Restless Leg Syndrome :: Maybe this designers dream
For some time now, I've been dealing with an extremely annoying sensation which begins on the left side of my back, runs through my left arm and into my fingers. The sensation only occurs in the middle of the night but is so intense that it always wakes me up because I am compelled to move around to try and shake it off. I have had a very difficult time trying to describe this and could only, until now, say it felt like "a build up of energy" or I would sometimes describe it as "the evilness" in me trying to get out :)
After a particularly difficult week sleeping, I finally did some research. I was exhausted and needed answers! It seems there is actually a name for this thing. It's a sleeping disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS. Except I have it in my arm. According to CNN, The Mayo Clinic and the National Sleep Foundation, RLS affects approximately 10% of adults in North America and Europe. There is even a website for RLS. When I read the description of RLS I knew immediately this was what I was dealing with. Having now spoken to loved ones about this, we also wonder if it is also perhaps related to working seated at a desk using the computer. Are there other graphic designers or web designers out there experience this sensation? Anyway, the description is as follows:
A sleep disorder in which a person has unpleasant feelings or sensations in the legs. These feelings are described as creeping, tingling, pulling, tugging or painful. While these sensations happen most often in the calf or lower leg area, they can be felt anywhere from the ankle to the upper thigh. RLS symptoms can occur in one or both legs and can also be felt in the arms.
People with RLS talk about having an irresistible urge to move.
There doesn't seem to be a cure for the stupid thing but causes can be anemia (which I have), or an imbalance of dopamine...alcoholism, diabetes and/or kidney failure. There is no blood test or lab testing established to confirm the diagnosis but Ok...clearly a trip to the doctor is in order; however, what a relief (I hope). Now having this information at hand, some coping skills and the knowledge of what to do to change my lifestyle to better manage RLS (in my arm) at least now I won't be waking up pissed off and exhausted because of some weird "sensation" that I don't know what to do with.
Here's my plan (if you are so inclined to continue reading):
- Exercise
- Start taking vitamins..seriously!
- Stretch, yoga or Pilates in the morning and before bed at night. Warm bath before sleep may also help as might Advil or Motrin.
- Get one of those squeeze ball things to alleviate the tension or sensation in my arm.
- Stand rather than sit at my desk.
I will probably never be able to sleep like a regular person and I’ll probably never be able to have morning appointments with clients because my sleep is too irregular (so those of you who are my clients and reading this...I hope you'll understand.)
The findings also say "don't fight the problem" because freaking out over sleep only makes it worse. Going to bed much later (around 2 or 3am) and waking later is better. RLS is most common during the hours of 10pm and 4am. For me it is between 1:00am and 4:00am. So this pretty much means while I can't get up early in the morning and prepare for the 8-5 work day, I can certainly work later into the evening because now I know my threshold hours. Rather than trying to get an early night sleep (which will only be interrupted anyway) I can work toward restructuring my lifestyle and using those late night hours available to me for productive things. And hey...there should be very few interrupts at 2am so work should be super efficient.
Have any of you experienced RLS or sleep related problems perhaps due to your job?
