

I came across your post and had to respond...I have RLS that started in my 20's (I'm now 52) and have also had episodes of sleep paralysis that were very scary to say the least.  Like LNick I also get the "cold shivers" (I always called them reverse menopause).

FYI...I take wellbutrin and don't have RLS symptoms.  It's like a miracle.

[lissavalenz]

I also have severe RLS but have only ever had sleep paralysis a few times in my life.  I've had RLS since I was in my early teens, now 40, and it has always been very severe.  I can go for weeks at a time and maybe get an hour of sleep a night.  Finally, a few years ago, Requip was studied and labeled for treatment of RLS.  Dai3symae wrote that wellbutrin is "like a miracle".  It's funny because that's what I always tell my doctor about Requip.  When people with RLS find something that work for their symptoms it truly is a miracle.  People who do not have RLS just cannot comprehend how destructive this condition is.  I hope that you have been able to find  some relief for yours symptoms.  Best of luck.

[Meredith82]

Hi, I was wondering the exact same thing...  It seemed to me that sleep paralysis and RLS had to be related because it's so strange that I would have both of these rare sleep disorders and be an otherwise healthy person.  Also, it's interesting that Clonazepam is sometimes prescribed to treat both condition...  For me the two did not start at the same time.   I first remember experiencing RLS when I was in 4th grade.  But I didn't have my first episode of sleep paralysis until I was 16.