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Is restless leg syndrome related to hereditary neuropathy?

Had been diagnosed with RLS. Now diagnosed with severe ulnar neuropathy. Both children in 30's both male and female have has surgery on wrist and female may need elbows. Grandmother on mothers side had claw hands which we thought was from arthritis. She was also treated for leg and hand shaking, never diagnosed as Parkinson's. Can all these be related to some heredity neuropathy?
Female
Female
asked Jun 16, 2010 at 01:59PM in Neurology/Brain Disorders
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    answered Jun 20, 2010 at 11:14PM
    I can find no connection between those conditions and hereditary neuropathy. But I do know that both RLS and the other conditions you describe are sometimes associated with magnesium deficiency, and some people find relief from magnesium supplementation, along with B vitamins.

    I would encourage you to look at causes other than hereditary ones. Too many people have the mistaken idea that genetics are destiny when, in fact, there is much you can do to improve your health.

    It could be that your genetics are a contributory factor. For example, perhaps your family members might need greater than average amounts of magnesium in you diet. Or you might have a more difficult than average time in absorbing magnesium. Then again, perhaps your water supply or the foods your family routinely eats are low in magnesium (and high in calcium).

    Another factor: dopamine has been associated with RLS as well as Parkinson's -- though by different mechanisms.

    Some evidence shows that dopamine is a magnesium-dependent neurotransmitter, so it could be that magnesium is a good place to start on both counts.

    It is also a fairly benign supplement, except for people with kidney disease and certain heart conditions.

    Here is a factsheet from the National Institutes of Health:
    http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp
  • 0
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    answered Aug 02, 2010 at 07:56PM
    Low iron levels have also been associated with RLS. RLS and neuropathy are not related per se, but often occur together in the same patient. Clinically, it can be difficult to distinguish RLS from neuropathy.
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