Restless legs - driving me demented

[Artigene]

I'm 27 weeks and every evening I'm driven demented by restless legs. They just feel v twitchy and need constantly moving. I can't relax at all.

Does anyone have any tips for stopping restless legs? I've had it in previous pregnancies but not this much.

[candr]

Had this and cramps with DS and it is awful so poor you. Elevating legs when on sofa helps or tucking a cushion behind your knees and knees up to chest. Have a bannana a day and I bought a small heat pad from Boots that you plug in and have it by my calves in bed so when I get cramp it takes seconds to heat when you turn it on but you can wrap it around your leg which really helps. It does go eventually so good luck.

[mrshen1]

I think you'll find magnesium/potassium are usually the problem but I'm not that keen on supplements as it's difficult to know how much your body needs but the following things help me and some it will make me sound like a hippy :)

• drink another glass of water.
  
• wear red or orange, may sound silly but colour therapy can really help. red is apparently associated with potassium and orange magnesium. but if you don't like the colours don't wear them!
  
• buy a natural body brush from boots or somewhere like that, brush in upward directions from your feet all the way up your legs and thighs. you can also do this with your arms from your hand up to your shoulder. really helps circulation. always direct to the heart
  
• massage, use a natural massage oil or just soap in the bath.
  
• sometimes massaging your bum cheeks (!) or your thighs can relieve the pressure in your lower legs.
  

xxx

[Eskino]

Do you drink tea, coke or coffee? I fixed mine in pregnancy by cutting out all caffeine.

[wispa31]

artigene
yes perfectly fine to take, deficiency in potassium/magnesium will cause cramps. magnesium is also calming so really good to take for bedtime as will help with sleep and moods too.

[SmeeHee]

I used to get restless legs before my pregnancies and still do now occasionally, although haven't had it in a while possibly due to my increased consumption of G&T

For me the guaranteed fix is a leg and foot massage - starting just below the knee and gradually working down finishing on the toes (chases the twitchiness out!)

DH is usually fairly obliging but does get a little about whether I actually have it sometimes. The fact that he started questioning my leg twitchiness is what led me to Google it and discover it's a real syndrome with a name and everything.

[Artigene]

Ooh, I get terrible cramps too so maybe it is magnesium. Are magnesium supplements def safe in pregnancy?

Thanks for all the tips. Some of them sound really rather pleasurable "medicines".

[ZuleikaD]

I only get restless legs in bed when I'm trying to sleep and the only thing that fixes it is to go and sleep in the spare room. Something about getting into a freezing bed seems to work.

[wispa31]

ditto to magnesium, potassium is found in bananas. if you are lacking these minerals you may also find you get cramps in your legs aswell. i take 450mg magnesium citrate every night before bedtime, even before i got pregnant i was taking it.

[FoofFighter]

YY to bananas and quinine (tonic water contains this)

[formallyknownasloveydarling]

My doctor prescribed high dose magnesium. She said it was caused by a magnesium deficiency.

[Overcooked]

Orgasm and multi-vitamins - there must have been something missing.

But yeah, quick and easy is orgasm then sleep - it could be worse!

[WildeRumpus]

Don't know if it helps but mine gets worse when I am overtired, hot and/or dehydrated... Yesterday was awful but today I am rested and have drunk lots of water and am not anything like as twitchy.

It is dreadful, hope you work out what helps you soon :)

[RightUpMyRue]

OMG! Me too. SOOOO annoying!

The only way I found to relieve it is to go to sleep. DP and I haven't spent an evening together for ages because of my legs!

OK, so an orgasm, a banana, some tonic water and a bath. Doesn't sound too bad actually. You could even combine all of them at once, if you wanted

[MissMilliment]

And for the times when that's not possible or appropriate, I went to see a homeopath and it really helped. And I was very cynical about homeopathy.

[MissMilliment]

An orgasm. Weird but true

[Nonyummymummy]

I often get these even when not pregnant - I found that a banana a day really helped, I can't remember which mineral it provides but it really helped me!

[BawbagBiggins]

The only thing that helped mine was being in water. I lived in the bath for the last 12 weeks of both of my pregnancies!

[WillYouDoTheFandango]

Peppermint gel and foot spray from body shop. It really does work.

[newbie6]

Hi

I was told that peppermint gel from body shop helped? I'm sure drinking tonic water is supposed to help also.

Hope they do help!