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"Taking drugs for RLS and seeing no improvement?"

  

  

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  "I'm so frustrated with my restless leg condition. I get so little sleep. I can hardly keep my eyes open while at work. My meds are simply not calming my restless legs."

For years physicians thought restless leg syndrome (RLS) was solely a neurologic disorder. The irresistible urge to move one's legs during periods of rest or inactivity was considered solely a neurologic movement disorder. In view of poor results and intolerable side-effects with drugs, physicians began researching for more reliable non-pharmacologic options.

Researchers began to recognize that individuals experiencing episodic restless leg sensations actually demonstrated the same pathology involved with chronic venous insufficiency.

In 2007, a small pilot study involving nine subjects with moderate to severe restless leg sensations were subjected to daily one-hour treatments in the evening using compression device technology. All nine reported immediate improvement and none reported experiencing any adverse side-effects.

With the success of the pilot study, a larger study was performed in 2009 at Walter Reed Hospital. The study involving thirty-five patients with moderate to severe restless legs sensations confirmed that chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) symptoms did indeed overlay the same symptoms found with patients suffering RLS. The study confirmed evening inactivity along with venous reflux led to venous pooling of deoxygenated blood, tissue hypoxia, and the triggering of neuromuscular irritability which manifests in the form of calf-muscle spasms and restlessness of lower legs.

Taking a close look at the circulatory system ...
In order to understand the science, let's first review that it's the heart that pumps oxygenated blood to all parts of the body including the extremities via the arteries.

In turn, walking or exercise causes the calf-muscle to compress the leg veins, which propels the deoxygenated blood via the veins upward and back to the heart for re-circulation.

Taking a closer look at the venous valves ...
Inside the walls of veins are delicate one-way valves that open when the calf-muscle is compressed and conversely, close during periods of standing, sitting, or lying down. The closing of the valves during periods of inactivity prevents the deoxygenated blood from flowing backwards and pooling in the lower legs due to gravity.

What are the factors that cause chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)?
Pregnancy, occupations requiring long hours of standing, obesity, and/or blood clots can weaken or cause the one-way valves to weaken and become incompetent. As the valves become incompetent, the forces of gravity pull the deoxygenated blood backward through the valves causing venous blood to pool. The pooling of deoxygenated blood leads to the development of spider veins, varicosities, varicose veins, and swelling (edema), all of which are early signs of CVI.

The second component to CVI is calf-muscle dysfunction. During the evening hours when individuals want to relax and watch TV, the calf-muscle is inactive. The combination of calf-muscle inactivity along with incompetent, faulty valves leads to CVI.

The clinical study performed at the Walter Reed Hospital confirmed the components of CVI overlay the pathology for RLS. As a result, the study confirmed that pneumatic compression therapy helped calm the symptoms associated with RLS without using intolerable drugs and medications.

At the same time period, a prospective study was being untaken by Dr. Brian McDonagh and his team of physicians with patients complaining of restless leg syndrome who demonstrated symptoms of CVI. This study concluded CVI does indeed overlap the clinical symptoms found with patients suffering with RLS.

"The VENOWAVE is so comfortable that last night I fell asleep while wearing it. I love how my VENOWAVE gently massages away the heaviness and helps calms the restlessness that I sometimes feel."

Every twelve seconds the VENOWAVE delivers a wave of therapeutic compression directly to the calf-muscle. Each wave enhances venous and lymphatic drainage which reduces pooling of deoxygenated blood, helps reduce neuromuscular dysfunction, and consequently minimizes restlessness. Recommended time for treating CVI is one to two hours prior to bedtime.
The VENOWAVE with continuous wave-motion mimics the function of the calf-muscle and volumetrically displaces and improves venous and lymphatic drainage. Improving blood flow helps reduce the symptoms associated with CVI and restless legs.

The VENOWAVE can be worn while walking, sitting, or sleeping. The VENOGARD prevents bedding from getting caught in the device and impeding function.

The VENOWAVE is a Class II medical device and requires a written prescription by the patient's doctor. The VENOWAVE is applied and worn directly to the calf-muscle and worn throughout the day. The rechargeable battery system allows the wearer complete freedom. The VENOWAVE can be worn anywhere and at anytime of the day. Since the operation is totally silent, the device does not disturb the patient at sleep time or during work.

 So if you are unresponsive or intolerable to drugs for restless legs, you may be a candidate for the VENOWAVE, a non-pharmacologic therapy device for treating chronic venous insufficiency and restless legs.

Take the 1st Step, go to www.vasocare.net, and click-on the Restless Legs link. Learn how the VENOWAVE treats CVI and helps calm restless legs.

The 2nd Step is about downloading the Prescription/Rx form and asking your physician to complete, sign, and fax back the Prescription/Rx form to VasoCARE for the treatment of CVI with restless legs.