Restless Leg Syndrome?

[boomhauer]

Does anyone have this or are they familiar with it? I'm gonna go see my doctor next week to have it checked out. It's weird - My legs don't hurt, but I find that whenever I'm sitting down, I'm constantly moving my legs around. At night, when lying in bed, I can't seem to get comfortable. They just feel achey and tingly, and it goes down to my feet sometimes too.

How do they even test to see if you have this?

 

[piglet too]

My doctor did not really "test" me for it, all I did was describe my symptoms (which BTW are just like yours). He gave me a medicine that worked great, but I had to stop taking it when I got pregnant. It has been three years, but I think I might get back on the meds. Does it interfere with your sleep? I am always tired, and this is what happened when I complained about it way back when.

 

[boomhauer]

My doctor did not really "test" me for it, all I did was describe my symptoms (which BTW are just like yours). He gave me a medicine that worked great, but I had to stop taking it when I got pregnant. It has been three years, but I think I might get back on the meds. Does it interfere with your sleep? I am always tired, and this is what happened when I complained about it way back when.

It's very odd - When I fall asleep, I'm usually ok. But it's before I fall asleep that I have the problem.

It's so difficult to explain. It doesn't hurt. It's just very annoying.

 

[bananiem]

I don't know if you've checked out this site or not. Might be some info for you.
www.rls.org

 

[magicfan]

A chiropractor helped me. I have had it on and off for years, and yes, it is very hard to describe, and very annoying. I feel for you! I hope you get some relief! Good luck.

PS: I know there is a medication for this but I think it's also for Parkinsons disease. I didn't want to try it.

 

[always quiet]

My DH had this REALLY bad when he was on a medication that made him anemic. This was about 5 years ago. At the time, no one could explain what was happening to him when his legs would start to jump at night. It would continue on even after he would fall asleep (kept me awake though they would jump so much ). The doctor who was treating him couldn't even connect the jumping with the medication (they say it's an unusual side effect from what he was on). After doing an internet search of the symptoms, I finally connected the two. They put him on xanax (mild sleeping pill) and that finally offered him relief. He still gets this occasionally (especially when he was on chemo last year) but for the most part, it's under control.

 

[boomhauer]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess it's not as uncommon as I thought.

 

[KelNottAt]

I never heard or Restless Legs Syndrome until that drug company started running the TV ads recently.

I have symptoms that sound like it. When they occur, I usually treat it as dehydration; that is, I drink a tall glass of water and eat a banana. Usually helps...especially with the pre-sleep pain.

 

[MickeysMommy]

My mother and I have this really bad. I am on Mirapex which is used to treat Parkinsen's Disease. Sometimes it's so bad at night when I am lying in bed that if I had a knife right next to the bed I'd cut my leg right off!

 

[boomhauer]

My mother and I have this really bad. I am on Mirapex which is used to treat Parkinsen's Disease. Sometimes it's so bad at night when I am lying in bed that if I had a knife right next to the bed I'd cut my leg right off!

Not sure if it's ever been THAT severe for me, but at times, I just feel like screaming and banging my leg on the floor. Figure the pain would be better than the odd feeling I get in my legs.

 

[Candace]

My mother has had this for about 10 years or so. It is horrible. She tried everything until finally we talked with a neurologist. She now takes Permax, which is a parkinson's medicine. We have had to increase it over the years, and it works most of the time. She will even get it during the day, sometimes, but at those times she can get up and move. This is funny, but, one thing that helps sometimes when the meds haven't kicked in yet, is playing the piano. She lives alone, so sometimes she even plays during the middle of the night. It is really a miserable condition, and it took several years before we found something that helped. Good luck!

 

[hydster]

I've suffered with this for years and it stinks! The feeling is so annoying that you just want to scream. I've found that taking a couple of potassium pills at night have helped significantly. Also when I start getting them before I go to bed I end up doing some yoga to stretch them out. I tried the mirapex and it made me feel odd so I stopped taking it. I've also taken salt tablets at times because it feels like it is somehow related to dehydration and my electrolytes being out of whack like the days I exercise and do lots of leg workout machines.

My dh has jumpy legs too but his is a side effect from lexapro so we did a little experimenting with different pills and he is actually on a very low dose of dilantin which is for grand mal seizure patients but it has stopped the jumping completely. He would keep me awake all night everynight and I actually got hooked on Ambien and then had to go through the withdrawls of that when he got the dilantin.

I know how frustrating it is but unfortunately there is no one cure for it.
Just know you are not alone.
Heidi

 

[magicfan]

I forgot to mention:
My mom was once told that it can be caused by a calcium deficiancy (sp).

 

[grinningghost]

ME! Had it for years. I'm now on Mirapex and it's a MIRACLE! Absolutely no restless legs when I'm on it. If I skip a night, forget about it, I'm flipping out.

 

[webprinter]

I've had it for about 20-25 years. It is horrible. They have tried Clonazepam, LDopa/CDopa and now my physician has me trying Mirapex which is helping a little bit. My mother-in-law has had total relief of symptoms from the Mirapex. I totally sympathise with you. Debby

 

[Kermit]

Chiropractic care can be very effective. Another possibility is that you're deficient in a mineral ending in -ium (calcium, magnesium, potatsium, or maybe even sodium, but probably not). Another poster mentioned eating bananas--that's a great source of potasium. You may actually need to try a supplent to get enough of whatever you need. Some people's bodies need more of certain nutrients than we can easily get from foods. I get RLS when I'm pregnant. It is very annoying. It's easy for me to figure out what causes it because I don't eat bananas while I'm pregnant (long story--bananas are great for most pregnant women). It can take a little longer to figure out the reason for most people, but I would strongly consider seeing if natural remedies will work for you before using medication.