Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) help/discussion

Maybe you aren't happy in your sex life, which is why you're twitching so uncontrollably.

I’ve been dealing with RLS for about twenty years now, ever since I suffered a herniated disc. I actually underwent spinal surgery in early 2007, hoping that would resolve the restless sensation in my legs, but unfortunately, the symptoms haven't changed at all. Since 2004, I’ve been taking 1mg of Mirapex, which helps settle my legs, but lately, insomnia has become a major issue. I usually manage about 3 to 4 hours of sleep before waking up for roughly 3 hours, and if I try to drift back off, it's a struggle—this has been my pattern for years. I am 54 years old. If anyone might have some advice or help, I would be incredibly grateful. Best regards.

Walter Davis3 said:I couldn't get any sleep last night; I didn't finally drift off until around 4:30 in the morning. It was an absolute disaster. I am dealing with this constant, relentless urge to twitch my legs—I simply have to move them, especially in the upper part of the leg. Until recently, I hadn't even heard of this condition, at least not until I stumbled upon information about it online. I always assumed I was just imagining things, but now I intend to try those exercises and see if they actually make a difference... 🙂

I've had times where my arms and legs just demand to be in motion for two or three nights straight, and man, it feels terrible. You can't sleep, you're exhausted, but your limbs are just jumping around constantly. It's like having a split personality: one part of you wants to live life, while the other part just wants to crash...
For me, it was a passing phase, but I linked it back to eating late at night and way too much sugar. What about the rest of you?

It happens to me every now and then—though it’s usually when I'm feeling particularly wound up—but honestly, just getting out for a walk or doing some light stretching seems to do the trick for me.

Thomas Johnson8 said:Finally, someone I can actually talk to about this... It’s been going on with me for quite a while now, and honestly, I just can't find the right words to explain to anyone at home how absolutely miserable this feels. They all think it’s just my legs aching, or maybe they think they've gone numb, or some other thing like that... but it's none of those things. I'm just at a total loss as to how to make it stop. I absolutely hate having to force myself up to go for a walk just because it's the only thing that gives me even a tiny bit of relief, especially when I finally settle down for the night and just want to rest, but then my legs start jumping on their own and I just can't get comfortable. It's just awful... Does anyone have any advice, besides just walking it off?🤷

Do you ever get that weird sensation in your legs where you just *have* to stretch them out or something...

I’m joining this discussion from the SLE thread; I also deal with RA, since both are autoimmune conditions.

Living with these illnesses means dealing with all sorts of strange side effects, including exactly what’s being described here.
First off, thanks for starting this thread. According to some articles I've read, doctors haven't really paid much attention to this specific issue until recently, so I can only imagine how much people might judge you for it.
My late grandmother used to experience this—she called it "pins and needles" in her legs. My mom deals with it too, and she also has RA. For me, it hit the hardest; I've dealt with neuropathy before, but compared to this, those pains were nothing.
For me, this discomfort usually kicks in during the evening. I get this overwhelming urge to move or stretch, and sometimes I even have to ask my family members to just grab my legs and pull them toward them (it’s a bit like that Shiatsu massage technique).
I recently went in for a color Doppler ultrasound of the blood vessels in my legs. The doctor confirmed that my circulation looks perfectly fine, but he did note that I'm experiencing constant spasms in both the muscles and the nerves.
He recommended I try taking magnesium first, and if that doesn't do the trick, I should follow up with a neurologist.
To start, I took magnesium three times a day for the first 10 days (each tablet contained 400 mg of Magnesium and 15 mg of Zinc). After 10 days, I dropped down to twice a day, and after another 10 days, I was just taking one.
Fortunately, after about two or three days of this, the problem vanished.
Best wishes and good luck to everyone!

Hey guys, is anyone else dealing with this famous syndrome? How on earth are you all managing? I honestly can't sleep—my legs just feel like they need to keep moving even though I am absolutely exhausted.

Brandon Alvarez8 said:Hey guys, is anyone else dealing with this famous syndrome? How on earth are you all managing? I honestly can't sleep—my legs just feel like they need to keep moving even though I am absolutely exhausted.

As mentioned before, if you aren't getting enough magnesium through your diet, start taking it as a supplement. Beyond that, here is what I would suggest trying; see what works for you.
Wear compression socks—specifically ones that fit snugly against your skin. You might want to go a size down, and make sure they aren't thin summer socks. I don't mean heavy ski socks either; just standard athletic crew socks, like the Nike or Puma ones you find at any sporting goods store. You really need to feel that firm pressure.
Secondly, avoid crossing your legs when you lie down, as that can trigger those uncontrollable movements. Try keeping your legs separated instead. Basically, don't cross your legs if you're barefoot; if you're wearing socks, it might be okay if it helps stop the sensation.
Walking barefoot on asphalt, rough surfaces, or in sand and dirt—especially when it's warm, like hot sand—usually helps. Alternatively, try walking barefoot on "cold" tiles inside the house or on a balcony.

Running, jogging, or some form of physical activity—or at least a walk—instead of just sitting around all day.

If you feel like the sensation is coming from your knee area, try placing a pillow between your knees or even using knee supports on both sides.
I also recommend various leg and foot stretches before bed, or washing your feet with either completely cold or hot water, depending on what feels better to you.

Try the socks first, as I think that might actually be the key to solving your problem.

Well, I suppose it’s time I finally weighed in on this thread... I’ve been dealing with a fair amount of this since I was quite young—though for me, it wasn't strictly limited to my legs. While that was the primary issue, the sensation would often migrate up into my hands as well... and there was always that overwhelming, almost desperate urge to move my legs, coupled with this peculiar sort of ache. It wasn't exactly tingling, per se, but rather a deep-seated discomfort—a feeling that my current position simply didn't "fit"—that forced me to constantly shift around. In the past, I was actually scheduled to undergo some kind of nerve conduction study involving those dreadful needles, but I ultimately decided against it... On a brighter note, things have actually been improving over the last few years; ever since I upgraded my bed and mattress, I feel like a new person. I’ve also noticed that the symptoms flare up whenever I'm uncomfortable—say, if I'm lounging on an uneven sofa or accidentally falling asleep on one of those flimsy folding guest beds—it's just awful... 🙂, I find myself unable to sleep for the entire night when that happens... I suspect it has everything to do with spinal alignment. Heat seems to be my saving grace, too; clearly, my circulation isn't what it should be. When a flare-up hits, even in the middle of summer, simply covering my feet or my legs up to the knees with a light blanket is enough—within minutes, I can feel the warmth spreading through my legs and the sensation starts to subside. I’ve never really taken anything for it—not even standard painkillers—and while my neurologist suggested I start taking some Omega-3 supplements, I haven't been particularly consistent with that either, hmph...

Here’s some advice:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-hom...rley-horse.htm

Also, make sure you're eating plenty of potassium-rich foods, like bananas or pears.

Here goes me too👋...my legs have been acting up in my sleep since I was a little girl, but now it's not just my legs. I sleep my whole body into some kind of cramp; I'm always in these weird, unnatural, uncomfortable positions. My old roommate used to take pictures of me while I slept, and honestly, it looks terrifying🤣...because of all this, I wake up completely tangled up, with my arms and legs feeling numb and painful🙂...when I was a kid, I’d just clench my fists and kick my legs, but now I also grind my teeth. On top of that, I somehow manage to twist my wrists and jam them either under my head or under my hips, pressing down on them all night long—it hurts like hell when I wake up, sometimes even lasting the whole day...
To get my legs to stay still, they basically have to be in a sprinting position—you know, that starting block pose😂. And it's not like a relaxed stretch; everything is tensed up to the max. Besides that leg position, what works for me is sleeping on my stomach with my knees bent and my feet up in the air; people find it pretty hilarious to watch😁. They constantly feel the need to pull my legs down, and then the calf cramps hit me quite often. In the evenings, I'll wiggle my feet if restlessness takes over. I've even woken up twisted 180 degrees before. Whoever shares a bed with me usually ends up getting hit by an arm or a leg, which makes me a pretty unpleasant sleeping partner... so yeah, it's a bit ridiculous🤣
I have varicose veins, so maybe that explains the legs and the need to keep them elevated. I have one of those leg elevation pillows, but because I'm so restless, I end up sleeping right on top of it, and then my legs just wander off again... I've also had a potassium deficiency for a long time (which is strange because I eat bananas and tomatoes almost every single day), so maybe that's linked to the rest of my restless body🤷, but who knows😵... I honestly think it's mostly emotional tension😉... and if I remember correctly, I slept much more peacefully and relaxed during that short window when I was training regularly, but I just can't seem to get back into a routine🙂

Well, this looks like it was made specifically for you (the molecular bed)

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m..._love/bed1.jpg

steelwalker27 said:As mentioned before, if you aren't getting enough magnesium through your diet, start taking it as a supplement. Beyond that, here is what I would suggest trying; see what works for you.
Wear compression socks—specifically ones that fit snugly against your skin. You might want to go a size down, and make sure they aren't thin summer socks. I don't mean heavy ski socks either; just standard athletic crew socks, like the Nike or Puma ones you find at any sporting goods store. You really need to feel that firm pressure.
Secondly, avoid crossing your legs when you lie down, as that can trigger those uncontrollable movements. Try keeping your legs separated instead. Basically, don't cross your legs if you're barefoot; if you're wearing socks, it might be okay if it helps stop the sensation.
Walking barefoot on asphalt, rough surfaces, or in sand and dirt—especially when it's warm, like hot sand—usually helps. Alternatively, try walking barefoot on "cold" tiles inside the house or on a balcony.

Running, jogging, or some form of physical activity—or at least a walk—instead of just sitting around all day.

If you feel like the sensation is coming from your knee area, try placing a pillow between your knees or even using knee supports on both sides.
I also recommend various leg and foot stretches before bed, or washing your feet with either completely cold or hot water, depending on what feels better to you.

Try the socks first, as I think that might actually be the key to solving your problem.

Thanks for all the advice, truly, but I have to admit—I’ve tried pretty much everything. It helps for a little while, but then it just stops working. Someone once told me to put soap in my bed... I mean, I must be losing my mind from this syndrome if I actually tried that!
Sadly, nothing is working. My doctor just suggested trying Vitamin B, so I’m going to dive into that now. I've tried Magnesium too. Right now, I'm relying on sleep aids because otherwise, I just can't drift off. The hot/cold showers help—like using cold compresses on the back of my knees—but only in the winter; it doesn't do much for me now.
Has anyone here had any luck with Vitamin B?

Douglas Ramos2 said:Here goes me too👋...my legs have been acting up in my sleep since I was a little girl, but now it's not just my legs. I sleep my whole body into some kind of cramp; I'm always in these weird, unnatural, uncomfortable positions. My old roommate used to take pictures of me while I slept, and honestly, it looks terrifying🤣...because of all this, I wake up completely tangled up, with my arms and legs feeling numb and painful🙂...when I was a kid, I’d just clench my fists and kick my legs, but now I also grind my teeth. On top of that, I somehow manage to twist my wrists and jam them either under my head or under my hips, pressing down on them all night long—it hurts like hell when I wake up, sometimes even lasting the whole day...
To get my legs to stay still, they basically have to be in a sprinting position—you know, that starting block pose😂. And it's not like a relaxed stretch; everything is tensed up to the max. Besides that leg position, what works for me is sleeping on my stomach with my knees bent and my feet up in the air; people find it pretty hilarious to watch😁. They constantly feel the need to pull my legs down, and then the calf cramps hit me quite often. In the evenings, I'll wiggle my feet if restlessness takes over. I've even woken up twisted 180 degrees before. Whoever shares a bed with me usually ends up getting hit by an arm or a leg, which makes me a pretty unpleasant sleeping partner... so yeah, it's a bit ridiculous🤣
I have varicose veins, so maybe that explains the legs and the need to keep them elevated. I have one of those leg elevation pillows, but because I'm so restless, I end up sleeping right on top of it, and then my legs just wander off again... I've also had a potassium deficiency for a long time (which is strange because I eat bananas and tomatoes almost every single day), so maybe that's linked to the rest of my restless body🤷, but who knows😵... I honestly think it's mostly emotional tension😉... and if I remember correctly, I slept much more peacefully and relaxed during that short window when I was training regularly, but I just can't seem to get back into a routine🙂

I've dealt with this since I was a kid—honestly, it’s such a drag. And man, I'm terrified they might be internal veins, because I don't see any issues with the ones on the surface at all. Have you thought about trying some Vitamin B?

steelwalker27 said:Well, this looks like it was made specifically for you (the molecular bed)

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m..._love/bed1.jpg

Haha, nice🙏...I'm going to go ahead and Google that

Brandon Alvarez8 said:I've dealt with this since I was a kid—honestly, it’s such a drag. And man, I'm terrified they might be internal veins, because I don't see any issues with the ones on the surface at all. Have you thought about trying some Vitamin B?

I haven't tried Vitamin B yet, but honestly, that might be a good idea.👍
As far as the vein situation goes, I can see the ones on the surface, but I have no clue what's happening with the deeper ones. I've never actually gone in for a checkup because, if I'm being real, I'm just scared they'll tell me I need surgery... I think I inherited it from my grandma.😳...

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...

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.

If I can just squeeze in one little side note... you really have to keep those potassium and magnesium levels steady, like, every single day. It’s not some thing where you can just "test it out" once in a while or maybe once a week and expect it to work...

I only joined this forum to follow this specific thread.

It’s wild to think I’ve been dealing with this for almost 30 years without having a clue what was actually going on. I put "dealing with it" in quotes because some days are better than others, but honestly, my sleep apnea is the much bigger headache right now when it comes to actually getting any rest.

I had no clue this thing even had a name, so I hadn't even bothered looking into solutions. Honestly, I just figured it was poor circulation in my legs.
I've noticed two things: my weight tends to fluctuate quite a bit, and the issue gets way worse whenever I pack on a few extra pounds. Honestly, if I could just slim down, the whole thing would probably vanish. Also, lying on my stomach completely kills the discomfort.