Restless legs driving me mad

[Hightideattheseaside]

Anyone got any tips on coping with restless leg syndrome? It’s bad tonight. I’m sure they’re getting worse as I get older. Probably another thing to thank perimenopause for.

Doesn't magnesium help that? Rings a vague bell.

Magnesium has definitely helped me with this, my partner sleeps far better now I'm not kicking him all night 😂

Definitely magnesium. I hear the spray is good but I just used the nutritional geeks stuff and it’s been great. I’ve had it on and off most of my life

I’m under the doctors for restless legs. It’s hell on earth. There are treatments though. Currently I’m taking Pramipexole and codeine if I need it but I have an appointment next week to discuss some other treatments. Apparently gabapentin works better so I’m going to ask for that. Don’t suffer @Hightideattheseaside get some help. Also get your GP to request a test for your ferritin level. Low ferritin can cause RLS.

It turned out I had anemia. Get your iron levels tested. As soon as it was addressed with supplemements the restless legs stopped.

https://www.fedup.com.au/sues-blog/restless-legs-syndrome-and-diet?highlight=WyJyZXN0bGVzcyIsInJlc3RsZXNzbmVzcyIsIidyZXN0bGVzcyIsIi1yZXN0bGVzcyIsInJlc3RsZXNzLWxlZ3Mtc3luZHJvbWUiLCJyZXN0bGVzcy1sZWdzLXN5bmRyb21lLXJscyIsIlx1MjAxY3Jlc3RsZXNzIiwiZGFpbHl0ZWxlZ3JhcGgiLCJwaGxlZ20iLCJsZWdzIl0=

a good dietitian familiar with the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit Elimination Diet should be able to help you.

I use Mag spray, nearly every night, have a bath once or twice a week with a mug of Epsom salts (sit in it for 20 minutes minimum and take Schuessler salts Combination 12. very often. Ignatia homeopathic remedy helps too.

Ok, I will get some magnesium and Epsom salts! Does magnesium help straight away or do you have to take a while to notice a difference?

I’ve never been to the dr about it as I just assumed I would get told it’s just something I have to put up with. It’s good to know there is treatment available if it becomes unbearable.

Most nights it’s manageable but I get the odd night it drives me up the wall. thanks all.

Try tonic water

Mins is worse if I am tired or dehydrated. I find it helps when I exercise regularly including lots of hamstring stretches, drink lots of water, eat high protein, go to bed early, take magnesium.

Definitely get your iron checked, as soon as I started taking iron supplements my restless legs calmed down.

Mine triggered during my first pregnancy. I had a banana every night before bed and rubbed some magnesium spray in to my legs. Seemed to do the trick

I think I definitely don’t drink enough water, so will make an effort to drink more. I just forget to drink!

I had an iron check fairly recently and it was normal.

I got “leg cramp busters by magnox” on Amazon. Serious game changer and have recommended them to a few people who have raved about them too

Dehydration is a major cause for me and a glass of water usually sorts it out.

It was also worse when I had low ferratin.

As others have said taking Iron supplement and Magnesium tabs are great. If you run out... sometimes sipping on a teaspoon of Marmite helps!! (does work! Grandma knew best lol)

I take magnesium and a lovely poster recommended magnesium oil and to use that as well as taking the magnesium and so far so good, still get bother with rls but its not as bad so fingers crossed. I also take iron and multi vitamins.

I use the magnesium spray and it works really well for me. I get mine from Harrogate organics

I had restless legs every night until I stopped drinking loads of Cola! I think the caffeine had a large effect on me but I stopped this year and I haven’t suffered restless legs since
before that taking a magnesium gummie before bed used to help

Were you told your iron was normal or have you actually checked it yourself? I was suffering terribly from restless legs, had a blood test and was told my results were borderline. When I looked on the NHS app, my ferritin was 5 and serum iron below range. One iron infusion later and I’ve not suffered since.

It used to make me cry sometimes as I was so tired but couldn’t sleep because of it.

Make sure you get the right type of magnesium. Magnesium glycinate is the one that helps relax muscles and has stopped my tingly legs at night. Magnesium citrate helps with constipation and will make you poo!

I have terrible RLS. I take these, not sure if it’s a placebo though. The worst I had it was on a plane, one of the most agonising things ever.

It’s your ferritin that needs checking. It should be over 100 if you have restless legs.

I find eating a banana helps mine. It's annoying as I don't really like bananas! I get round that by eating them with yoghurt and squirty chocolate sauce. 😁

Agree with pp saying it could be either ferritin levels or magnesium.

The trigger is insufficient dopamine IIRC. Iron for example is involved in the transporting of dopamine, so that's why it can affect it. But whatever the underlying issue, it can really help to make sure you top up your dopamine levels during the day. Exercise is the main one, but also anything that makes you feel good (massage, baths, sex etc).

But also a random suggestion is paracetamol! I found out by accident that this works for me. Obviously you can't take it every night, so I reserve it for really bad days when I've not been able to exercise due to illness or whatever, and I'm unable to get to sleep. A couple of paracetamol and half an hour later it stops the restless legs.