To ask for help regarding 7 year olds restless leg

[catgirl1976]

DS is seven and has never been a good sleeper. He has in his own words a restless leg . He is currently in bed sobbing his heart out because he cannot sleep and he cannot keep his leg still. He had been in bed thrashing and cycling his legs for over two hours whilst howling and this is not uncommon.

It is horrible listening to him. We’ve tried folic acid and iron supplements, later bedtime, earlier bedtime, relaxing CDs, black out blinds, lavender pillow spray, relaxing bath, leg massage everything.

He is hysterical absolutely hysterical and throwing himself around his bed so much I think he may hurt himself. I am at my wits end. He is a good diet and gets loads of exercise. We limit screen time especially before bed. His room is dark and cool. Considering a weighted blanket but they are £££

Does anyone have any advice or experience of this?

Isn't it quinine like in tonic water that helps restless legs?

www.rls-uk.org/news/rlsinchildren

I’ve always had restless legs and they are much worse when I’m overtired. It’s a horrible feeling. Raising the legs can definitely help and I second pps advice to lie with legs up.

Mine’s heaps better since I was prescribed Amitriptyline; I know teenagers can be prescribed a low dose but not sure about children.

Definitely take ds to your GP though and get his bloods done - in the case above it was a simple case of iron deficiency.

Poor lad, I get this too, it's horrible.

I've always found this leg cream from Clark a helps. It kind of goes cold and tingly, always manage to sleep after applying that.

www.escentual.com/clarins/cl31000076/

I've also noticed that both too much and not enough exercise that day makes a huge difference, also can't wear skinny jeans.

Really interesting to read others points about diet too, will give those a go!

Clarins, not Clark's!

Heat pads (wheat type ones that you microwave) were the only thing that helped my daughter.

This will sound completely bonkers but I also suffer from this and find that putting a hair bobble around the affected leg works wonders. No idea why though

He needs magnesium. Easiest would be magnesium flakes bath. Couple of handfuls in not so hot bath and he has to stay for 20 minutes. Or try supplementing, but, maybe, consult a GP first. Very good home remedy is to cut fresh lemon and smear over soles before bed every night. It sounds loony, but it really helped me few years back.

Thank you everyone - loads of things to try here. He will be very pleased tomorrow when I tell him we’ve got lots of new things to try

The Body shop do a peppermint spray that works.

Isn’t there a trick where you put a bar of soap under the sheet for restless legs?

Op will you report back ? Your poor son - sounds horrible x

I would definitely try to speak to a GP - could you ask for a telephone appointment to talk it through?

I had this as a child, I remember how awful it was that no one took it seriously (‘just’ growing pains). It was very painful and couldn’t keep leg still. Still get it now, I find magnesium and potassium helps. Try some Epsom salts in bath at night and get some good quality magnesium tablets and a banana a day

Just be careful not to overdose on magnesium - can have a bit of a laxative effect. Chiro recommended epsom salt bath and powdered magnesium as apparently powdered form was better absorbed.

Poor little boy.
Gravity blankets are supposed to help restless legs.

Feet in the coldest water he can cope with, leave them there for about 15 minutes. It really helps.

Icd cold water and walk round. Gp told me this when pregnant.

I have really been suffering with this recently. It's absolutely awful. It seems to come and go, but most nights I will have either a strong pulse feeling in my feet, or a persistent tingling feeling. It's very misunderstood, I think unless you've experienced it, you don't realise how much of an impact it can have, especially because it often prevents sleeping.

I have suffered with something like this for many years. I would be up walking for hours in the night because of needing to move my legs.

I finally found that pressure like a massage helped me sleep, but at 3am my dh didnt want to help rub my legs.

So a friend suggested compression socks. Since the feeling was always below the knee. The constant pressure on my calves seemed to help.

Some nights I only wear one sock because only one leg is bothering me.

I was going to suggest magnesium. You can get a bioavalable spray to put on the skin. It itches a bit while it dries but might be better than a pill. Not sure about paed dosage for mineral supplements.
I was thinking of buying magnesium salts, like Epsom salts but they are called magnesium. Either soak as long as poss in a bath or submerge feet in a soak so they absorb into you. They're good.
Have you tried/ a proper hamstring calf stretch on him. Do you know how to do it? Message me if not.
It could be cramps, common in thus age at night,more water, walking on the floorreally pumping the heel toe action ad knee. Very firm deep massage strokes from foot up to knee then to groin. Back of leg first as there more muscle there to hold on to residual magic acid etc. Definitely give him morewaterwith that and stretch him out.
Or growing pains. Does Calpol help.
I used to suffer growing pains and cramp every night. I used to be up for hours when I was 8ish I think. It was horrible .
Hope it helps.

@hadenough i agree, i was so distressed every night kicking out in bed, imagine a little 7 year old struggling. Its awful.

Oh I really feel for him, I've struggle with RLS for years.
Things that work for me are:
Legs up the wall as pp described
Overtired Ness (going to bed not overtired and reading or something)
Epsom salts
But the biggest for me was watching my diet before bed, specifically chocolate before bed. I'm deadly for it but when it's bad I cannot have chocolate for 2 hours before bed. I don't know why, maybe caffeine or sugar in it but cutting it out worked a treat for me

Your poor DS. I had it in my first pregnancy and it was so distressing and drove me mad.

100% magnesium supplements. At the end of my second pregnancy now and haven't had restless legs once and I was taking the magnesium all the way through (for something else, as it happens).

Although the best thing I found for immediate relief when it was happening was distraction. Could you get him to read a book or even watch tv (obviously not very conducive to child sleep, but if he's very distressed it might help). I hope he gets sorted soon.

Just to follow up on the magnesium spray - I have found that this feels like it is burning my skin and have had to scrub it off - it’s quite expensive compared to the supplements or Epsom salts so maybe try those first. (Not saying it will burn or irritate, just for me it was worse).

Thank you everyone. I’m going to Holland and Barrat this morning to get Epsom salts and ask about vitamins with magnesium and iron in suitable for his age. I’ll also stock up on bananas and tell him to try sleeping with his legs up the wall. I’ll make him a GP appointment on Monday.

You’ve all been really helpful and I will update and let you know if anything helps.