Wednesday, May 14, 2008

RLS - The Lamest Disease Ever




Everyone has seen the commercials... "You may have Restless Leg Syndrome... contact your doctor today to see how they can help."

This is quite possibly the lamest disease on record. Instead of using their research dollars to combat AIDS, or cancer, we find out that the drug companies are instead spending it on magic drugs to keep our legs still. Thanks for stopping by.

Then I thought about it. When you see the commercial, you immediately think..."Hey, maybe I have RLS, sometimes my legs won't stop moving around in bed. Maybe I should call my doctor." BANG, big pharma has just accomplished it's goal. I fell victim to this as well, what clever marketing.

Then I thought about it a little more.... Are these people crazy?? Everyone that I have asked says that occasionally their legs get a little jumpy. I would take a guess that say this condition is part of... oh you know BEING ALIVE. So please don't call your doctor, don't contribute to the United States being the most medicated country on earth.

Peace, love and lots of leg movement...

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've got a coworker whose RLS used to prevent her from sleeping.

JD @ run-thru-life.blogspot.com said...

Hmmmm, now I look like a jerk. But do you at least understand my point?

Rosiecat24 said...

JD, I see your point about aggressive advertising by drug companies. But Restless Legs Syndrome is a real disorder and it's very disruptive to the people who have it.

You are perhaps a little underinformed about RLS, but you aren't a jerk :-)

I think I suffer from Restless Mind Sydrome when I try to go to bed sometimes! Where's my Valium?

A Wanderer's Heart said...

I have to admit that I am perhaps the world's biggest skeptic when it comes to RLS. You're not alone. :)

JD @ run-thru-life.blogspot.com said...

Excellent, someone as skeptical as myself. That makes me feel a bit better about my stance...

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you wrote a post about RLS commercials and didn't even mention that one of the side effects is a possible addiction to gambling. I've always assumed it's because RLS is treated as an anxiety disorder and so the drugs are actually treating your brain rather than your legs, but I don't know why the drugs would make you more susceptible to a gambling addiction.

JD @ run-thru-life.blogspot.com said...

I love the side effects of drugs.... The commercials always start out with the minor side effects, like dry mouth. The last one they mention is always the worst, like violent seizures followed by heart failure.