Restless legs, I am so broken

Petra - after a month or so of quinine sulphate, the symptoms seem to ease. The GP then suggested a drink of tonic water at night. These days that is my favourite tipple/mixer

I used to have quinine sulphate years ago on repeat prescription for leg cramps and I thought it had been withdrawn?

Would rhus tox be taken nightly before bed, or used only during an episode of RLS? I’m sleeping (well, trying to) with pillows between my knees and ankles because my hips are so painful, and some nights my legs just keep bicycling and kicking them out of place!

crazyH

I suffered badly with it - years ago -I’m almost sure I was prescribed Quinine Sulphate.

It’s funny that you mention Quinine. My friends husband drinks tonic water.
It does the trick.

Often sufferers of RLS find it difficult to have an afternoon nap, or just a rest, because the very act of sitting or lying down quietly can be enough to trigger the horrible and distressing rls symptoms.

I've had restless legs s for years. I think mine isn't so bad as I find the sensation almost pleasurable - although it does wake me up as I'm dropping off.
Can be electrolyte imbalances, otherwise would changed sleeping patterns help? Am afternoon nap, even iof you don;t feel really tired?

I'm posting this as "hearsay" not my own personal experience. My daughter (44) is tormented with this when in bed or relaxing on the sofa. She tried a tip she saw somewhere: drape a soft sock across the arch of the foot and tie it underneath. Bizarre, I know but she slept all night without a problem and said it's the only thing that's worked for her.

Dear fancyflowers,

I’m really sorry you’re having such a rough night — lack of sleep is exhausting.

I am 61 and recently had some leg and joint discomfort myself and found a short balneotherapy (thermal spa) treatment really helped relax my legs and improve sleep a bit.

Have you tried this kind of treatment for restless legs or joint pain?

I suffered badly with it - years ago -I’m almost sure I was prescribed Quinine Sulphate.

Ohh, fancyflowers, I've had this a couple of times only, so I really feel for you having to deal with it constantly. I hope some of the other Gran's advice is of some help to you. 💕

My trigger is alcohol so I drink very little, now only when we go out to eat or when we have visitors. I really hope you find whatever is triggering yours.

fancyflowers Ive suffered with rls for the last 40+ years. 24/7 and also in my arms. Having been prescribed ropinerole which was the first line medication some years ago it caused me to augment causing the symptoms to go into overdrive. It took me a year to wean off the ropinerole. This is no longer considered a suitable drug but many doctors dont realise this yet, way behind the times.
Eventually I arrived at an opioid (cocodamol 30/500) along with pregabalin. The pregabalin was actually prescribed for neuropathy in my feet but luckily for me it also helps with rls. This combination helped greatly though not perfect.

Because of a back/sciatica issue i am now on a stronger opioid. The opioid has saved me. I'm so sorry that you cannot use an opoid.
What did help me temporarily in the early days was icy cold water. Icy cold water in a bucket and put your feet in. Splash the water up to the knees and keep going. It feels almost painful as it's so cold but this passes quickly. Keep drawing the water up to.your knees. Gradually the symptoms ease. It took about 15 minutes for me, maybe 20, for my legs to calm. The calm lasted long enough for me to get over to sleep.
On the nights when nothing worked I didn't fight it, would never just lie in bed. I got up and walked while reading my book. Sometimes it could be 2 or more hours until eventually I walked it off and got to bed. Dreadful when I was working full time.
We are all different and it takes some trial and error to find what will work.
A good site is rls.org. This is The Restless Legs Foundation. It's a charity which does research based in the US but is world wide. The address rls.org is their very.informative web site. On there you will find a link to their discussion board which is wonderfully informative.

So I’ve bought a vibration board, I sit on the sofa with feet flat on it, knees bent but relaxed and do 15 mins a day, two weeks later I’ve noticed an improvement.

I’ve tried so many things, but I also take a magnesium powder about 2 hours before I go to bed and this really seems to help with staying asleep all night.

Good luck

I am so sorry ... this is miserable I know.

Try Rhus Tox - both my DH and his sister found it very helpful. RLS never bothered DH, but it drove me insane when his legs kicked and trembled while he slept on, oblivious!

Has the restless legs started recently. Does it by any chance coincide with a new or change in medication. It happened to me. And improved when I stopped. Sorry but can’t remember what it was I am ashamed to say.

I am taking magnesium glycinate at night because it is the nights that are the worst, though I dread taking any kind of journey because sitting for any length of time sets it off.
Only started taking it a week ago and haven’t had restless legs so far, it was recommended on another thread about restless legs.
I do sympathise.

Copied from Google:
Topical creams for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) often use high-concentration magnesium chloride, lavender, and camphor to soothe muscle tension, tingling, and cramping. Popular options include Magnum Solace Nighttime Magnesium Cream, MagniLife Relaxing Leg Cream, and various magnesium butter balms, designed to be massaged into calves and feet at bedtime for faster, drug-free
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) triggers often involve lifestyle factors like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, stress, and inactivity; medications (antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, anti-nausea drugs); health conditions like iron deficiency, kidney disease, diabetes, neuropathy, and pregnancy; and sleep disruption, with symptoms worsening at night or when resting. Identifying and avoiding these triggers can help manage the overwhelming urge to move your legs

I heard a Pain Management clinician recommend recently that when someone experiences restless legs they should physically moved their legs themselves rather than just suffering the legs ‘doing their own thing’.

No advice for your restless legs problem but if you are awake and distressed in the night do join in the thread for the ‘3 am crew’ and have a chat, sometimes it just helps in the middle of the night to have someone to talk to, to take your mind off things
Do relaxation techniques help? I n sure you ll get good advice on here, a lot of people have problems with this condition.