Restless Legs

[mummytigger]

Hi all, first-time poster on here and a relatively new user, so if this discussion has come up in the past then I apologise - I'd just like some answers!

I'm suffering (badly) from Restless Legs Syndrome. I'm 31 weeks with my first child, and to be honest it was a doddle of a pregnancy up until 29 weeks. My legs from the knee down are unbearable - every time I sit down, lie down, relax in the bath, whatever. If I don't have something to take my mind off it totally it will keep me awake almost all night.

I've been sleeping on and off for the last fortnight, and the erratic sleep pattern is killing me. I've heard that yoga, quinine, leg massage, meditation, light exercise, brazil nuts, iron supplements, aromatherapy, a reflexologist and GP-Prescribed medications all help, but there doesn't seem to be a hard-and-fast answer.

I'm just wondering if there are other sufferers out there that are being driven insane by the last of sleep, and if they have found anything that works? Even if it's in the above list - just confirm it so that I can give it a shot because at this point I'm willing to try ANYTHING!

Hi love, I also had a very easy pregnancy apart from bloody restless legs!! I'd never had them before pregnancy so it was a completely new (and really annoying) experience. You poor thing, yours sound much worse than mine - I only suffered in the evenings. I had a theory that mine were worse when I was very tired but never managed to prove or disprove it.

Mine were never bad enough for me to seek help, so I have no remedies sadly. The only reassurance I can offer is that mine disappeared overnight once I had the baby.

There have been other threads on Mumsnet about this. You can search for it...I can't recall any miracle cures, but it is quite common. So at least you have solidarity and sympathy!!

Good luck :)

Hi tigger!

I'm 34 weeks today & also suffering with RLS, it's the most god-awful thing and the most pointless pregnancy side effect I can think of. Mine seems to be worse when I'm nervous / under pressure. Here's my list of (hopefully) temporary cures?

Daily long soaks in a warm bubble bath help my legs, as does resting with them higher than my heart for about an hour a day or whilst asleep (a bit awkward with a bump though!)

I also bought some of these a few weeks ago & found they help me so much - any other shoes give me cramp-like sensations in my feet!?

Arnica gel rubbed lovingly into my feet & calves by my other half really helps too, it has a lovely cooling effect & seems to soothe symptoms - it's about £4 for a tube in Boots.

Be careful with Quinine - it's not recommended during pregnancy. My GP said they can treat RLS with medication but none is suitable for pregnancy so as far as I know that's out too I'm afraid!

Hope this helps!? :)

I'll have to start begging the partner to be nice and rub my legs for me then haha! It's one of the few things I haven't tried. It's because it's almost constant that it's driving me to distraction! I eventually just end up sleeping through sheer exhaustion, and after a few hours Baby has the idea of getting me back up to go to the loo.

I've also been told Aloe Vera gel helps, so I'll see if we can pick some of that up cheap :)

Thanks for the support though - at least it's not just me! And I hope it vanishes because otherwise I'll be a milking zombie when the baby comes!

Hi mummytigger
I had this really bad a couple of weeks ago (I'm 32 weeks today) and it was in the week leading up to a concert performance, so I agree that stress/nerves make it worse. It's not so bad this week but it also seems to get worse when I am very tired. I've heard that bananas help (for the potassium) so I've been eating 1 or 2 a day, don't know whether it's helped or not, but worth a try! Poor you, hope you get some respite soon.

Hi, I put up a post like this a few days ago and have started having banana at night which does seem to work as I get awful cramp at night too. Went to chemist and he said not to have quinnine but just a hot bath. Have bought a heat pad and have it under my calfs at night. I really feel for you as I have been in tears over this and can nt wait for it to stop - I am only 21+2 so dreading it getting worse. ps I eat the banana with ice cream and choc sauce as it helps my heart burn too - double whammy and I just like choc. Good Luck x

The cramp-like feelings can be linked to low sodium too so I'm told, so if you have a low-salt diet, increasing salt intake a little may help (not too much obviously!) I find I often feel better after a naughty, salty meal (KFC usually!) but this could be the placebo effect?

Hi I'm NOT pregnant but get them a lot. I usually get it when I'm overtired and often at work which is quite embarassing, especially on a night shift when there's not much to do and everyones sitting down

I have to keep tensing them and shaking them, drives me mad.

I spoke to my friend who's a GP and there's not an awful lot you can do for them. It has got so bad before that I've resorted to taking pain relief.

Hi, I've had RLS this pregnancy too - drove me mad doing the Riverdance constantly all night. Tried having a banana before bed but didn't make much difference, also tried Tiger Balm and quinine.

After a few weeks of it I went to the acupuncturist (that I have been seeing on and off for different things for a couple of years) After my appointment, that night they were worse than ever - BUT since then it's pretty much gone!! I had a couple more sessions with the acupuncturist for it. This was at 30 weeks and I'm 38 weeks now and can kind of feel the beginnings of it starting when I go to bed but its not enough to keep me awake.

I'm not remotely new age or hippyish but acupuncture seems to be able to solve a lot of problems!!

Hiya all :D Thanks for all the messages of support, and I've gotta say I'm not noticing it as much as I was before if I have a banana or two! Also been having the bloke rub my legs, and it's really worked! I've actually managed to sleep uninterrupted for the last few nights, so I'm praying it continues! :D

Hurrah! Keeping my fingers crossed for you mummy :)

OMG i hate it! have it at the mo and can't sleep, seems to be my hands and right foot! I just want to cry!

Usually a couple of paracetomol does the trick if a massage doesn't work but even that tonight isn't helping :(