Natural Solutions for Wheelchair Patients & Restless Leg Syndrome

by Ann Azbill

Overview

Restless Leg Syndrome can be much worse when you are in a wheelchair.

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Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder. It is hard for people with RLS to sit still. Sitting in a wheelchair for long periods of time can make symptoms worse.
Significance

It is estimated that nearly 10 percent of the world population suffers from RLS, making it one of the leading neurological disorders. RLS tends to run in families.

Symptoms

Symptoms include tingling and cramping in the legs. This can be accompanied by pain and or numbness. The person feels as if the legs will not relax, even though the rest of the body is relaxed. Being in cramped confinement such as airplanes, buses or wheelchairs can make the symptoms worse. Often the symptoms are worse at night when the person is trying to sleep, creating sleep disorders.
Causes of RLS

There are no causes of RLS that can be identified specifically. Several causes have been suspect, such as iron or vitamin deficiency. Varicose veins and Fibromyalgia are sometimes linked with RLS, as is Parkinson's disease.
Natural Treatments for RLS

Stretching exercises as well as exercising may help relieve symptoms. Yoga and meditation has reportedly helped as well. Taking vitamin E and vitamin B-12 may help alleviate symptoms. Avoiding or reducing caffeine products may also help.
New Treatments for RLS

People with RLS may show signs of iron deficiency with no apparent cause for the deficiency. Blood tests for Celiac (a genetic immune deficiency that can cause a lack of iron) are being recommended by the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to determine if Celiac can be linked with RLS. Four patients in a clinical trial all showed signs of improvement in their RLS when treatment for Celiac was started, which includes a gluten-free diet.