Anyone suffer from restless leg syndrone?

[captain queeg]

I’ve read about it and know someone who has it. Started a couple weeks ago and really been bad the last few days. I’m 65 and had never experienced it in the past. When did it start for you? Did it hit you suddenly or develop gradually? Any good tips for dealing with it?

[SheltieLover]

1. Yup. Magnesium citrate works for me.

"Calm" is a great product.

Started decades ago. Only surfaces when I'm really tired.

[chia]

2. I know someone who's dealt with it for years, finally got lasting relief with Requip,

which is a Parkinson's drug. Keep in mind it hasn't gone on for a couple weeks, but for many years, so this was kind of a last resort thing. You may find other things which help in the short term, but if you've never had restless legs in your life until now, please do see your healthcare provider and rule out anything that be causing this to start up out of the blue. Best wishes to you.

[Laffy Kat]

15. I was offered Requip a long time ago and declined.

My reasoning was that if I ever got Parkinsons I'd already have a tolerance to L-Dopa.

And....Welcome to DU!

[brer cat]

3. I developed RLS after spine surgery.

I also have nerve pain in my legs, and gabapentin takes care of both.

[chillfactor]

4. i AM 80 now

started when I was in middle 40s. Take Rotigotine to control symptoms. Never had any side effects.

[msongs]

5. yes a few times a week for short durations, only when lying in bed at night.

oddly enuff only in one lower leg or the other, never both at the same time. started when I went on some meds. don't know if that's cause and effect tho

[LakeArenal]

6. I find it helps to drink plenty of water, then having to pee all night.

[C_U_L8R]

7. A banana a day

Kept my restless legs away.

[in2herbs]

8. All of the above recommendations are good but it must be remembered that RLS is related to

a circulatory/vein issue first and foremost. When I get an attack of RLS the best relief I have obtained is to sit on the edge of a chair, bed, or couch and lift your legs off the floor to as close to hip height as you can get and then shake (not violently) both legs at the same time for about 2 minutes. This improves the circulation in the lower legs and the symptoms disappear. Another thing to do is when you sit an watch TV elevate your legs high enough so that they're almost the height of your heart while sitting. Recliners and ottomans are not high enough. This will keep the blood from pooling in your lower legs while you're relaxing.

Good luck

[RKP5637]

9. I use compression socks when I feel it coming on at night in bed. Often that stops it and

I leave them on all night.

[Doc Sportello]

10. Have a friend who uses edible cannabis

Says it helps her to sleep and not have symptoms of RLS.

[Warpy]

11. Have you changed any medications lately?

Some medications are linked to it and going off others can be linked to it.

Call your doctor in any case. There is medication to help you cope.

I hate it when people treat this as a joke, it has to be maddening.

[IroningBored]

12. Many Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome

I have had restless leg syndrome since I was a small child. I must disagree with this statement: “All of the above recommendations are good but it must be remembered that RLS is related to a circulatory/vein issue first and foremost.” There are many causes of RLS. After years of asking doctors what caused the problem and getting no answers, I finally went to a nutritionist who practiced holistic medicine. I did this because I had identified some things that triggered my leg problems: sitting in an area with a cold draft around my legs (airplane) and foods (caffeine and any type of sugar). The nutritionist required very extensive family and personal medical histories and a recent blood screen. She pointed out that my bad teeth and fingernails were important clues, but the most important fact was in the blood screen. She said that I had abnormally low calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus levels in my blood and that meant that I didn’t metabolize those important minerals. She said that I needed to take calcium/magnesium supplements for the rest of my life. So, I went through the first 50 years of my life calcium deprived and sleep deprived. That nutritionist and my current dentist are the only health care providers who have ever recognized restless leg syndrome. My dentist has the same problem and takes calcium/magnesium supplements. He discussed with me the way our digestive systems work. It is divided into sections that metabolize specific nutrients. It is called “selective absorption.” If the section that is designed to absorb calcium, magnesium, potassium doesn’t work properly, you will have health problems associated with deprivation of those minerals. After hip replacement surgery, my restless leg problems were extreme. My orthopedic surgeon’s PA said, “It is not uncommon for hip replacement surgery to damage the sciatic nerve,” and sent me to a neurologist, who prescribed gabapentin and physical therapy. Both help me sleep. My experiences demonstrate that RLS can be caused by defective digestion systems and nerve damage.

[Elessar Zappa]

13. Thank you for your post.

Welcome to DU!

[captain queeg]

14. Thanks to all who commented. This is the first time I have noticed it

Went 3 nights without sleeping at all I know how we'll spend restless night and think we didn’t sleep at all even though we did sleep for a few minutes off and on but I really don’t think I slept at all those nights. I got so rummy I was afraid to go anywhere especially driving my car. It got better over the course of a couple days then went completely away. So I imagine it’s something I’m going to always deal with. Hopefully it won’t go beyond an occasional problem. I’m just glad I never faced it when I was working. I often had insomnia but had never experienced this problem.

Thanks for the tips I’ve already tried a few.