Customer Reviews

Restless Legs Syndrome: Relief and Hope for Sleepless Victims of a Hidden Epidemic

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What a wonderful and informative work! This condition has evaded public notice for some time now and the many who suffer from this awful condition have been sort of floating out there, with little understanding, and in cases, little hope. My wife has suffered from this condition for several years,had no clue as to what it was, was absolutely miserable and, to be honest, had trouble even describing what she was going through. Fortunately, her long time physician was finally able to make a diagnoses and was able to offer some relief and help.

This work, by Robert H. Yoakum goes far in the explanation as to what she, and I, as her spouse, is dealing with. It cast much understanding on a little known subject. This book enlightens and encourages. It covers the long time misdiagnosis of this disease, the medical help available, suggestions on coping, hope, and clears up much false impressions which people have. It was interesting to not that people like Bill Mahr, the little twerp comedian seen on cable channels, even makes jokes about this "disease the drug companies made up to sell more drugs with."

I suppose there are other books out there on the subject but I doubt if any of them are more readable that this one. There are also many web sites addressing the subject, but you really cannot replace a good book for read information. This work offers the author's suggestions on sleep management and alternative rest options, how to enlist help from others, possible causes of this syndrome, criteria for diagnosis, medical advice and treatment options, the relationship of stress, dopamine and iron and finding and creating a restless legs syndrome support group.

I would strongly suggest that not only the sufferer of this condition read the book, but the spouse, family, etc. also give it a read...it goes quite far in building understanding, something that is sorely needed.

As I said, the book is quite readable, is an absolute wealth of information as to how to find other resources and is actually quite comforting as a read within its own right. I do highly recommend this one. There is more and more information being published ever day out there and this work is a great start for those newly diagnoses and for those family members of the newly diagnosed.

In 1994 the author wrote an article describing Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) for Modern Maturity (now AARP Magazine). Even the editor was dumbfounded when 40,000 letters came in, many, many of the writers saying they thought they were the only one who had the condition, that they couldn't find a doctor who would listen to them or treat them.
Robert Yoakum was eminently qualified to write that article because he had already suffered years with the condition. In addition, he was an experienced and successful journalist. Ever since then he has been doing research for this book. Reading it makes one aware of just how much he has invested in it. The reader will be amply rewarded.
If you, or anyone you know, suffers from what may be RLS, you will be able to take this book to a doctor and discuss possible treatments to relieve your discomfort -- principally loss of sleep. Both you and your doctor will be better informed as a result.

I have read several books about this medical condition. I got the name of this particular book from a medical periodical to which we subscribe.
I originally borrowed a copy from the library. I was so impressed with the information in the book, that I bought a copy for myself, and a copy for a relative who suffers from RLS.
It is an outstanding book.
JS/TS

I bought this with the hope of new information but was a bit disappointed. Although this book has plenty of useful information, for those of us who have been involved with RLS for many years, this did not provide any new insight to the cause or treatment. For someone newly diagnosed or for uninformed physicians, this book is great.

For years I suffered from restless legs and periodic bouts of muscle cramps of my legs. Then a few years ago I began taking a daily supplement of chelated magnesium for an unrelated ailment. To my pleasant surprise the supplemental magnesium which I took not only cured the ailment for which I was taking it, it also significantly relieved my restless legs and muscle cramps. Magnesium is a natural relaxant and it worked wonders for me. The importance of magnesium as a relaxant and for treating a variety of other seemingly unrelated ailments -- including heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure, asthma, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, and acid reflux -- is discussed by Dr. Carolyn Dean in her excellent book The Magnesium Miracle, which is available from Amazon.com.

I found this book on kindle quite helpful. It was good to read about the whole range of symptoms and possible treatments, the good and the not so good, in order to be prepared for my own journey of treatment. I also understand sleep studies better. Thanks.

restless legs syndrome is a very common disorder and i'm glad i ordered this book. i have been suffering with it, not knowing what it was. now i am getting some ideas and hints on how to treat and live with it. i am so glad i ordered this book!

I was recently diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome, but all in all I feel pretty lucky that this is now a widely recognized disease, even if it remains difficult to diagnose. But in my experience all the doctors I've encountered are familiar with the disease, recognize its legitimacy, and know how to treat it. When I told friends and relatives about the diagnosis, many of them were familiar with the disease. And my pharmacists are conversant with both the disease and its treatment. This all contrasts with reports of sufferers from the disease only a few years ago, when many doctors were not aware of the disease and treatment options were less than they are today.

Luckily in my case, we've been able to treat it pretty successfully with Ropinirole, but apparently far too many people have not had the ease of treatment that I have had. Many seem to struggle with the ailments and have to work very hard to find appropriate treatment. For those people a book like this could prove invaluable. While the actual text is relatively short, less than 160 pages, it contains many appendices with a huge amount of information on support groups, sources of information about RLS, and even a listing of doctors across the U.S. who specialize in the treatment of RLS. The text does a good job of explaining what RLS is, the medications available to treat it, and the history of its recognition and treatment. There are also some useful charts listing all the medications, their effects, and their side effects.

My one complaint with the book is the overuse of adjectives. This is a problem that I struggle with in my own writing. I naturally pile on the adjectives and when I write for publication I am merciless in eliminating them. Neither the author nor the editor of this book excised many adjectives, so we are constantly told how "dire" and "terrible" disease. But this isn't literature so the somewhat "purple" tone of the prose doesn't really matter.

If you suffer from RLS or suspect that you might this can be a helpful book.