Restless leg syndrome

[bluemarie87]

I have suffered with restless leg syndrome for most of my adult life. It's always been just in my left leg. A year ago I found out I was pregnant and low and behold the restless legs got worse and it was in both my legs. I was told that after pregnancy they would relax again.
15 weeks ago I had my beautiful baby boy and to my surprise I stopped getting it despite being more tired than ever before. The last two weeks it's back and worse than I've ever had it! It's in both my legs but mainly my left.

Can anybody recommend anything to help. I've tried a few things but it's really having a negative impact on my life now x

[NeurotrashWarrior]

It's sometimes associated with low ferritin and/ or magnesium can help. Epsom salt baths (put a lot in) or sprays can help but definitely see if you can get a ferritin check.

Might be tricky currently but you can pay for them via post.

I was told over 70 but elsewhere I've seen it recommended to be over 100.

Or you could just try a really concerted effort to get your iron stored up and see if it helps. Ideally you'd get a check first though. There's a rare condition where the body absorbs too much iron.

[NeurotrashWarrior]

You can take extra magnesium, also if breastfeeding extra calcium and magnesium in supplements will help too. You should be taking a vit d supplement if bf and baby should be having drops.

[Pebbles574]

This was a symptom that I got with peri-menopause and now into menopause. I think it was related to low estrogen as it disappeared with HRT! However it still comes back sometimes when I'm dehydrated. Are you breastfeeding? If so, are you getting enough fluids?

[Katiepants27]

I get restless legs at night very occasionally when I've been exercising lots. The only things that helps are stretches and getting them really cold, either going outside in shorts, or ice packs etc.

[Lampan]

I find magnesium supplements help mine, though I don’t know how much is psychosomatic!
Another tip I was told recently is just to drink a bit of tonic water, apparently the quinine helps. Haven’t tried that one yet but apparently it works!

[bluemarie87]

Thank you for all your replies. I already take vit d and magnesium supplements and they are both high strength. I had blood tests done recently because I felt really poorly and they found I was low in b12 and vitamin d but never mentioned whether I was in iron so I might ask them again. I've had injections for b12 and given vit d high strength tablets and the magnesium I've always taken anyway.

I'm 32 so hopefully not pre menopause related. I was breastfeeding up until 8 weeks but since then he's formula fed. Could maybe be Dehydration from the warmer weather. I might up my water intake and see if that makes a difference