Thread: restless leg syndrome RLS

a lot of time at night I feel the symptoms of RLS. Where my legs are uncomfortable and I have to move them to flex them or get up and walk to get rid of the feeling, but its only temporary until the RLS comes back.

I've looked through the internet, maybe not as thoroughly as I can, but still have looked and have only been able to find "if you want to know how to cure your RLS, buy this book, only $3,000,000!" just exaggerating. But does anyone know any non-medical remedies?

maybe there is a forum about this already?

There are a variety of herbal muscle relaxants and nervous system depressants if you want to try that. Bark from the Black Haw plant is known to be used to relax muscles and release tension throughout the body. You can also add valerian and catnip to the mix to act as sedatives.

Create a tincture out of the black haw bark, let the alcohol evaporate, and use the left-over extract as an additive for tea. Make a tea out of the valerian and catnip, and add some black haw bark extract.

You could also try to do flex your muscles in a toe-to-head pattern before you rest (though you said flexing doesn't help much). To do this, first flex the feet as hard as you can for around 5-10 seconds. Let go for a moment (10-30 seconds), and then do your feet plus your lower legs. Continue this cycle until your whole body is flexed. Do around 2-3 more whole body flexes, and by the time you finish, your whole body should be nice and relaxed.

Hope that helps!

-Scott

I have this problem too... but it goes away if I make slow, stretching movements for about 15 minutes. I would think it depends on the person... try some relaxants or something.

I've seen quite a few commercials for this syndrome. There's a drug that you can take. I'm not sure if it's prescription or not, but it's definitely there. I would go speak to a pharmacist (just at a grocery store somewhere, nowhere fancy) about it and see what he/she says.

I've recently experienced faint twinges of RLS but only after I've had alcohol.

I'm with you dude. it happens to me too.

Some late night talk show personality was making fun of RLS a while ago. said something along the lines of, "maybe your legs are uncomfortable because they weren't meant to sit on a couch all day long. get your lazy ass up and go for a walk".

if you find a remedy, clue me in meng. that ish is annoying.

Originally Posted by awoke

Some late night talk show personality was making fun of RLS a while ago. said something along the lines of, "maybe your legs are uncomfortable because they weren't meant to sit on a couch all day long. get your lazy ass up and go for a walk".

That's exactly what I was going to say. I think some strenuous exercise will cure it.

Drink more water?

I have the same "problem", and it seems to help, just drinking A LOT of water..

I was diagnosed with RLS several years ago, and know quite a bit about it. My wife works at a library, and found me an excellent book on the subject as well. I'll look up the title when I get home.

I have been taking a medication called Requip, which completely helps the RLS symptoms, but has side-effects I do not like: it makes me feel a little nausiated, and it knocks me out cold for about an hour.

I just saw a new doctor, and am trying a new promising drug. I don't remember the brand name, but the generic is Gabapentin. Requip does not have a generic. So far it is helping, but I'm still adjusting dosing.

Now as to all the other cures, here is what I have gathered from both experience and extensive reading:

Exercise and stretching can help somewhat, but not in the evening or near the time you lie down for rest, when it can make it worse. Walking can make the symptoms go away, but only while you're actually doing the walking. As soon as you stop, the symptoms return.

In general, meditation and relaxation do nothing. In some cases, it has actually been reported to worsen! Not that there aren't real benefits from meditation, but if you're feeling the RLS, it's not going to stop it.

RLS is a very serious problem. Even if you are asleep and not aware of the kicking you're doing at night, you will wake up more tired because you are not as deeply asleep as you should be. A very slight silver lining is that at the right level of kicking, it can actually aid in lucid dreaming! But it's not worth it... RLS flat-out sucks. I've had it for many, many years, but only in the last three or four has it gotten absolutely unbearable. Medication is the only reasonable solution for me.

I was looking on google for more info on this.

I have been experiencing like my whole body shaking when falling to sleep.. Its like theres an earthquake but it stops when I move around abit. It seems to be coming from my legs and goes all over my body.. but Im not physically moving.. it feels like something to do with my balance. like when you get drunk and things spin.. like that but shaking.

I don't think this is the same thing?

anyone know?
It scares me

Originally Posted by Lunica

I was looking on google for more info on this.

I have been experiencing like my whole body shaking when falling to sleep.. Its like theres an earthquake but it stops when I move around abit. It seems to be coming from my legs and goes all over my body.. but Im not physically moving.. it feels like something to do with my balance. like when you get drunk and things spin.. like that but shaking.

I don't think this is the same thing?

anyone know?
It scares me

This is not RLS, as I have experienced both. I think what you are describing is linked to sleep paralysis.

ooo thanks :]

I can't take ibprouven before bed.. it relaxes me too much and I stop breathing :/

it sucks

I need to relax to meditate and dream.. but at the same time it brings on apnea

The shaking feeling isn't very nice.. It just doesnt stop for ages

Can I make it stop?
Thank you :]

Gah...

Magnesium! Do you got enough of that?

So, this happens to me during the day, to the point that it interferes with my schoolwork. Does anyone know of an, if not cure, then assist that works during the day, aside from the homemade tea mix above?

i would take a hot bath! i have the same thing that you do or take an ibprouven that always helps me if you have any more questions just ask!

[QUOTE=Dewitback;683721]a lot of time at night I feel the symptoms of RLS. Where my legs are uncomfortable and I have to move them to flex them or get up and walk to get rid of the feeling, but its only temporary until the RLS comes back.
But does anyone know any non-medical remedies?

Originally Posted by little nemo

I've recently experienced faint twinges of RLS but only after I've had alcohol.

Originally Posted by Dewitback

Actually, I find myself getting RLS more often when I work on my legs all day!! i have jobs where I don't sit down all day, and I still get RLS! so obnoxious!!!

Originally Posted by DuB

I've had quite frequent problems with this ever since middle school when I had a handful of epileptic seizures.
I haven't tried any of the prescription medications or herbal remedies so I can't comment on those - I usually just wait it out and it eventually goes away (which can take a few hours). I have noticed that, at least for me, alcohol tends to help. But I wouldn't recommend that as a healthy way to cope.

Originally Posted by skysaw

I was diagnosed with RLS several years ago, and know quite a bit about it.
I have been taking a medication called Requip, which completely helps the RLS symptoms, but has side-effects I do not like: it makes me feel a little nausiated, and it knocks me out cold for about an hour.
I just saw a new doctor, and am trying a new promising drug. I don't remember the brand name, but the generic is Gabapentin. Requip does not have a generic. So far it is helping, but I'm still adjusting dosing.
Now as to all the other cures, here is what I have gathered from both experience and extensive reading:
Exercise and stretching can help somewhat, but not in the evening or near the time you lie down for rest, when it can make it worse. Walking can make the symptoms go away, but only while you're actually doing the walking. As soon as you stop, the symptoms return.
In general, meditation and relaxation do nothing. In some cases, it has actually been reported to worsen! Not that there aren't real benefits from meditation, but if you're feeling the RLS, it's not going to stop it.
RLS is a very serious problem. Even if you are asleep and not aware of the kicking you're doing at night, you will wake up more tired because you are not as deeply asleep as you should be. A very slight silver lining is that at the right level of kicking, it can actually aid in lucid dreaming! But it's not worth it... RLS flat-out sucks. I've had it for many, many years, but only in the last three or four has it gotten absolutely unbearable. Medication is the only reasonable solution for me.

Originally Posted by Lunica

I have been experiencing like my whole body shaking when falling to sleep.. Its like theres an earthquake but it stops when I move around abit. It seems to be coming from my legs and goes all over my body.. but Im not physically moving.. it feels like something to do with my balance. like when you get drunk and things spin.. like that but shaking.(

Originally Posted by reesespieces

i would take a hot bath! i have the same thing that you do or take an ibprouven that always helps me if you have any more questions just ask!

I am sorry I discovered this thread so late while I could have helped ages ago!
Firstly, RLS is caused by structures seated deep inside the brain itself. If you are tired because of exercise or because of exams, it will worsen the symptoms.
Most medication that work on the central nervous system eventually aggravates it. Alcohol works initially because it can cause you to sleep deeply, but when your blood sugar drops and you are sleeping lighter in the morning, you may wake up in a worse condition.
You do NOT have RLS WHILE asleep. It only keeps you from sleeping. But a large proportion of persons suffering from severe RLS also have a condition known as Periodic Leg Movements, and even other movement disturbances during sleep, which commonly do result (unknowing to him or her) in sleep deprivation.
The dopaminergic system is responsible for this dysfunction. Treatment for Parkinson's may help, but has side-effects. Since the sensory part of the "reflex" is partially dependent upon the condition of the muscle and nerves in the legs, anti-inflammatories or anti-epileptics (acting as nervous membrane stabilizers) may also assist some individuals, but this is highly variable.
First line of advice is to get your iron levels checked out and perhaps take regular iron supplements. This is often a problem, or it help even if it seems medically normal in the blood tests. Be careful with B-vitamins, they tend to aggravate it, often dramatically. But sometimes it can be low sugar or electrolyte imbalances that plays a role in triggering the attack.
Lastly, Lunica's experience is known as hypnagogic myoclonus and is medically considered completely innocent. It is part of a brain that struggles a bit to switch off its motor system as it starts to play around with impulses we do not even remember what they are about. Sometimes we dream we step over something, and trip. It is EXTREMELY common. Mostly people just do not wake up because of it.
One day when I am big I would like to start a big forum where these things can be available for everybody. They are just so much, I cannot do it alone and I know the facts are thinly spread even inside medical literature.

Thanks for all that info

I looked hypnagogic myoclonus up on google. Is that when the person physically moves? Because I don't actually move. More feels like my room and bed is shaking.. and making me shake. But I tested last night and I'm not moving at all

I think I will get a blood test. Because I don't think I get much iron. Maybe thats it?

Thank you :]

Lunica: Are you AWAKE when it happens?? During drowsiness / early sleep you will not be able to check yourself, you dream (or hallucinate, whatever way you look at it). You will need to ask someone to check for you. Sleep paralysis is when you believe you are awake, try to move but cannot (are paralyzed), and sometimes you may feel you cannot breathe either, because your chest is too heavy. Hypnagogic hallucinations are more often something you hear or see, but I am not certain that it cannot be movement like yours also.
Paracetamol should not make you more sleepy, neither should ibuprofen, unless you are taking alcohol or something to make you sleep. They may both make you more drunk because they interfere with the liver's ability to clear the alcohol from your blood. Some medicines may also work like that, so check with your doctor.
You mention you have apnea: is it under control? It may cause selective REM-sleep deprivation and secondarily REM-sleep onset. This may be a reason for hypnagogic hallucinations that is very important not to ignore!

Could be lack of nutrition. I have the same "problem", and I either dreamt, or read it somewere, that it was a common syndrom to having the lack of something..

Funny I should read this post. Now I got to find out where it was..

hmmm

thats interesting.

I'm vegetarian so maybe I am missing someting.

thanks :]