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Restless Legs

(94 Posts)
Wendyg Thu 08-Oct-20 20:28:58

Does anyone else suffer from Restless Legs? Mine are driving me mad particularly at night. I just cant get over to sleep. I take magnesium and have tried baths before bed and massaging my legs but they just want to keep moving when I am so tired. Any ideas to help calm them will be gratefully appreciated. It's like having tourette's in your legs.

Gwenisgreat1 Fri 09-Oct-20 11:17:25

I get Rutin from Holland and Barrett - the lower dose. My DH takes 3 in the evening and restless legs no more!! You have to experiment with the dose.

On the other hand cramp is my enemy!! Any ideas folks?

MadeInYorkshire Fri 09-Oct-20 11:07:19

Ugh! I have suffered with this a lot, it is awful, and hard to explain exactly what it feels like!

Mine has been much much better since I started taking Magnesium Supplements and Codeine, as suggested by my GP, touch wood not had a session for months now!

Of course Codeine has it's other effects on some people but I can tolerate it very well.

These are the supplements I use

amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07QS8M6W4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]]

catherine123 Fri 09-Oct-20 11:04:33

Its horrible only thing that helps me is getting out of bed and walking around i dont suffer as much now but i hope it goes soon take care.

Rmegan Fri 09-Oct-20 11:02:57

Restless legs can be a sign of other issues, believe I know. Can I ask if you have tenderness in any other parts of your body especially near a joint or back of your neck.

nannycake Fri 09-Oct-20 10:42:06

I too suffer from it and it can be really debilitating until one of the GP’s suggested Spatone a natural source of iron. It is believed that lack of iron can cause restless legs so I had a blood test but was found to be on the margin. The Spatone is a supplement you can buy from Amazon and Waitrose. It’s certainly worth trying this before going down the strong medication route. I occasionally get mild attacks of restless less but do not have to get up as sleep overcomes me.

SuziTiv Fri 09-Oct-20 10:39:34

I have found putting both feet in a bowl of cold water that reaches up over the ankles really helpful. Seems to relax my legs - hope that helps!

RosesAreRed21 Fri 09-Oct-20 10:39:33

I feel for you as my husband suffers with it. It gets particularly bad on a Friday or Saturday night when he has had a particularly busy week at work where he is mainly on his feet

I have heard that Emmon Holmes suffers with it and he swears by eating a banana before bedtime.

Lucy127 Fri 09-Oct-20 10:37:12

Yes I suffer from this too. It’s hell.
I have an oscillating plate and that does help. The vibrations also help my back.
I got my ‘wobble board’ from Amazon. I would not be without it.
Ask your GP to look at any meds you are taking. Sometimes this complaint can be side effect of certain meds and/or mix of meds. Good luck.

Bijou Fri 09-Oct-20 10:36:22

I have found that tonic water is good for preventing cramp as well.

Bazza Fri 09-Oct-20 10:30:05

A friend of mine has suffered with restless legs for years, she often has to resort to pacing around for hours. She has a prescription drug which helps a bit, but recently her daughter bought her cannabis oil which you spray under your tongue, and she can’t believe after one spray she had the best sleep. A good quality one is quite expensive, surely worth a try if you suffer.

BusterTank Fri 09-Oct-20 10:27:33

Have you tried a box bar of lavender soap under your bottom sheet by your feet at night . Also epsom salts baths .

Hellis Fri 09-Oct-20 10:27:22

It's interesting to read some of the remedies suggested here. My daughter is only 30 and suffers everyday from restless legs. Her GP has put her on meds usually prescribed for Parkinson's but she is concerned about the side effects. I'll show her these posts, maybe she should try some of these suggestions

Samaromo Fri 09-Oct-20 10:21:59

I started getting restless legs very suddenly late last year. I really didn't want to take medication so researched online for other things that would help. For several months now I have been eating almonds and brazils every day gradually reducing the dose as much as I can as I hate both nuts. But it does work, it is very rare that I have any problems now and is mild when it does happen. I also try to eat bananas regularly too.

JdotJ Fri 09-Oct-20 10:21:09

Is it Quinine that's recommended? Maybe try drinking tonic water as nothing else has helped.

TerryM Fri 09-Oct-20 10:19:56

I also take magniesm and have the spray ready for bad nights. It does seem to work for me

Lilypops Fri 09-Oct-20 10:16:59

Oh how I sympathise Wendyg, I get restless legs almost every night, I can almost time when it starts. Which is about 9.40 pm. Watching tv , it continues in bed and can keep me awake most of the night,
I get up ,go down make a cuppa and take a couple of Paracetamol , eventually it does ease off
I didn’t find the Rhus Tox helped me unfortunately, I would be interested if anyone had the cure ,

TonysBride Fri 09-Oct-20 10:14:45

Morning WendyG I have restless legs (and feet believe it or not). It's a bloody nuisance. I find that breathing in and out slowly and saying "shhhhhhh" as I breathe out helps to relax me. I then (while I'm still taking deep breaths in and out) go through a list of animals from A to Z. It's not as easy as it sounds, but it does take your mind off your legs and it really does help you relax. I usually take two deep breaths before I move on to the next animal. It doesn't always work, but if nothing else it does help to relax and so seems to "calm" my legs and feet. Good luck, you have my sympathy x

SusieFlo Fri 09-Oct-20 10:00:15

I get it occasionally in the evening after a shower but thankfully not in bed. I’ve heard tonic water is good (without the gin?) Also can be a sign of dehydration. I find bedsocks the most helpful though. Moisturiser on my dry legs makes it worse!!

Irenelily Fri 09-Oct-20 09:59:52

I suffered from this for 2 or 3 years. My GP prescribed Quinine - you have to have a week without every so often. I also took Magnesium and I was given exercises to do before bed. The most helpful one was to stand about 18inches from a wall, hands on the wall, leaning forward slightly and lift the heels 10 or more times. I also tried a cushion between my knees which seemed to help. The doctor said it was poor circulation in the legs. Thankfully I no longer get it - but I’m on other medication for heart problems - NOT a recommended cure!!!!

Moggycuddler Fri 09-Oct-20 09:59:34

I suffer with this on and off. It's horrible. I usually massage them, take painkillers and roll Biofreeze all over the backs of my legs, then exercise them a bit. But it keeps me awake for hours sometimes.

Jess20 Fri 09-Oct-20 09:56:50

I'm with MissEllie, quinine... a nice gin and tonic before bed/

Coconut Fri 09-Oct-20 09:55:55

Willis-Ekbom Syndrome !
I’ve suffered on/off for a few years now, and despite various theories no one knows what actually causes this, plus there is no cure. Heat seems to be one of my triggers, and I spray my calves with the Body Shop peppermint leg/foot spray and it really helps. The Boots one does not work for me at all. Red wine will also create RLS for me so I never have more than one small glass. It does drive me nuts at times, but I also find laying the wrong way round in bed and putting my legs up vertically against the wall !

RillaofIngleside Fri 09-Oct-20 09:49:59

I had terrible restless legs a couple of years ago. All evening they were twitching and kicking. Also developed severe anxiety. A healthcare assistant suggested that it might be my statins, so I came off them. Within 3 weeks the restless legs had gone, never to return. So had the anxiety, I am back to my even happy self. I will never take them again. A nurse at the hospital told me it was a common side effect.

Gransey Fri 09-Oct-20 09:47:17

I used to suffer when I was running ( more like a 5k plod) I found compression socks (flight socks) were the only thing that helped. Good luck Wendyg I know they used to drive me mad.

Glosgran Fri 09-Oct-20 09:42:14

I have painful legs and bought a weighted blanket to help with Fibromyalgia from Amazon. Around £30.