Tuesday, June 27, 2006

The danger of misdiagnosis : A Single Question can diagnose Restless Leg Syndome ??

A single question to diagnose a condition? Wow, that is magical!!!

'The question, developed by the International RLS Study Group on the basis of standard diagnostic criteria, is:

"When you try to relax in the evening or sleep at night, do you ever have unpleasant, restless feelings in your legs that can be relieved by walking or movement?" '

"Unpleasant, restless": these words are so subjective, and its interpretation would vary across cultures. The Italians seems to have better acuracy in diagnosing it.

Are there any single questions to diagnose the PAIN, FATIGUE, fogginess that we experience?
Nope.

No easy diagnosis, no easy prescribing, bad market for drugs.

Bad market for drugs, less money to develop drug, no funding to improve diagnosis methods.

Till then , we got to count on ourselves.

Original article at:
SLEEP: Single Question Aids Restless Leg Diagnosis - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today: "International RLS Study Group"

4 comments:

Shaky said...

The one-question approach may be overly broad, but then again, it may get people some help. I think most people who have RLS have no idea there are treatments. Granted, none of those treatments have worked for me, but I appear to be in the minority.
You can go to several doctors, get bloodwork, wear little monitors at night, take part in a drug study (I did all four), but, in general, that question sums it up.
Restless Legs Diary

Anonymous said...

Do you need a diagnosis? Just get better! If you are suffering from fatigue and brain fog, I'd like to recommend the website of Walt Stoll, MD. www.askwaltstollmd.com. Fatigue and brain fog are some of the frequent topics on the bulletin board there, with good ideas for resolution. I resolved my own chronic fatigue and brain fog, through the advice I received there.

Woman said...

Hi shaky,

I do hope that with the question, more people who were unaware of their condition gets help. I also think that it encourage the time poor doctors (or just plain lazy ones) to screen. At the same time, there is a danger of getting told you need "Help" and "sick" when you are fine without it. If you follow my posts, you would know my hubby is definitely an RLS case too, at least a mild one! He ticks too many boxes.

One of interesting question coming up is whether you could last more than 7 minutes (I had lots of laugh about the 7 minute) from penetration. If not, you have premature ejaculation and need help!!! There is a drug out there! How did they arrive in SEVEN minutes? We spoke to someone who had helped to "developed" the question, and had a good laugh.

Again, premature ejaculation is no joke, it had very serious implications. I am not trying to trivialise it, but the SEVEN minutes got many of us who were discussing about it a good laugh, a few of use with serious worries, I supposed.

Woman said...

Hi happygal,

I dont "need" a diagnosis to live. But in this world, it helps a lot to have a diagnosis. I have written somewhere.. I cant remember, sorry, the problems of not having one.

I will check out your the sites you recommended one of these days. Thanks.