Anyone have restless legs?

[Evizza]

For the past couple of weeks I have had really uncomfortable legs at night when I'm relaxing and especially in bed. It's a weird feeling...they feel really achy and a bit cramp like. I have to keep moving them to try and stop it. Does this sound like restless leg? Just wondering how long it lasts and how to get rid of it as it's driving me mad?!

[youlemming]

I suffer from restless legs on and off, I find if I've had a day where I've not moved around too much due to meetings or I've not drunk enough water it is worse.

I have been told to try tonic water as there is something in it (maybe the quinine(?)) that helps.

You could try some calf stretches and massage in the early evening before sitting down to relax or going to bed, to reduce the chances of cramping.

[Sittinonthefloor]

Yes, it's awful! Same as lemming. I find a hot bath helps and getting dh to press and squash (not massage) my legs helps.

[sinceyouask]

I first experienced it when I was 18, I'll be 37 this year. It was at its worst in my second pregnancy, when it wasn't just my legs that were affected but my arms too.
Cannabis works, if that's something you'd be OK with (knowing the health risks and that it's illegal).
Some people swear by a bar of soap under the sheets. That's probably some sort of placebo effect, but if it works for them...
I can get some relief by lying on my back, lifting my legs without bending my knees, and bringing my toes back towards my shins as far as I can, to the point of pain. I keep my legs lifted and stretched as long as I possibly can, until they're trembling and I can't hold them up any more. Doing that a few times in a row seems to help.

[junpinline]

Yes I get it all over, arms, legs, hands and feet. I hate it but find I get it more if I've done a lot of exercise, and especially if I'm sharing a bed, which I presume is psychological.

Nothing helps for me other than getting up for a bit and trying to forget about it. Sex is especially good

[Peacelover1975]

I've struggled with restless legs for years. Tonic water worked really well but I had to stop using it when I became pregnant as quinine apparently puts the baby at risk.
Since giving birth, I take a multi vitamin with iron which works really well.

[AiryFairy1]

I had this in pregnancy and someone told me to put a potato in the bed... it seemed to work but yes maybe placebo :-) just remember to remove/exchange it, else it might sprout/ decay
I think sleeping with a pillow between my knees helped me, can’t remember now

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

I always come on these threads and say Folic Acid. 800mcg a day - 2 tablets. I had horrendous restless legs in pregnancy (many years ago) and this was recommended. It worked.

[missyB1]

Yes I’ve suffered on and off for years. Currently experiencing it a lot at the moment. I find exercise helps.

[ChinkChink]

Yes, I get occasional bouts of it every other year or so.

Tonic water is good if you can have it. But in desperation during my last series of bouts I took some Ibuprofen and it worked. Not recommended for regular use though, of course.

[FairiesVsPixies]

I always come on these threads too and say iron. I find eating a bowl of cereal helps.

[Petalflowers]

Yes, I get it and had it for over 20 years. I can go,for weeks,without any symptoms, and then start suffering. Sometimes, I find I can have a couple of glasses of wine, and then a third sets it,off. It’s most peculiar.

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Get your iron levels checked

[user1471451866]

I haven't had it since losing a couple of stone and starting to take a multivitamin (trying to be healthier!). Don't know which worked or if it's coincidence!

[madmother1]

Yes tonight. I've had to come to bed to stop it. It's awful 😑

[Evizza]

Thank you for the replies

I am constantly having problems with low iron thanks to heavy periods and pernicious anaemia. I've been having issues for years with my iron levels though so not sure if it can just start? I'm on an iron prescription again at the minute so hoping it improves as this is driving me mad...I just can't seem to get comfortable on a night.

Might have to give the soap a go tonight too...keeping everything crossed!!

[user1471451866]

My multivitamin also contained iron so maybe it was that. I used to put my legs up against a wall, so feet really high which helped a lot. A bit strange but it worked.

[Earlyriser84]

I get it quite often too and it's not pleasant. It sounds daft but someone once told me that standing bare foot on a cold surface helps (temporarily mind). I sometimes stand in the bath and strangely enough it does offer some relief.

[IdentityFraud]

Magnesium can help. It is best absorbed through the skin so treat yourself to a lovely long soak in a bath full of Epsom salts.

[Colabar]

I first noticed it when I was 20 had it for many years. I could not go to a cinema or the theatre as my legs were very restless and I would get the urge to stand up and walk around.

I read about magnesium deficiency and sugar being some of the causes of RLS so I included foods with magnesium in my diet. I also found eating chocolate or something with processed sugar at night before I go to bed brings it back and I have a few hours of tossing and turning.

[PenguinsandPandas]

Not sure but since around September I have been getting aches all over feels like bones in arms and legs. In the night I will wake up with shooting like electric pain in legs and tingling. Not sure what it is but I had irregular blood tests for iron and kidneys, raised CE. It does say online can also be linked to kidneys as well as iron, maybe get a kidney function blood test.

[Mrsfloss]

Magnesium strong dose defo helped me but took about a month.

Awful feeling

[Teabagtits]

I can get it really badly. For me it’s usually a sign of low iron or low b12

I was told an orgasm can provide short term immediate relief... can’t hurt to try

[lovelystar]

Yes, as soon as I even think about going to bed it kicks in the only thing I've found to help is a got water bottle between my feet. I am 38 weeks pregnant though so hopefully only temporary