Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) help/discussion
in Health ·
Carol Sanchez59 said:Starting this thread... finally tracked it down online after digging around. I've been trying to figure out what's going on with my hands and legs every night when I try to sleep... searched everywhere and ended up here... and yeah, this is it... feels like I've got the rougher version... both hands and legs cramp up and I don't drift off until maybe 3 AM, just tossing and turning for hours.... It’s true what they say, stretching or taking a walk helps, but the second I lie down, it starts all over again.... I keep putting off seeing a doctor, but I really have to because I am chronically sleep-deprived! Anyone heard anything new about this "condition"? I'm reading stuff about iron deficiency, so I guess I should probably get my blood work checked soon...
For me, it's mostly my hands that act up. My legs are almost fine. What helps is just getting up and doing some light arm exercises with 2-3kg weights. If I've had a decent night, I only need to do it once; if it was a bad one, I have to do it multiple times. Also, sleeping in a cold room works wonders for me. With this heat, I end up sleeping under a blanket with the AC cranked up, which usually settles things down.
A few months back, I was taking some stuff from Solgar Nutrition, which includes L-Phenylalanine and L-Tyrosine to help with dopamine levels. I was also taking 5-HTP. I can honestly say the Solgar stuff helped me sleep much better, whereas the 5-HTP didn't do much for me—instead of calming me down, it actually made me feel a bit jittery (since it boosts serotonin). At the end of the day, everyone's body reacts differently. Use the internet, read up, check out international forums, and help yourself however you can.
One big thing to consider is a Vitamin B deficiency (I'm not sure which specific one, but maybe B12 or B9 based on what I've read). I can tell when my B vitamins are low because the skin around my nose starts peeling and my lips crack a little; those are exactly the periods when my hands start acting restless.
I'm pretty convinced all of this stems from long-term stress and working an office job without enough sunlight (I live without a thyroid, have vitiligo on my hands, and have been diagnosed with Ankylosing spondylitis). Basically, my immune system is shot. But I'm fighting back. I'm eating healthier, using high-quality vitamin and mineral supplements, and keeping the fight going. I'm still working and managing to function somehow.
Exercise, stretching, and some form of "meditation" are absolutely vital.