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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Restless legs

35 replies

MrGeresHamster · 11/01/2014 21:49

AIBU to want to cut my legs off, I'm having a bad bout of 'antsy' feet (aka restless leg syndrome).

Aaarrrrrgggghhhhhhh......

OP posts:
Sharptic · 11/01/2014 21:59

Yes there is no other cure! But I've only ever had restless legs while pregnant, any possibility op?

Original poster
MrGeresHamster · 11/01/2014 22:01

No. Pregnancy was the only time I didn't get it.

I'm off for the hacksaw.

OP posts:
tenementfunster · 11/01/2014 22:04

I heard magnesium supplements good

FanFuckingTastic · 11/01/2014 22:05

Drives me nuts, my arms jerk all over the place when I am asleep too.

Worst experience was an ex who would lift and drop his legs ALL NIGHT LONG!

Dontletthemgetyoudown · 11/01/2014 22:08

Bizarrely I've just been googling this as I suffer from it. It drives me mad. I'm going to buy magnesium vitin b and iron supplements tomorrow. It also seems leg stretches and exercises similar to those for the aeroplane can help. Cool room rather than warm, light bedding etc.

It causes me to wake up every night and I'm tired and irritable.

cozietoesie · 11/01/2014 22:14

It's hell. Get yourself some iron supplements - sorted it for me within 24 hours. (Watch your dosages though: too much can be toxic.)

Original poster
MrGeresHamster · 11/01/2014 22:23

Iron and magnesium are interesting, I might try that thank you!

It's been over an hour now. I hate this.

OP posts:
Dinnaeknowshitfromclay · 11/01/2014 22:24

I get this when I've had alcohol. That is the only time. Drives me nuts though!

Hemlet · 11/01/2014 22:31

Oh I've had this in spades. Ask your Dr for amitriptyline (sorry I've probably spelled it wrong). Let me sleep so much better

cozietoesie · 11/01/2014 22:32

If you find that iron sorts it, and there's a fighting chance it will, then you'll likely have to go to the doctor. Unless you can identify clear likely causes for iron deficiency anaemia (eg heavy menstruation and a diet lacking in iron) then you'll need to identify why there's a loss of iron from your body - eg are you bleeding somewhere internally? Your GP should do blood tests - but at least you'll be able to steer them towards a possible cause of the RLS. (And you'll have had a couple of nights' sleep before you get there.)

It's truly awful. Trying to explain to people that you 'have to move your legs all the time' doesn't begin to cover it.

coco44 · 11/01/2014 22:36

It's tiredness .Go to bed!

bassetfeet · 11/01/2014 22:43

You are going to think me batshit crazy . Google soap and restless legs syndrome. yup .
I like scientific evidence and trials etc . But this has worked now for over 4 months for my DH who had arm and leg jerks that went on all night long and were very distressing despite all the med combinations and ad hoc remedies.
Bat shit crazy or nor it works . ivory soap and next to legs in stocking or loose tubi grip . We laughed also but as you know try anything .

QueenofLouisiana · 11/01/2014 22:43

Totally agree with getting your iron levels checked.

However for immediate relief, run a bowl of cold as you can bare water. Put you feet in for about 10 minutes. It does help! I did that while pg, on the advice of my mw.

didireallysaythat · 11/01/2014 22:49

DH has this. Has been caffeine free for 7 years now and taking iron (in the spatone approach - expensive but he gags on tablets) for 2 years which appears to have had more of an effect. Hasn't cured it but had made attacks a lot less frequent.

SpocksThirdEar · 11/01/2014 22:52

Urgh, OP, you have my sympathy. I get this. First got it when I was pg, had to do the commute home wandering up and down the train. I had it to varying degrees in each pregnancy (worse with my twins) and then it came back a couple of years ago.

I find exercise helps (ha, I hate exercise, I do loads of walking though) If I start getting it in the evening I go for a wander.

It's not so bad at the moment, it comes and goes anyway, but I hate it if I get it at bedtime. I have to lie on my front with my legs in the air moving my feet around till I wear them out.

Will definitely look into iron, as I do get heavy periods and get run down. I should check to see if it happens at certain times of the month I guess.

WallyBantersJunkBox · 11/01/2014 22:57

Try and get a soluble magnesium supplement. I take one every night for CFS and it really helps relax my leg muscles.

I have an natural therapy doctor and he prescribed me Mg powder, Vit c and a Vit b complex to take for night time.

As you probably can't do this tonight, lie your calves over a hot water bottle for a bit?

Do you have someone there who can give you a good leg rub? Smile

WallyBantersJunkBox · 11/01/2014 22:59

Just thought of another quick way of getting some relief. Stand on a stair with half your feet on/off so your heels are floating in the air slightly.

Carefully bounce gently so that your heel is dropping and stretching out the leg gently.

HTH

UnicornsNotRiddenByGrownUps · 11/01/2014 23:00

I've had this my whole life. Only thing that really sorts it is sleep but if you are struggling to sleep because of it then try elevating your legs on a few pillows. Also keeping your feet really cool helps too, use a hot water bottle but fill it with very cold water on your legs can bring some relief.

SanityClause · 11/01/2014 23:02

DH gets this. I'm sure he says vitamin B12 is the answer. Isn't it magnesium for cramps?

RiffyWammal · 11/01/2014 23:03

I get this, I got ropinirole off my doctor which works well. But I have MS so I don't know if it would be prescribed to otherwise healthy peeps.

They always start jumping if I drink coke or alcohol. It's torture sometimes until I take the ropinirole.

SugarMouse1 · 11/01/2014 23:04

I have this as well, so I know how awful it is.

Never found iron/magnesium/vitamins helped. Although drinking lots of tonic water helps me. Surprised no one suggested it yet! It's the quinine.

TodaysAGoodDay · 11/01/2014 23:04

It's awful, I agree with you OP. I never had this until I was pregnant with my DS whg's now 7. It only happens at night when I'm in bed, and only ever to my right leg. I have it tonight and it's driving me up the wall.

You have my condolences.

Aaaaaaaarrrgh indeed.

ImATotJeSuisUneTot · 11/01/2014 23:08

I've always had this, my teenage years I slept with my legs up the wall. Returned to doing that during pg too.

I find footballer style thigh/hamstring stretches, and a pillow under my bum can help sometimes.

I collapsed once when I was out, and in my semi-unconscious state, my legs went restless crazy, jerking all over the place. Was awful.

thornrose · 11/01/2014 23:14

My dd is 14 and she has started to suffer from this. Bizarrely it is usually shortly after she gets up in the morning at weekends! She is really, visibly uncomfortable and gets quite distressed.

MoreBeta · 11/01/2014 23:23

Its lack of oxygen in the muscles that cause the muscle to contract and then relax. Poor circulation, anaemia and anything else that might affect the transport of oxygen to the peripheral muscles in your limbs causes it.

Iron obviously is important in oxygen transport in your body but magnesium is also important in the biochemistry of a crucial chemical called ATP that is the ultimate source of energy metabolised in your muscle. Without ATP your muscles contract uncontrollably. Magnesium is a known muscle relaxant. That is why people have Epsom salt baths to relieve muscle pain.

Iron and magnesium supplements may well help but understanding why you are deficient is also important. I have magnesium deficiency because I have a serious autoimmune condition that causes restless legs and muscle pain among many other symptoms