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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want the pain in my legs to go away

41 replies

Warblerinwinter · 15/01/2022 01:45

I’ve Ben in bed for 2 hours. I can’t sleep. Can’t lie still
I’ve had restless legs and shooting pains for years. Some nights, like tonight I’m in tears because it’s so uncomfortable, I can’t lie still more than 40 seconds. It ve just taken yet more paracetamol which isn’t touching it
I dread going to bed every night.
I spoke with GP over this , before covid, and a number of other symptoms. Nothing done , wasn’t interested. I’m post menopausal, overweight but do try to walk 6500 steps a day on average so not entirely a couch potato. I take , as prescribed, high dose of vitamin d
I’m so frustrated and fed up
AIBU to think about going back to GP and saying I cannot continue like this…every night is agony…sleep is crap

OP posts:
Original poster
Warblerinwinter · 15/01/2022 01:47

Oh, and I’m 8 years post menopausal but still get hot flushes. When I’m not twitching and writhing in agony, I’m shoving my bed clothes on and off.

OP posts:
AmberLynn1536 · 15/01/2022 01:53

Sounds awful, magnesium is supposed to help with restless legs?

avamiah · 15/01/2022 02:03

Have you tried putting a couple of pillows underneath your lower legs just under your calfs to raise them slightly.

I’m not medically trained, but I sometimes get restless legs and they feel tight and this always helps.

Hope I’ve helped a bit.

CrikeyPeg · 15/01/2022 02:27

Sounds tough OP. Can you see another GP?
Try a tot of Baileys. No medical basis for it at all, just my mum has restless leg and she swears by it. She mentioned it to my aunt, who has recently started with restless leg, who tried it and it worked for her. Then recently I had some weird squeezy sensation going on with my legs and remembered the Baileys thing, so had a wee slug and it worked a treat! Worth a try maybe. Hopefully others will have more helpful advice/comments.

parchedjanuary · 15/01/2022 02:49

I also suffer with this.

I agree, putting pillows under the lower legs helps. Use 2 or 3 and put them right by where the lower leg meets the inside of the knee.

If that doesn't work, Another thing that I find can help is lying on my side, and then curling my body up very very tightly (in the foetal position). So my legs and knees are as curled up as much as they possibly can be. I discovered this through trial and error and after many nights of restless legs. Restless legs are utter torture. But this does seem to help me.

Also.....no alcohol. Even a small amount makes this problem a million times worse for me. Which is difficult for me because I have a bit of an alcohol problem:(

lborgia · 15/01/2022 02:59

Oh for god's sake, if I see another post where a woman is dismissed by her GP.

Being overweight, being over 50, does not mean you don't deserve to have this taken seriously.

Have you tried a little bit of magnesium yet? Get the powder and start really small, it can upset your stomach.

Meanwhile, do you have any other symptoms?

parchedjanuary · 15/01/2022 03:01

....also, there are some medications that might help with sleep. Actually sleeping tablets are addictive so you can't have a long term prescription for them. But there are other, non addictive medications that can help with sleep. I don't know if we are allowed to name medications on Mumsnet so I won't say names. But:

My GP prescribes me a sedating antihistamine. It's quite gentle and does help. You can buy it over the counter.

My mum has sleep problems due to chronic pain and also experienced restless legs. Her gp prescribes her a trycyclic antidepressant. It's been amazingly helpful for her.

Good luck. I do understand how horrible it feels. I would recommend, get out of bed, walk around, and then get back into bed and curl up into the tiniest tightest little ball, while lying on your side! I hope this works for you.

Nat6999 · 15/01/2022 03:53

I take Co-codamol 30/500 & Gabapentin for my restless legs. It's an awful feeling, mine feels like someone is twanging the muscle on the back of my thigh, sometimes the feeling travels up my spine & my right arm & shoulder does the same. I was prescribed pramipexole by my rheumatologist but it has side effects that can include becoming addicted to gambling, nausea, dizziness & nightmares.

Mummy2r · 15/01/2022 04:16

Quinine helps. Tonic water before you sleep. And massage magnesium spray on the area

Flatandhappy · 15/01/2022 04:30

Have you tried Panadol osteo? I had restless leg and shooting pains after chemo, so bad it made me cry. The hospital told me to take Panadol osteo and first time I just had normal Panadol at home so assumed there couldn’t be much difference. Big mistake. From them on I took the osteo and it was so much better. Not sure if you can take it long term though but for some relief……

Flynnqwer · 15/01/2022 04:42

I always come on RLS threads to say this, and I think people think I’m taking the piss, but an orgasm when you’re trying to sleep relieves the symptoms for long enough to drift off.

Suffered from it for years, tried everything, and it’s the only thing I’ve found reliable.

NotTheGrinchAgain · 15/01/2022 05:00

You can get a spray magnesium to run in topically. Fantastic stuff. Not a gimmick.

Sh05 · 15/01/2022 06:45

Holland and Barrett do a magnesium spray. It works wonders

Indecisivelurcher · 15/01/2022 06:48

Have you had your iron checked? Low iron causes restless legs. It's horrible. Mine kept me awake last night. Along with my itchy foot that will not go.

GoodnightGrandma · 15/01/2022 06:49

It helps mine if I kick the duvet off so my legs are cold.
And I believe tonic water helps, so try drinking that.

GoodnightGrandma · 15/01/2022 06:50

@Indecisivelurcher

Have you had your iron checked? Low iron causes restless legs. It's horrible. Mine kept me awake last night. Along with my itchy foot that will not go.
True. I had restless legs when my ferritin was low. Didn’t realise that caused it until it went away when I was on iron.
icedancerlenny · 15/01/2022 06:53

I have MS and suffer from this. Magnesium spray on your legs is like a miracle.

Mollymalone123 · 15/01/2022 08:46

You must go back to gp.lots of suggestions i but my DF has medication for RL . Ask to see a different GP.good luck!
I had it for a few weeks once and I had to get up to have a warm bath in the middle of the night as that helped me.Also the Benadryl that is drowsy might help but I’m sure u read that in some people it increased symptoms so better double check-but you deserve a gp’s help!!

caulkheaded · 15/01/2022 08:49

I came on to say iron too.

I was diagnosed as coeliac a few weeks a ago and cutting out gluten has massively helped my restless legs as well.

Sturmundcalm · 15/01/2022 09:01

random but my mum (when she was an overweight 60-something) started to get terrible pains in her legs. she was borderline for underactive thyroid so after AGES the GP prescribed for that and it fixed it completely. if she ever forgot to take the tablets that was the first symptom that kicked back in. think it didn't help as much with the restless legs though, mainly the pain.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 15/01/2022 09:09

I get it too.

Personally I would try and increase your activity to over 10k steps. I average 18/20k a day but my legs are worse on days I've been less active.

Are you taking magnesium supplements?

Original poster
Warblerinwinter · 15/01/2022 11:27

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have only just got up after finally falling asleep at 4:15am
To respond to some of your suggestions

  1. Position and pillows- nope, no difference
  2. Magnesium- tried a few years ago and made no difference
  3. Iron- I was reading about that at 3am this morning and evidence in latest studies and brain serum levels- I think this is what I need to go back to Gp with
  4. Antihistamine-I do use when legs just very aching and completely knackered and need to get a full nights sleep. It doesn’t stop me waking up but I do drift back off very quickly. It doesn’t touch the restless leg pain though so no good if that’s what is keeping me from sleeping in first place.
  5. I drink very little. And haven’t had any since Xmas, same with low caffeine
  6. Orgasam and tonic water ( not both together🤣😳, well maybe!). Not tried either of those.
  7. Co-codomal - yes, this does work and I have heard that specialist will now prescribe low dose morphine for severe RLS. issue is that I am loath to self prescribe for long term use and it “blocks” my system up after a couple of nights. I resisted using it last night, but eventually took some at 3am as I was beside myself in agony . I said to my Gp before it works and is only thing that works and they advised me to stop taking it fr RLS and said I’d get addicted. Given latest research about using it for RSL in low dose they were just plain wrong but that was part of them ignoring and dismissing me. Just said warm baths 🙄. Warm baths or ice don’t do anything for me .
  8. Upping steps to 15-20k. I think I’d be so knackered that I’d fall asleep immediately I stopped 🤣🤣. However, part of my issues is that I tore my Achilles’ tendon last year. I still a, struggling to heal form that. I can manage about 5000steps of actual walking before the pain form that becomes too much due to inflammation, then need to stop and elevate it. I get my steps mostly by just moving frequently during the day with housework, a bit of pacing, short walks, and “dancing like no one’s watching”😱😳. I’m in agreement that my low level of actual walking (e.g. striding out which is the point where the Achilles really hurts ) is not helping. I’m due to follow up with consultant I saw about the pain/healing as it’s nearly a year now and he said if not much better he’d try the shock thing treatment,

So, I think I’ll go the iron route with Gp then…

Sorry for long reply- I did want to thank you for suggestions and add to the conversation for other folks that suffer too. It always seems so much more rational in morning when you are not literally in throws of being tortured

OP posts:
Original poster
Warblerinwinter · 15/01/2022 11:30

Oh, I missed the paradox osteo…not heard of this medication..I’ll look at it now. Thanks .

OP posts:
SecretDoor · 15/01/2022 11:32

Get Vit D and ferritin levels checked by GP and treat accordingly

Take extra magnesium with tonic water before bed

Original poster
Warblerinwinter · 15/01/2022 11:53

@SecretDoor

Get Vit D and ferritin levels checked by GP and treat accordingly

Take extra magnesium with tonic water before bed

Hi, vitamin D is a whole lengthy story, I have all the symptoms of hyperparathyroid. My mother had parathyroidism . I have had very low vit D which I take high dose prescription for. I have insisted on a blood test for PTH . That came back high but just within ranges, as was my calcium levels. I tried to explain to Gp that high, within range, for both calcium and PTH could still mean I have parathyroidism, but she was buying it. Dismissed me. And I mean EVERY symptom of Hyperparathyroid. Includes the bones ( multiple fractures in last 8 years), moans( depression for no reason and mood swings) , groans ( kidney stones, digestive problems, RLS ). My vit D is in normal range currently as long as I take high dose. I don’t have anywhere else to go as they are saying my results are in normal ranges.

But I’ve not tried to ask about iron levels - I know my blood serum is normal as the previous test would have shown up that issue. But what I was reading last night indicated they would anyway as it’s the brain serum levels and they can’t measure those. So, I will make appointment on Monday and hope a different Gp might take it more seriously
Thanks

OP posts: