My restless legs are driving me MAD

[Mrstrumpalot]

If you don't suffer from this you probably won't appreciate just how uncomfortable it is. Have been in bed 3 hours now and still not asleep. My legs are driving me mad with pain/ restlessness especially in the calf area.
Have been on pramipexole now for about 6 months, GP says I am at my max of 3 per night but they just don't seem to work anymore. I have also tried magnesium flake baths and magnesium oil rubbed in.

I know it may seem trivial compared to more serious complaints but I dread going to bed, kick about for ages and then feel exhausted the next day. It's really starting to get me down.

It is a terrible affliction. I have a few nights every month. I normally take two paracetamol which seems to settle things. Also if you place a bar of soap under your mattress at your feet it is suppose to be a 'cure'.
Hope you get some sleep soon.

My husband suffers from this, and finds valerian tablets really helpful.

A bar of soap is the the only thing that works for mine, no idea why or how it works but it definitely helps!

Well I'm still here mumsnetting to try and take my mind off it. DH snoring away next to me, I'm so envious.
Will try valerian. Thank you.

Oh and I tried the bar of soap, imperial leather I think it was. Made the bed smell nice but made no difference to my legs!

Cold shower your legs only. Stimulates the circulation a bit.

Tonic water is supposed to be good for restless legs, my mum swears by it. It has something in, quince?, quinine? Something like that that reduces the cramps in the leg. Sure you can google it. No scientist here but heard it's worked for a few people. Worth a go!

I've ate glee with this periodically. Worst during pregnancy.

I found getting up and going for a wee helped, as did walking on cold floor or running my feet under the cold tap. Getting too hot seems to make it worse. Stretching feet and calf muscles before bed is supposed to help too.

It's really horrible, you have my sympathy...

"I've suffered with" that should say

Eating glee would be nice.

Well I can't stand it anymore. About to get up and shower my legs. Sigh!

I think the magnesium cream works better than the oil, FWIW. Better texture too.

Total sympathy from me. It is a hideous affliction. I'm not taking any medication for it yet because I haven't been able to get to the GP yet, but it drives me mad.

I'm going to try the bar of soap thing though!

Mine seems tied to iron deficient anemia - I've found that when I can get my iron levels up it disappears. Regular exercise also seems to help. Im having a hard time getting my iron levels up now and have been prescribed the lowest dose of Valium to help with the RLS in the meantime, which has been a life(sleep)saver!

Magnesium supplements really do help. You current,y have lots of posts throwing ideas at you so may not read this, but honestly, magnesium helps.

I'm not sure what the pramipexole is but if it isn't something containing magnesium you may want to try a magnesium supplement. Works like a charm for me

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Well eventually got off to sleep about 3ish after showering my legs with cold water.
Pramipexole was originally intended to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's but was found also to help RLS. However I read somewhere that it eventually stops working.

So, drink tonic water, take valerian and magnesium, have a bath with magnesium flakes, rub magnesium cream in calf muscles ( that's where it hurts the most).
Please please let that combination help!

Every sympathy OP. I have the same, and it's hideous.

Mrstrumpalot have you tried this?

www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/betteryou-magnesium-oil-goodnight-spray-60085190

I use this to aid sleep, I don't have restless legs but my friend does and she swears by it!

Thanks for the recommendation @Roussette I have just ordered that from Amazon. Only £7.85 !

Mine tends to happen when I'm over tired. If it's a later night than I'm used to or I've had poor sleep recently . Its frustrating though if i get it from staying up too late (e.g. when I'm visiting friends who are night owls and want to chat late into the night) because it keeps me awake and sets me up for more of the same.
Ugh restless leg is hideous.

Ask your GP about Amitriptyline, MIL swears by it for her RLS. In high doses it's used for depression but low doses can help with symptoms such RLS.

Hope it works Piglet! That's a good price

For me restless legs were a feature of my extreme PMT and added to the monthly misery. Ibuprofen seemed to help a bit.

I do this weird thing where I lie down and lift my leg up, extend it fully and flex my foot bringing my toes towards my shin. I hold it as long as I can, until I'm literally shaking with the effort and my calf muscle is screaming. Then repeat. Over and over until I cannot do it any more. For some reason it does work.