Restless leg syndrome - any tips?

[Fishandjam]

I'm 25 weeks and restless legs are driving me mad - can't sleep properly! I've tried upping my activity levels and drinking more water but that hasn't helped. Does anyone have any good tips to reduce it?

I suffered from this and it is very annoying. Thankfully, I haven't had it for a few weeks (36 weeks now) so fingers crossed it won't last the entire pregnancy.
I didn't find a full solution to the problem, but raising my legs up on pillows and putting cushions in between the when lying on my side helped a bit. I also shook them to try to make it stop, which didn't help but did get rid of some of the frustration!

eating bananas before bed helps, and drinking tonic water.

yes I was going to say it could be linked to low potassium levels which would be the banana thing. does tonic water really help omg I could use help too.

I am a chronic, on-off restless legs sufferer and find (have posted elsewhere too fish) that I get it if I am dehydrated (which you have sussed), overtired and hot. Sometimes a good stretch and throwing the covers off will sort it out for long enough to get off to sleep...

generally it is just awful and I will be watching this thread with earnest for more tips!

I have this on and off too, i read a similar thread a couple of weeks ago and someone else mentioned the banana and water thing, i drink like a fish nowadays already, and have a banana when i actually remember.

someone else mentioned trying pregnacare as there were vitamins in these tablets that can help, i started about a week ago and have had it about once since then compared to nearly every night as im lying down to go to sleep. dont know if there is anything in them to stop it though but its definitely helped me.

I found drinking a glass of milk before bed helped, as did bananas.

Might be worth getting your iron levels checked, too. I didn't realise, but wine was low. My restless legs disappeared completely when I started the iron tablets.

I find that if I can crack my toes (like if you crack your knuckles) then for some reason it gets a bit better. Failing that massaging the toes and feet quite firmly helps a bit too. Good luck x

I suffered from this with my previous pregnancy and burst into tears when it started at 12 weeks with this one!
I have a banana a day, magnesium tablets (easly absorbed ones from Solgar) and ginger tea to increase circulation.
No aches that a hot water bottle won't get rid of since! I have no idea which one works but I'm not stopping any of them!

Mine started when I was pregnant with DS now 5. It still happens every week or so, and nothing I've tried has done any good. It drives me up the wall and only affects my right leg. It's bizarre and infuriating. I take vit supplements, and eat bananas but to no avail.

a tepid bath sorts mine out in about 5 mins. Now, as soon as I wake up with it, I get in the bath and can be back to sleep within 10 mins of it starting. Otherwise, I'm tossing & turning for an hour or so

Lying in bed with your feet up as high as you can up the wall and legs straight helps to relieve it. Usually helped enough to be able to get back to sleep for a while anyway! Obviously don't go to sleep in this position! Just to give them a stretch!

the thing I found that really helped in the middle of the night was walking barefoot on cold tiles, or running my feet under the cold tap. not found a cure yet for when it happens on a plane tho, which it does if I am on a long flight or am tired, drives me nuts!

You could try a food diary? I used to get it and I think it may have been when I ate more carbs than usual. Since our baby was born I've less time for eating and it's gone away. Could be a coincidence.

Sometimes iron deficiency can cause restless legs even if its not yet at a level to cause anaemia. Ask for iron studies as well as full blood count from your GP.

Someone suggested Calcium tablets to me which I think have helped me a bit though not sure if there is any evidence for that.

I found taking iron supplements and drinking tonic water to be helpful when I suffered this in my first trimester.

Anti-embolism socks (the type they make you put on before any op) did the trick for me and others I know!

Yep its iron deficiency in my case. Get a supp from your Gp. The tabs can play havoc with your bowels tho so i had the liquid.

Does it feel like odd, over tired achey no matter what position I move in they still ache?
It's horrible!

*like an odd over tired achey leg pain? That should say!

I'm trying more bananas, more iron supplements, tonic water and sticking my legs up the wall. It seems to be easing off enough that I'm not kept awake by it - I wake up but then can at least go back to sleep. It's a right royal PITA though!