And She's Out! Does Anesthesia Put My RLS to Sleep?

One thing I have always wondered about is what do my restless legs syndrome (RLS) riddled limbs do when I am asleep? Medically asleep, I mean.

Let me tell you a story about a visit to the dentist.

Running out of the dentist's office

Over a decade ago, I visited the dentist for what I thought was a routine appointment. Little did I know the torment that was heading my way – lying back on his couch, shaking like a leaf, nauseous, and as white as a sheet. Opening my mouth, I felt the usual pressing, accompanied by, “Upper left one, two, three, miss four.”

I was aware of the horror that was happening in my mouth due to other medical conditions I had. Then the words were forced out of his mouth and into my ear, “I’m afraid I am going to have to remove some.”

Thanking him politely, I practically ran out of his office.

Finally forced to take action

During the forthcoming years, I ignored what he had told me, hoping maybe that if I didn’t think about it, it might go away. During the summer, we were on our usual salad dinners, munching a piece of celery, when all of a sudden, I felt something rock hard in my mouth. Chewing around it while bringing it to the front of my mouth, I looked with dismay as I pulled a tooth from my mouth.

Ashamed that I had ignored my other dentist, I chose to attend a different practice in another village not too far from our home. My new practitioner was unforgiving. Taking one look in my mouth, she exclaimed, “They all have to come out!” And that they did.

Dental implants and teeth grinding

After 4 appointments, all my teeth were gone. I had a mouth full of stitches and a daughter who was calling me "Gummy"! It turns out you cannot grind your teeth when you have none! It just turns into grinding gums that make the muscles in your jaw sore and painful.

Over the next 7 years, I have been attending St. Barts Dental Hospital in London, having implant retained dentures fitted. During that time, my RLS made itself known to me, increasing my teeth grinding so much to the point I have managed to break 2 plates that are screwed into my skull.

Keeping my restless legs still

When I have to have my Straumann implants checked and cleaned, I spend on average 2 hours sitting in a chair with my mouth open intermittently, having a bout of RLS because I am anxious as a nightmare.

Trying to restrain your legs whilst you have a dentist with a torque wrench in your mouth is an act, believe me.

What happens when I am under anesthesia?

It made me wonder, though – when I am asleep (I was sedated when I had my implants put in) or fully anesthetized (I had an endometrial ablation in 2016), does my RLS rear its ugly head?

As it is a brain/muscle condition, both are still working – so do my legs and arms flail around when I am on an operating table?

I hope not, or I am going to be slapping nurses and doctors around! Saying that, being under general anesthesia is one of the best, quietest, and most still sleeps I have ever had.