Aimee Bowen (00:02)
on restless leg syndrome. I’m Aimee Bowen and this is the Nice Legs with Dr. Kamran
And we’re picking up today right where we left off with Dr. Kamran Goudarzi and his patient Terri
living with a diagnosis to finally treating the root cause. Dr. Kamran.
Dr.Kamran (00:22)
Believe me, as a physician, I personally, I always enjoy when patients talk to me about it and question None of us are perfect. There’s no such thing as a perfect person. I mean, theoretically so.
patients tell us we’re happy, we think they’re happy, but you should tell your doctor, Doc I’m okay taking this medicine, but really, I’m not sure I want to be on this for the rest of my life. The very thought of being on medicine for the rest of my life depresses me, and if this is all I’ve got to do, I can do it.
but are you, Dr. a hundred percent sure that this is a diagnosis, and are you, Dr. sure that this is the only way to go forward? And maybe they say, you know what, there’s maybe 10 % chance it’s something else, but can we explore that before I take this for the rest of my life? the whole idea about this podcast are question your
Physicians question yourself. Are you happy with what you’re getting? I have a lot of patients who have cramps and they take some pickle juice and they say cure them. And then they use pickle juice because their mom told them to take it. their grandmom told them to take it. There’s no science. once you take it, although it’s not helping you, psychologically you think it’s helping. So sometimes when the doctor tells you take this and you’re going to be cured, you almost…
Aimee Bowen (01:31)
you
Dr.Kamran (01:48)
feel you’re getting cured, but you’re really not. So you’ve to be honest with yourself. Did I, when I take a medicine or I don’t take it, does it make a difference? And I, you know, maybe I don’t feel any better. And then talk to your doctor, say, listen, I know you’re convinced this is what it is. And doc, I don’t mean to be rude. And maybe you’re right. But is it possible you’re wrong? Do you think I need to have a second opinion or third opinion or maybe a vascular opinion? Absolutely. There’s always ⁓
research that can be done.
one constant I feel in life is changes. Everything changes. That includes medicine. It includes the way we approach it, the way we accept it.
physician, unless you tell them, they don’t know. And so they’re going off of what you tell them. But also, it’s a conversation.
It’s not that you’re doubting what they’re saying as much as you want to open their eyes and say, could it be? Have them do more research along with your research. Get together, talk. It’s very important to communicate both ways, the physician and the patient, I think. You’ve got to that dialogue. It’s so true, honestly.
I went to medical school in England, did two years of residency there, then came to United States, did five years of residency here. So I think it’s fair to say that I’ve been exposed to both continents. In England, their preventive medicine is very much pushed for, and you’ve got to have some scientific basis because the National Health Service pays for it, so they’re not going to pay for “voodoo” medicine. You prove the facts and they give it to you. But I was always told…
and I really believe that 90 % of the diagnosis is made by the history. All you have to do is just listen to your patient. But we’re going to spend more time with our patients.
Unfortunately, in this environment we are in, you’re lucky to get five or 10 minutes per patient. You could be the most brilliant doctor on the face of the earth. But if you don’t have enough time to spend with your patient, you’re going to miss the diagnosis.
ultimately we are responsible for somebody’s life. We are responsible for their wellbeing. We’re responsible for their life. And to say, well, there’s no such thing as oh, whether it is your specialty or not, should you have
pick that up, should he have made that diagnosis.
but this medicine has become so super specialized that we have become too focused in one area. You say restless leg syndrome, you start taking all the medications you can use for it. Nobody questions it, is a diagnosis right or wrong? Because it’s usually, it’s not the treatment, it’s the diagnosis. Once you make a diagnosis, the treatment is
Aimee, you been very quiet during this episode. Do have anything to add?
Aimee Bowen (04:36)
enjoying hearing the discussion and I’m over here taking notes myself. Terri, it’s been just incredible hearing your story. And I’m curious, know, as you were going through the treatment once you had the correct diagnosis, what was that like?
When was it or was there a period where you realized, hey, this is actually working now?
Dr.Kamran (04:55)
Well, that’s a good question because when I first started coming in for treatments, I was very skeptical. I was like, well, one more thing I’m going to try. Let’s see where we go. And I’m
to tell you, I was surprised. The quality of life I have now from having the procedures done, how
non-invasive it really was. I could drive myself to the office, have treatment, and drive myself home. ⁓ Walk around, I mean, the treatment did not affect my day-to-day, and that was great. ⁓ But just knowing from the first one on, the improvement that I felt, ⁓ I am so grateful that
this is one more medication I don’t need to take, this is one more issue I don’t have to deal with because I’m getting up there in age and they kind of come along quickly. It’s just beautiful to me that there is somebody out there like Dr. Kamran that has an open mind, that does the research, that is willing to talk to the patients ⁓ and discuss
It makes difference. It all makes difference.
Aimee Bowen (06:22)
If could go back and talk to yourself, you know, at the beginning of this entire journey, what would you have said to yourself then?
Dr.Kamran (06:29)
If I had
known, I would have ran to have the treatment done because it has been that significant in my lifestyle and in the way I can drive, I can walk, I can sit, I can sleep. When you’re not sleeping good, not much else is going good. So I would definitely be running to have it done.
it was probably about 10 years ago. One of my patients came in, he was funny as funny could be. said, Doc, said, thank you for taking care of my leg syndrome. I’m like, well, you’re more than welcome. He said,
also saved my marriage. I swear to God, he says, my wife now allows me to sleep in the bed.
Aimee Bowen (07:10)
I’m
Dr.Kamran (07:18)
I said, how long have
Aimee Bowen (07:18)
you
Dr.Kamran (07:19)
you not, said, I’ve been sleeping in the couch for the past 10 years. I’m like, that must be love. He says, I was running the marathon and she couldn’t sleep. She said, I swear to God, I can get back in the bed. Then I had another patient of mine, roughly by the same time, came in, said, Dr. Kamran in your TV ads, whatever, you talk about everything, but you don’t say restless leg could be caused by venous sufficiency. I’m like, yes, I think we say that. Say you don’t. So when I checked, I noticed we never mentioned.
Aimee Bowen (07:23)
Mm.
Dr.Kamran (07:47)
know, restless leg as part of the diagnosis. And I don’t like to say things which don’t, there’s no scientific basis. I’ve been doing this non-invasive vein procedure since 2002. That’s 25 years. And so I’ve experienced things that other people have been doing a year or two and not have experienced. The restless leg is really not that common when you think about it. But so I went and did some literature search. I noticed there’s clear scientific evidence that restless leg does.
does get better. And one study we did, we find that 70 % of patients who had restless leg syndrome and venous sufficiency, they either got better or they got cured. after that, I went in and I started telling people that restless leg, because restless is exhausting. I affects your sleep and you can’t sleep at night.
So then they give you medication so you’re drowsy during the daytime. you’re drowsy because you got to sleep at night. And now they give you more medicine to make you more drowsy. I mean, it really affects your function, your quality of life. It does. It does. I think
restless leg is internal, it’s not
as much as
a broken arm when you have a cast. People will see the cast, you know. ⁓ broken arm. But when you’re sleeping, trying to sleep at night and you’re kicking your spouse out of the bed, it’s a serious situation, you know. Well, thank you so much. You’re welcome. think this has been great.
Aimee Bowen (09:07)
Mm-hmm.
.
Dr.Kamran (09:24)
thank you so, so much. First of to take a day off here to come in and do this. ⁓ It’s not easy
sit on a stage and the camera and all that. In addition, thank you to share this story and helping thousands and thousands of people who
are out there don’t even know that this restless leg could be helped significantly and not necessarily with
So, thank you for being such a wonderful patient and for being patient today with us. Also, thank you on behalf of all the people out there who are suffering with restless leg syndrome in that you’re helping them with their quality of life and helping them make a diagnosis.
a lot of physicians and primary care physicians and PAs who once they hear this podcast, it will make them think
maybe we should get a second opinion or maybe get a vascular consult. Maybe we should rethink the diagnosis. Absolutely. Well, I want to say thank you very much to you and the audience for allowing me to share my story. It’s very important
keep on doing research and conversations.
And Dr. Kamran, just want to say nice legs, Dr.
Thank
Aimee Bowen (10:48)
Once again, just a huge thank you to Terri for sharing her incredible recovery story. You can find all of our previous episodes on leg health, restless legs, and venous insufficiency at scarlessveincare.com forward slash podcast. You can also find us on YouTube, Apple podcasts, Spotify, and your favorite listening platform. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new conversation.
Until next time, I’m Aimee Bowen. Thanks so much for listening to Nice Legs with Dr. Kamran.
