BS: restless leg syndrome

Subject: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: RangerSteve
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 05:07 PM

I get it in the mornings when I'm on dialysis, which is really bad because I can't really do anything about it. And sometimes at night if I'm watching TV. Then I can at least get up and walk around. It never happens when I'm trying to sleep. I understand that there is a prescription medicine for RLS, but I already take 6 prescriptions already, and if I can do without another, I'd be happy. Does anyone else have RLS and is there anything I can do for it besides prescription medications?

And, yes, RLS are the initials of the guy who wrote Treasure Island. Some wise guy was going to ask what I had against him, and I just beat you to it.

Thanks for any help.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 05:17 PM

You might try taking calcuim supplements at least an hour before. Sometimes it helps.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 05:53 PM

I had tense muscles and restless legs at night for years and years. A naturopath suggested that I was low on Magnesium, which is a natural muscle relaxant. You get it mostly from eating various raw vegetables.

So I started taking about 4 magnesium citramate capsules each day with my meals. No more tense muscles or restless legs. It has worked very well.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: gnu
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 06:02 PM

Great stuff and info, LH. I would have thought calcium. Cool.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: GUEST,Zen
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 06:28 PM

I had similar and was prescribed a magnesium supplement as well by my doctor.... it certainly helped.

Zen

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:27 PM

This is going to sound utterly bizarre and not having RLS I haven't tried it myself, but...

...put a cake of soap in the bed near your feet. Some people say it has to be a traditionally made soap and there is some US brand called "Dove" that doesn't work. It does seem to work for far too many people to be coincidence. I haven't the faintest idea why and neither does anybody else I've ever heard of.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Greg B
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:42 PM

Thing about Mg is it loosens the bowels. Work into it slowly.

Here in the US, late at night, they advertise a prescription
RLS remedy. Then they talk about the side effects (like the
urge to gamble or be sexually promiscuous) and one wonders
if the cure might be worse than the disease.

Or redundant, if it's the '3rd leg' that is restless.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: dwditty
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:04 PM

I have used the soap to completely get rid of nightly leg cramps....Irish Spring, I think. Now the only time I get cramps is if I kick the soap out of bed when asleep.

Re: Magnesium. I read that commercial farming that supplies virtually all of the produce these days has depleted the soil of magnesium. The only way to get it through diet is to essentially grow the veggies yourself or take a supplement.. I take a Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc to be sure.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: olddude
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:14 PM

I usually drink about 4 glasses of water, then I am up all night long and don't think about my RLS. Nothing I have taken works. I never had it until after 4 back operations with the rods and screws and bolts. no kidding after that bam .. jumps all over the place .. nothing works. maybe I will give the magnesium a try

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: RangerSteve
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:22 PM

Thanks, everyone. Guess I'll try the magnesium. And the Irish Spring. It can't hurt.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Greg B
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:27 PM

Well, if you go too fast on the Mg, then you'll be up just like
the fellow with the drinking water, only it'll be one more than
the #1 that plagues him.

But persist. It really does work.

Also, how about potassium? It's a classic treatment for leg
cramps in the night. Usually best delivered by means of eating
a banana.

(I've tried, with no success, to find a potassium supplement at
the local chemists.)

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:48 PM

I didn't have any problem with overly loose bowels from the magnesium, but it's been great for the tense muscles.

The thing about the soap is fascinating! How very strange.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:07 PM

Same here with the magnesium, LH. My doctor recommended it for cramping muscles. I also take a prescription potassium, but I don't think it ever helped the muscles, as I was taking it before the mag. and having tight muscles. I used to take a muscle relaxant.

Good luck RS!

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:08 PM

Didn't finish that. I used to take muscle relaxant, my muscles were that bad. I was able to stop them all together last year and feel much better, so I know the mag. has really helped, as well as exercise.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 11:35 PM

I used to get it really bad, but for me it was caused by too much estrogen. I fixed it by using progesterone cream. It might be possible that too much estrogen is entering the system because of all the meds or whatever, in which case maybe one of the male estrogen antagonists, like testosterone, might help.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 11:42 PM

I've been trying to take a calcium/magnesium supplement, but when I do, it causes a lot of pain in my stomach, and it seems to make my digestive tract stop working. Does anyone know of an easily digested kind of magnesium supplement? I'm growing my own veggies, but they're just seedlings right now.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 03:26 AM

I suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome. I found the best cure was a good swift kick in the knee or else sleeping on the sofa. I don't have it, but I do suffer from it - Manitas is the twitcher. Because he has a firm mattress pad that's covered in nylon on his side of the bed, it's like sleeping with someone riding a bicycle, whilst wearing a taffeta silk gown.

I've noticed it's worse after he's been in the pub or drunk a lot at home. I suspect the diuretic effect of all that alcoholic liquid flushes various minerals out. It's especially bad when he's been drinking whisky. I'll suggest the magnesium thing to him.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 06:09 AM

I know someone who takes Mg for leg cramp & swears by it cos she's never had a cramp since starting it some years back. Bottle label says it's a Muscular support & that it relieves & prevents muscle cramps. Ingredients include Magnesium oxide, magnesium phosphate, Vitamin D to promote MG absorption & calcium.

I take the same tablet daily cos my heart (a muscle!) was beating irregularly a couple of years back & Mg is good for irregular beats too, according to cardiologist.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: RangerSteve
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 06:49 AM

Greg - I can't go with potassium, my kidneys don't work and they won't process excess potassium, so I have to take a potassium binder. I also checked the Mayo Clinic site, and they suggested a muscle relaxing drug, such as Advil or Motrin. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 09:11 AM

I have no trouble once I'm in bed but my legs get very restless later in the evening when I'm sitting watching TV. I'll give magnesium a tryor perhaps just munch on raw carrots.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 11:30 AM

Ranger Steve--My heart goes out to you. I know sevaral folks on dialysis, and I know it's not a fun way to spend several hours a week.

I was diagnosed with RLS...I had gone in to take a Sleep Apnea test, but it was RLS they 'found'. Tried meds for 30 days-no help. Read up on RLS and have only the bedtime symptoms.

About this time I started on a regular exercise regimen; I started sleeping better, albeit I do move around a lot.

I honestly believe that RLS, in most cases, is just the disease du jour. A few years ago they were talking about Social Anxiety Syndrome (SAS)...in my day we just said someone was shy.

Frankly, I think many diseases, from ADS to hypo-glycemia to fibromyalgia, are way over diagnosed when there are simpler explanations, and lower coast treatments available.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 12:07 PM

Carol, I take 1000mg magnesium malate and it doesn't seem to bother my stomach. The kidney specialist said not to go over one per day.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: jacqui.c
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 12:26 PM

I used to get RLS a lot, but have found that I can alleviate it by keeping my feet cool - no socks unless it is bitterly cold and just keeping them uncovered when sitting or lying down.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: GUEST,dianavan
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 12:29 PM

I, too, have RLS.

I heard it was a symptom of dehydration so I started drinking more water.

Water works well for me.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: Art Thieme
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 10:34 PM

I had the same symptoms. Sometimes quite painful involuntary contractions of my legs and elsewhere. After a decade of spinal surgery, and several other missed diagnoses, I went to Mayo Clinic in 1997. I now know that it was ALL because I've had Multiple Sclerosis all that time. The leg spasticity is alleviated by the drug called BACLOFEN. Four times a day I need to take a 20 milligram pill, or else I'll be kicking my wife all night long while I'm asleep.

Such is life.

Art

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: olddude
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 11:24 PM

The water is what I do, but then I am up 9 million times a night, try drinking it early .. doesn't work, only before bed .. but it does seem to work but you get up a lot

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: GUEST,dianavan
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 11:22 PM

olddude - Water works but you're right. Whats the difference between getting up to pee or getting up to walk the cramps and twitches out of your legs?

The big difference for me is the absence of pain and anxiety.

I'd much rather get up to pee.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 12:20 AM

Have been using a Remstar apnea machine for 3 years bf taking a 'sleep' study'. Had a doctor who wrote me a script w/no sleep study after I got him the literature. The machine 'backs-off' automatically as one breathes out. I think it's the Remstar 80 model. Have to use a chin strap, though to keep my mouth closed. My wife refers to me as 'Darth'. Ambien CR 12.5mg prescription. Upon taking the sleep study it was discovered my legs fired 182 times in 6 hours. Was switched from Ambien to Clonazepam 2mg nightly and my RLS has disappeared. I, also bike 40 mi per day as a cycle-commuter and that's contributed significantly to my overall health. Low Tri, LDL, HDL combined w/good HDLs up from last physical. My TRIs dropped from 1,108 to 74 in 3 mos. Oatmeal, wheat germ, ground flaxseed, fish oil, museli and 2% milk w/a banana. Coffee w/non-dairy creamer and sugar. Centrex multi. Sensible lunch and dinner. Feel like I'm on 'cruise control'. And I feel blessed, too.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: RangerSteve
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 01:28 AM

The Mayo Clinic website offers a few suggestions, one being Ibuprofen. I tried Advil, with minimal results. Then, this afternoon, I was given a brand x version (Walmart), and it worked great. It's been 6 hours and I haven't had any problems.

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: My guru always said
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 04:22 AM

Keeping fingers crossed that it carries on working for you Steve!

Subject: RE: BS: restless leg syndrome
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 10:36 AM

Some "RLS" is actually normal muscle development response to increased exercise.

~S~