I want to sincerely thank Dr. James Anderson and his entire team for the exceptional care they…read moreprovided throughout my RLS journey and surgery.
I retired from the Army as a military police officer and paratrooper and have always been very active--playing sports, hiking, running, exercising, and spending much of my life on my feet. For more than 10 years, however, I suffered from Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). During that time, I tried nearly everything I could to find relief, including ropinirole, gabapentin, pregabalin, tramadol, buprenorphine, iron and magnesium supplements, massage, exercise, walking late into the night, and many other approaches.
My RLS eventually had a tremendous impact on my quality of life. I couldn't sit through a movie or attend church without my legs becoming restless. I dreaded going to bed because I often knew I would be walking around the house until 2:00 a.m. trying to get relief. The medications I was taking also left me dealing with significant fatigue, nausea, and brain fog. I had reached a point where I honestly believed this might be how I would live for the rest of my life.
Then I found Dr. James Anderson.
During my first video consultation, Dr. Anderson was appropriately cautious. He asked detailed questions about my symptoms, medications, and medical history and explained that my symptoms were somewhat different from many of his other patients. Rather than simply assuming I was a candidate for surgery, he wanted to examine me in person and perform additional testing.
My wife Wendy and I made the nine-hour drive from Payson, Utah, to Fort Collins, Colorado. During the drive, we listened to Dr. Anderson's book, A Perfect Night's Sleep, which gave me a much better understanding of RLS and, more importantly, gave me hope.
After I arrived, Dr. Anderson performed a thorough examination and ultrasound evaluation. He also performed diagnostic injections near the nerve tunnel sites. The results were remarkable. My RLS symptoms decreased by approximately 95%.
Based on those results, Dr. Anderson determined that I was a good candidate for surgery and recommended treating both legs at all three nerve tunnel sites. The procedure is somewhat similar in concept to carpal tunnel surgery, with the goal of relieving pressure around the nerves.
I am now only a few weeks out from surgery, and my experience has been extraordinary. I am approximately 90-95% symptom-free. I understand that I am still early in recovery and that healing takes time, but the difference in my life already has been incredible.
Most importantly, I am finally sleeping through the night. I have now been off my RLS medications for more than two weeks, and after more than a decade of depending on medication to manage my symptoms, that feels almost unbelievable.
I also want to recognize the entire staff who cared for me. Tracy, Kim, Jen, Casey, and the other members of the team were incredibly kind, compassionate, and committed to helping me throughout the process. From the front desk to the surgery center, I felt that I was treated with genuine care, compassion, and respect.
Dr. Anderson has truly given me hope again.
If you or someone you love suffers from RLS, I highly recommend learning more about Dr. Anderson's approach. His book, A Perfect Night's Sleep, and his YouTube channel contain detailed information and patient experiences that I found extremely helpful.
Thank you, Dr. Anderson, Tracy, Kim, Casey, Jen, and everyone else on the team who cared for me.
I will always be grateful for what you have done for me and for giving me hope when I had almost none left.
With sincere gratitude,
Jim and Wendy Dupras
