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Original poster

Restless legs... ahhh

18 replies

suzy75 · 06/05/2011 20:55

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has ever had restless legs?

Mine are driving me mad! I don't know what's causing it or what to do to ease the horrid sensation. Its like spiders crawling over my legs and I have to move them all the time

Thanks

OP posts:
pinkytheshrinky · 06/05/2011 20:56

I had this when I had anaemia - got that sorted and it stopped

poor you

LynetteScavo · 06/05/2011 20:57

The anemia thing is interesting. I don't suffer anymore, but used to and found getting more oxygen helped.

Popbiscuit · 06/05/2011 20:59

I found compression socks to be really helpful. I get really achy, twitchy legs in the evening, particularly if I've been running and they help soooo.. much.

QuackQuackBoing · 06/05/2011 23:49

I had this when pregnant, the midwife looked at me like I was stupid when I told her and didn't help at all. 3 months later I discovered I was anaemic. It was there in my notes but horrible midwife hadn't bothered to tell me. A week after starting iron tablets it started to get better and then went completely. So I hardly slept for 3 months (it was that bad!) and all I needed was iron tablets!

It comes back occassionally but I take some iron and it goes again.

mammabearx4 · 07/05/2011 08:48

Hi, i suffered terribly with this, esp when pregnant with my last child (11 years ago now).They even sent me to a specialist because it was so bad, i had the usual tests for aenimea etc, but all were ok.
I tried hot wraps / cold wraps on my legs and baths, both made symptoms worse, walking around, also didnt help.I was prescribed some tablets, but decided against taking them as didnt want to harm my baby.
This may sound daft, but the only thing i have found to relieve symptoms is a hot cup of tea ! For me it really does work, dont know why.Maybe its the warm liquid running thru my veins or something, but it works.
I get it now still on occasions but only mildly thankfully, and still find the cuppa does the trick.BTW, immediateley after the birth,much to my relief, the restless legs ceased, i cant explain how much joy this was, only someone who has been thru this will understand !

QuackQuackBoing · 07/05/2011 10:15

mammabearx4 I understand! It's awful! I used to pile spare blankets onto my legs to try to stop them moving long enough to help me sleep. Didn't really work. Did you try iron tablets anyway? I read that it said you are not anaemic but someone I know was in the same situation and the iron helped anyway.

mammabearx4 · 07/05/2011 12:29

Yes, i was on iron tabs, don t remember it helping.I think it is also hereditory as my eldest bro,older sis and mum have all suffered at times.My youngest DD was complaining of aching legs the other day , she is 17 i do hope she isnt getting same thing as mine started at this age ! I may send her for anaemia test.Trying to tell people who have never experienced it is impossible, they can never understand how infuriating it is ! I can remember making my legs sore from constant rubbing just to get an ounce of relief from it and i was reduced to tears on occasions with it too.

Original poster
suzy75 · 07/05/2011 12:30

Thanks everyone, I had it before when I was pregnant with my last child 7yrs ago and thought it was that, but I am definitely not pregnant! so maybe its anaemia.

I've booked an appointment to see my GP and I will ask for a blood test. Its driving me mad still and nothing seems to ease it at night ( well apart from standing and doing things - but that's not helpful when your trying to rest or sleep). I wake in the morning feeling like my legs have done a work out. Sometimes it wake me up and I just have to get up and do things.

Its horrible!

OP posts:
mammabearx4 · 07/05/2011 12:34

Yes, i was on iron tabs, don t remember it helping.I think it is also hereditory as my eldest bro,older sis and mum have all suffered at times.My youngest DD was complaining of aching legs the other day , she is 17 i do hope she isnt getting same thing as mine started at this age ! I may send her for anaemia test.Trying to tell people who have never experienced it is impossible, they can never understand how infuriating it is ! I can remember making my legs sore from constant rubbing just to get an ounce of relief from it and i was reduced to tears on occasions with it too.

mammabearx4 · 07/05/2011 12:43

Suzy i know what you mean about legs still feeling heavy even after the restless leg thing has eased off, you do feel like you have been exercising at the gym ! i always thought that it was related to bad circulation but when i went to see the specialist he did tests for that and said that mine was normal.Dont know about anyone else but i have 4 kids and the last pregnancy was def the worst for the RL , dont know if cos i was older,35 at the time.Also can relate to ascance from midwife, some docs i spoke to didnt take it seriously either.
I described it as lots of insects crawling up and down your legs continuously from the inside and wherever you put your legs there was no resbite, only slightly on walking around.Cant tell you how many times i spent walking up and down during the middle of the night, waste of time tho didnt work !

changeforthebetter · 07/05/2011 12:47

I got this with both pregnancies and the GP and MW offered nothing. I did quite a bit of research and there didn't seem to be much out there. Thankfully it cleared up when I delivered though I am prone to it when very tired but having to stay awake. I used to get it when I went to the theatre Confused but I haven't done that for a loooong time. I'm pretty sure I've never been anaemic.

CravingExcitement · 07/05/2011 12:52

I find that standing on a step, front part of foot on the step, heels hanging over the edge, then sort of dropping my heels so that my calves get a really good stretch (I stretch for about a minute) really helps. It's worth a try. I do it before I go to bed. I find the restlessness gets worse the tireder I am.

mammabearx4 · 07/05/2011 13:10

Ditto what last post said, the more tired i got the worse the symptoms.Also agree with stretching calf, did help a bit but i found it came back just as bad.

mammabearx4 · 07/05/2011 13:13

Also, as changeforthebetter mentioned about getting it at the theatre,sometimes if we have a lazy day and i sit for long periods or at the cinema i get it milder than in pregnancy tho.

AlmightyCitrus · 07/05/2011 13:21

I've had it every time I'm pregnant, but I've never been anaemic. It started again a few weeks ago and I read that a calcium/magnesium supplement can help so I got a pot of pills from boots and that seems to have stopped it.

Some people say tonic water (urgh) and a banana before bed can help.

mammabearx4 · 07/05/2011 13:23

Interesting, will bear that in mind if mine comes back.

CravingExcitement · 07/05/2011 13:49

Also had it really bad in pregnancy, but it stopped within a couple of days of me starting to take preg multivits. Don't know which particular vitamin or mineral cured me though!

Original poster
suzy75 · 11/05/2011 21:04

Well I've had a blood test and I'm very anaemic! Also folate and iron levels are down... so hoping the supplements will ease my symptoms!

Gp seems to think this is the cause - only time will tell.

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