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Just noting your PLM index of 9.9 and wondering how informed you are on what this COULD mean. Periodic limb movements When a patient has both sleep apnea and periodic limb movements, a sleep study can give an incomplete picture of one's issues as these disorders can mask each other. Both of these cause arousals, and as they vie for prominence, whichever sensation (the breathing obstruction or the limb movements) is the strongest at any given moment during the night will beat the other to causing arousal. Hence, a count of breathing disruptions could have been higher if the movements had not pre-empted some apnea events. And the limb movement count could have been higher if the breathing arousals hadn't pre-empted some movements. The hard part is one of the disorders must be controlled to get a more full picture of the other disorder.

It is not uncommon for people with PLMD to also have RLS. For me, I had a heightened sensitivity to touch, and the simplest things irritated the heck out of me. Much of my struggle wearing the CPAP mask actually had little to do with the mask. I just didn't want anything touching me. It may turn out that that you'll have some investigating to do to achieve your personal best sleep. I just wouldn't want you to become discouraged with CPAP when it may not be to blame for all your problems. I would suggest you continue to seek help fine tuning your CPAP treatment. You can address the movements as you go along.

While sleep apnea can cause random limb movements with the struggle to breathe, it is not usual for periodic limb movements to be caused by respiratory efforts. On the long shot you are an outlier, maybe using CPAP will resolve your limb movements. That would be your best case scenario. If not, you might want to get another sleep study while using the CPAP to see what your legs are doing. Or you could set up a camera to film your feet and legs while you sleep to get an idea if a problem is evident. Till then, a few general things... Make sure you are nutritionally sound in those things that support nerve and muscle function, such as magnesium, Vit D, calcium, B vitamins. Get and keep your ferritin level up near 100. A much lower number is considered normal, but people with movement disorders are thought to need a higher level within the normal range. There are meds commonly used to treat PLMD but please do your own research before choosing to take them. They are not to be taken lightly. Best wishes going forward.

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Masenko wrote: ↑

Sun May 28, 2023 11:05 am

The doctor who reviewed my sleep study hadn't brought up my limb movements. It would be unusual to omit that my limb movements are a cause for concern... Do you think you could help me with my CPAP settings too?

Unless times have changed, having a doctor fail to recognize the possible significance of limb movements in conjunction with sleep apnea is sadly not unusual. Some sleep clinics are sleep apnea focused and outlier cases get overlooked. I had four sleep doctors and 2 neurologists over the years, and even the last one whose curiosity led to answers was learning through my case. You may have to be your own advocate and not accept one doctor's dismissiveness as your final answer.

As far as CPAP, I am a user with a bit more than basic knowledge but I count on the astute core group here for therapy guidance. You'll get much better help from them.

Good luck going forward.