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Researchers may have found a new treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS) that’s way more fun than popping pills: masturbation.
According to a case study published in the April issue of Sleep Medicine, one patient with RLS—a neurological disorder in which painful, needle-like sensations in your legs make you ache and jerk around in bed—eased his symptoms by having sex and masturbating.
That’s good news for the 12 million Americanswho have RLS, for which there is no cure. Since doctors don’t know what exactly causes it, it’s hard to provide effective treatment for patients. But multiple doctors who treat the disorder have heard from their patients that having orgasms is indeed one low-risk, high-reward way to lessen the severity of RLS.
Go Ahead, Get Off
“I’ve heard from a large number of my patients with RLS that it helps. So I’ll certainly say that since it’s something that doesn’t seem to hurt anybody, and it’s a simple thing anyone can do without medication, why not?” says Mark Buchfuhrer, M.D., medical director of SomnoMedix, a sleep-disorders center in California, and the author of Restless Legs Syndrome.
Researchers have speculated that RLS results from an imbalance of dopamine—the “feel-good” chemical—in the brain, which might explain the orgasm link: Orgasms trigger a huge release of dopamine, which temporarily provides enough relief for a good night’s sleep. The only two FDA-approved drugs to treat RLS, Mirapex and Requip, both mimic dopamine release in the same way. “But there’s a myriad of hormones released during an orgasm that may also be in play, so it’s still very muddy as to what exactly goes on,” says Buchfuhrer.
Need a Break? Try These Tricks
You can also try other natural ways to ease RLS symptoms. A 2006 study in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that moderate cardio and lower-body resistance training three times a week reduced the severity of RLS by an average of 39 percent. But Buchfuhrer cautions not to push too hard: “Strenuous exercise sometimes seems to make symptoms worse, not better.” Instead, perform 5 to 10 minutes of deep-knee bends just before you go to bed, which will be long enough for you to fall asleep. Read The New Rules of Stretching for more suggestions.
Another trick: If you’re in cramped quarters where you’re unable to move, like on an airplane, Buchfuhrer says that doing a mental activity like playing chess or solving a crossword puzzle will help shift your concentration away from the twitching. But just like sex, it helps to have a sidekick handy: “As long as your partner’s willing to play, it works perfectly,” Buchfuhrer jokes
According to a case study published in the April issue of Sleep Medicine, one patient with RLS—a neurological disorder in which painful, needle-like sensations in your legs make you ache and jerk around in bed—eased his symptoms by having sex and masturbating.
That’s good news for the 12 million Americanswho have RLS, for which there is no cure. Since doctors don’t know what exactly causes it, it’s hard to provide effective treatment for patients. But multiple doctors who treat the disorder have heard from their patients that having orgasms is indeed one low-risk, high-reward way to lessen the severity of RLS.
Go Ahead, Get Off
“I’ve heard from a large number of my patients with RLS that it helps. So I’ll certainly say that since it’s something that doesn’t seem to hurt anybody, and it’s a simple thing anyone can do without medication, why not?” says Mark Buchfuhrer, M.D., medical director of SomnoMedix, a sleep-disorders center in California, and the author of Restless Legs Syndrome.
Researchers have speculated that RLS results from an imbalance of dopamine—the “feel-good” chemical—in the brain, which might explain the orgasm link: Orgasms trigger a huge release of dopamine, which temporarily provides enough relief for a good night’s sleep. The only two FDA-approved drugs to treat RLS, Mirapex and Requip, both mimic dopamine release in the same way. “But there’s a myriad of hormones released during an orgasm that may also be in play, so it’s still very muddy as to what exactly goes on,” says Buchfuhrer.
Need a Break? Try These Tricks
You can also try other natural ways to ease RLS symptoms. A 2006 study in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that moderate cardio and lower-body resistance training three times a week reduced the severity of RLS by an average of 39 percent. But Buchfuhrer cautions not to push too hard: “Strenuous exercise sometimes seems to make symptoms worse, not better.” Instead, perform 5 to 10 minutes of deep-knee bends just before you go to bed, which will be long enough for you to fall asleep. Read The New Rules of Stretching for more suggestions.
Another trick: If you’re in cramped quarters where you’re unable to move, like on an airplane, Buchfuhrer says that doing a mental activity like playing chess or solving a crossword puzzle will help shift your concentration away from the twitching. But just like sex, it helps to have a sidekick handy: “As long as your partner’s willing to play, it works perfectly,” Buchfuhrer jokes