sheryl Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Honestly, sometimes my legs are spastic. Just wondering if rls is real? Does anyone here know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 It's real. It's often (though not always) linked to a magnesium deficiency. Supplementing with magnesium (400mg daily) helped both DS and me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 real Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 It's real. I had it during a pregnancy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Oh my, don't even ask that of people who DO have it! haha :) I do, and it's awful. Magnesium doesn't help me, but making sure I have adequate iron intake and enough sleep helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 OK, thanks y'all. Magnesium....I got that but stopped taking it. Ah ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 RLS is an evil disorder. It is hideous in the way it disturbs a person's sleep or rest. It runs in my family. It is very real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalLynn Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I have had it since I was a kid. So frustrating. It's worse when I'm tired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Oh my, don't even ask that of people who DO have it! haha :) I do, and it's awful. Magnesium doesn't help me, but making sure I have adequate iron intake and enough sleep helps. Thanks. Iron too? I do get enough iron as I use cast iron cookware "most of the time". I'm sitting here now trying to sleep and got out of bed b/c my legs are all.over.the.place!!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 thanks all. I think i'm going to check into homeopathy for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 OK, thanks y'all. Magnesium....I got that but stopped taking it. Ah ha! It may also be an iron deficiency. My doctor told me to take magnesium about a month ago. It made my RLS even worse. Some people can cool down the legs and feet for relief. Others prefer heat. Looks like someone decided it need to be named after a researcher. http://www.rls.org/. It is now called Willis-Ekbom disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I had it some year back--triggered by some blood pressure medication I was trialing. It took both getting off of the meds and caffiene before it cleared up completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabella Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 It's very real! I'm sure my husband wouldn't wish he could cut his own legs off on an imaginary whim! ;) Magnesium only helps for a while. Everything he has tried has helped for a short while and then stops being effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BakersDozen Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real for sure! And horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Low iron triggers it for me. It can be awful. I have used Hyland's Restfull Legs when it's happening at night and I've found relief with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real. I get both RLS and Bruxisum (clenching of the jaw) form when I am taking Savella, a med for nerve pain. I can off set it by taking a very small dose of Gabapentin, 100 1-2x per day. Without the gabapentin, I will do just about anything to avoid going to be at night. It is so miserable, I have been almost in tears from the discomfort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 yes it is very real. for me it is tied into a vitamin deficiency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MollyAnn Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real. I think I have a moderate form as it only bothers me when I am tired, stressed, or pregnant. Calcium magnesium helps me a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 A friend's dc has it. If I remember correctly, in her case it's caused by low iron in her spinal fluid. Her blood levels are okay. Supplemental iron helps her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLittleWonders Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real here too and it seems my eldest inherited it too. Homeopathic coffea cruda helps calm it down so we can sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaCEmom Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real! My mom has it and she kicks so much and so violently in her sleep and trying to sleep that she frequently wakes up with her mattress no longer sitting correctly on the box spring. She even broke a toe once from kicking a bedpost. It's awful :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 My sil has RLS; has had it all her life. I remember my other sil (I'll call her sil1 since she's the older of the two) talking about having to share a bed with sil2 when they traveled as kids and not being able to sleep because sil2 kicked her all night. Then there was the trip where sil1 refused to sleep with sil2 so fil traded. And he wasn't able to sleep all night for being kicked. Sil2's RLS is so bad that even a Cal-king didn't spare her dh. They've had separate beds for a long time now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peach Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 It runs in my family as well and it's maddening. It's iron related for me as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 My mother has it. She has been on special medicine for it for a couple of years now. It is very real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvToRead Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real. I get it when I take certain medications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real. My youngest had it as an infant. Some people respond well to iron supplements. She needed a supplement because she was iron deficient (just a simple blood test.) Once we added it in, there was significant improvement. On the days we missed giving it her, she had very difficult nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real. My dh has it. It's a side effect from the meds he takes for his bipolar disorder. He has to take another medication (Requip, I think it's called) to treat the RLS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Real. It can be caused by some VERY common drugs. Diphenhydramine for one. So if you are experiencing symptoms, and you're taking Benadryl...that could be the cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 I just wanted to thank everyone for input. I use cast enough on a regular basis that my iron should be good. Good reminder for the multivitamin which I haven't taken in a while and need to. Calcium/mag helps me to sleep along with my melatonin, but I haven't taken that in a while. Back on all of these good things.........to the store! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I have it and it's relatively mild during the late autumn, winter, and early spring if I can keep my iron intake up. It gets brutal sometimes during the allgery season because it seems to be mildly exacerbated by Allegra D which is the only med that's been effective for me, but I sometimes have to add benadryl to the Allegra D in order to get enough relief to function and that combo is lethal for my legs. If it's allergy season, and I'm also anemic, I can get almost frantic due to lack of sleep. I'll lay in bed with legs that ache so bad I cry, and I can't lay still, for whatever reason, I have to move them all the time as if it somehow gives a quick release to the ache. It's awful. So then I go off the benadryl and suffer headaches from the congestion...the Allegra does well for the itching eyes and nose, but it can't quite deal with how severe the congestion gets or the sneezing which can go on for long periods of time. So, on the worst of days, I have to take my pick, relief from the allergies during the days so I can function, homeschool, keep up with obligations, etc. in which case I go without meaningful sleep and suffer a lot of leg pain, or have migraines, and be unable to function holding kleenex under my nose for hours on end, wanting to claw my eyes out or scratch my nose off, and able to...if the other symptoms abate a little, sleep some at night...which is debatable because it's awful hard to sleep when the allergies are that bad. Usually, the allergies win, and some nights I just pace. The walking feels better than attempting to lay still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSOchristie Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 So very real! I had it during all three of my pregnancies and it was awful. I wanted to do anything just to be able to fall asleep. I could not have any caffeine after the morning, or it was unbearable. It went a way within a week of delivery every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrygal Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I have it with pregnancies and when my thyroid is off. Iron deficiency and calcium/mag def. is a problem. I recommend mag. citrate as it is the best absorbed. It can be terrible, but when all my hormones and minerals are in balance, it goes away completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2TheTeam Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I have it. It's awful. Very real. I had no clue what it was till I saw an ad for some medicine for it on TV, which I don't take. ;) Mine gets SO much worse when I'm pregnant. I really hate it. I have found a homeopathic remedy for it that works well for most people I tell about it. It used to work for me, but not so much anymore. :( Anyway, it's called Restful Legs. Hyland's makes it. You can get it at Wal-Mart or CVS or online and I'm sure other places too. Here is a link: http://www.restfullegs.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 I have it. It's awful. Very real. I had no clue what it was till I saw an ad for some medicine for it on TV, which I don't take. ;) Mine gets SO much worse when I'm pregnant. I really hate it. I have found a homeopathic remedy for it that works well for most people I tell about it. It used to work for me, but not so much anymore. :( Anyway, it's called Restful Legs. Hyland's makes it. You can get it at Wal-Mart or CVS or online and I'm sure other places too. Here is a link: http://www.restfullegs.com/ I have heard of this remedy. Thanks for the reminder. I have it and it's relatively mild during the late autumn, winter, and early spring if I can keep my iron intake up. It gets brutal sometimes during the allgery season because it seems to be mildly exacerbated by Allegra D which is the only med that's been effective for me, but I sometimes have to add benadryl to the Allegra D in order to get enough relief to function and that combo is lethal for my legs. If it's allergy season, and I'm also anemic, I can get almost frantic due to lack of sleep. I'll lay in bed with legs that ache so bad I cry, and I can't lay still, for whatever reason, I have to move them all the time as if it somehow gives a quick release to the ache. It's awful. So then I go off the benadryl and suffer headaches from the congestion...the Allegra does well for the itching eyes and nose, but it can't quite deal with how severe the congestion gets or the sneezing which can go on for long periods of time. So, on the worst of days, I have to take my pick, relief from the allergies during the days so I can function, homeschool, keep up with obligations, etc. in which case I go without meaningful sleep and suffer a lot of leg pain, or have migraines, and be unable to function holding kleenex under my nose for hours on end, wanting to claw my eyes out or scratch my nose off, and able to...if the other symptoms abate a little, sleep some at night...which is debatable because it's awful hard to sleep when the allergies are that bad. Usually, the allergies win, and some nights I just pace. The walking feels better than attempting to lay still. I'm so sorry Faith. You are really attacked. I will say I was on allergy shots/meds in 2 states/regions too, for about 15 years. I've been off of them for about 5. It worked for me. I was allergic to cats. We adopted a rescue Ragdoll 4.5 years ago. To all of the others, so many of you have experienced rls with pregnancies! I'm not preg - LOL! Are there any others out there who experience rls without being preg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2TheTeam Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I didn't say too much about it before except to link it. Mine gets like the poster you quoted when I'm pregnant, really bad every time I sit down. Though, I don't have the allergy thing going too. That's awful. But, I have it all the time, not just while I'm pregnant. It can get very severe some days...depending on sleep which I lack because I have 6 kids 7 and under. Often, I can't be touch as a result, like my husband can't lay his hand on my leg while we are watching TV or touch me when we are in bed going to sleep. It's really frustrating and has brought me to tears many times, especially when I want to be touched but can't. Sometimes I get it at night while nursing my 9 month old and that makes me cry because I'm SO miserable and I just want to comfort my baby, but I'm desperate to put him down. It's so sad. I struggle in the car a lot, on long trips especially at night, but it can be any time of day if I'm tired. The above remedy really helped in the past. Now, I usually just have to suffer through. But, I still take it sometimes. It's been a while. I should try it again. My biggest issue is I can't keep it in my night stand anymore because my 3 year old will eat it. Ugh! So, it's downstairs and I don't want to go get it. Too tired and miserable to get up, even though getting up helps. Strange. RLS is very strange and definitely like torture. It's really awful. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 I didn't say too much about it before except to link it. Mine gets like the poster you quoted when I'm pregnant, really bad every time I sit down. Though, I don't have the allergy thing going too. That's awful. But, I have it all the time, not just while I'm pregnant. It can get very severe some days...depending on sleep which I lack because I have 6 kids 7 and under. Often, I can't be touch as a result, like my husband can't lay his hand on my leg while we are watching TV or touch me when we are in bed going to sleep. It's really frustrating and has brought me to tears many times, especially when I want to be touched but can't. Sometimes I get it at night while nursing my 9 month old and that makes me cry because I'm SO miserable and I just want to comfort my baby, but I'm desperate to put him down. It's so sad. I struggle in the car a lot, on long trips especially at night, but it can be any time of day if I'm tired. The above remedy really helped in the past. Now, I usually just have to suffer through. But, I still take it sometimes. It's been a while. I should try it again. My biggest issue is I can't keep it in my night stand anymore because my 3 year old will eat it. Ugh! So, it's downstairs and I don't want to go get it. Too tired and miserable to get up, even though getting up helps. Strange. RLS is very strange and definitely like torture. It's really awful. :( Bless your heart. That sounds tough. Have you thought about a little small lock box with a turn dial (what are they called) lock to store the remedy? Which one are you talking about? I want to be certain. Getting up helps? I didn't know that. It seems there are some common factors here: Less/no caffeine Preg - which I am not LOL Tired Allergy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2TheTeam Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Yes, getting up helps because your legs are moving. However, often it will start up again after you lay back down. As for the other things, I haven't noticed a caffeine connection, but maybe I should have. :glare: Preg definitely makes it a LOT worse for me and brought it on in the first place. I never had it till I was pregnant with my first and it wasn't till after my 3rd pregnancy that it stuck around. It was really, really horrible with my last pregnancy. Being tired is what brings it on now. The more tired I am, the worse it is. When I'm well rested, it doesn't usually plague me. Oh and hormones...it's worse near my period. I don't have any allergies, and I've never heard of that as a trigger, but others are saying that. So, I'd say it is probably a trigger too. A lock box! That is genus! I should have thought of that. I have twin 3 year olds, but one of them is...well...a hand full. Someone will say, "can you put this where he can't get it?" To which I'll answer, "you mean at the neighbor's house?" :tongue_smilie: I'm only half kidding. We have to keep many doors in our house locked. He has 3 older siblings and I've never had to toddler proof much until him. But, he's only 3 and he will grow up. At least the Restful Legs is homeopathic. He can't OD on it. Still, I don't want to risk it. But, the lock box would work for many things. The Restful Legs doesn't help as much as it used to even when I do take it. It's better than nothing though. I need to try it again. Thanks! I hope you find relief. Try the Restful Legs. It really has helped many, many people I've told about it. It's only around $5 at Wal-Mart. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Real. But less likely to happen to me when I've been exercising like I am supposed to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myeightkiddies Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 It's real. The worst case that I have experienced was the result of a side-effect to medication. It's very disruptive, especially when trying to sleep. Periodically I experience it still, but it is nothing like it was as a side-effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I am surprised no one has mentioned potassium. That is what takes care of it for me. I used to really struggle to get in enough, because there is only so many bananas a person can eat. Then I noticed that the Emergen-C packets have 6% of RDA for potassium. Plus it is a multi-vitamin. I don't take them everyday. But, when my legs start to get a little twitchy I will take two packets. It takes a few hours to work, so if I wait too long stretching my Achilles tendon helps some. It is like a calf stretch but you bend your knee too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnaM Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Very real. I have not found anything that helps, but I do know that it seems to be exaserbated by too much caffine.I once took a PM pill and that also gave me RLS. It was HORRIBLE. Nothing like being drugged and needing to sleep but not being able to due to the the RLS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlessedMom Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Very Real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Pregnancy/iron are the factors for me. ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peach Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 For a long time I've been seeing reports from people that putting a bar of soap under the sheet at the foot of the bed helps, and they mention Ivory most often. Anyone tried this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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