Do you suffer from RLS?

[Tstormwatcher]

I believe that I have Restless Legs Syndrom. For the past several weeks, when I go to bed and after about 15 to 20 minutes if I have not fallen asleep, my left leg will start feeling like its cramping up. The only relief I get is to get up and walk around and stretch the offending leg. Sometimes this calms it down enough to get to sleep but other times I may be up till 12 or 1am. I have taken sleeping pills to try to put me to sleep quicker but lately they haven't help. I am losing so much sleep because if this. I am going to try to go and see a doctor this week if I can get in but until then, does anyone have any suggestions that may help?

[Tstormwatcher]

Oh yeah, it seems to get worse the more tired I am, which keeps me up more which makes me more tired. get the picture. It is very fustrating.

[Janice]

Yes. I had severe Restless Leg Syndrome. I would be up all night crying cause I was so tired from no sleep.

I went to a specialist here and he prescribed Neurontin and I have not had a problem since. Not all drugs work on all people, but this drug was a miracle for me.

It was origionally given for leprosy, I think, and they found it to work on RLS too.

It feels like little mice running up and down your legs all night without stopping. The insides of your leg. It really didn't hurt, but the insides of my calves would never stop moving.

[wxmann_91]

It feels like little mice running up and down your legs all night without stopping.

OUCH... I'm ticklish so that would absolutely kill me if I had it.

[Janice]

But it is like a constant feeling that never stops and no matter what you do, it doesn't stop. I tried putting my legs on pillows, hanging them over the bed.. nothing works. You need to get treatment for it. I got tested with all the needles hooked up to my legs to a machine, and my legs are great. Blood flow really good. Just another thing to look forward to as we get older, lol. It is very common. The more I talk to people about it, the more I find they have it too. The Golden Years. It can be treated tho.

[Stephanie]

I have it. My mother said that drinking tonic water with quinine in it should help (it actually specifies it on the label). She told me about it a few weeks ago and every time I would get it, I'd take a swig or two (I hate tonic water - BLECH!). It seems to help. Also, it could be from a lack of iron so I have taken iron supplements in the past and that helped as well, though I was constipated (sorry... ).

Sometimes just getting up and walking around helps. They just feel like they need to keep moving and most of the time it's one leg or the other and at night when I'm relaxing.

[Janice]

Yes, it can really be uncomfortable. I am glad I do not have to deal with it anymore. Good luck. My husband who is an organic chemist and makes drugs, checked it out real well and said I should have no problems taking it for a long period of time. I already have high cholesterol and high bloodpressure, so I will probably be taking drugs till I die. I am not a person who is afraid to take drugs as long as I trust my doctor. Sometimes like you, you find something that works. Not all drugs work for all people. As long as it is working for you, continue to do it. My mother had it too.

[Tstormwatcher]

Yes it is very uncomfortable. I have read in another forum that adding potassium may help so I'll try that and iron too. I need a good nites sleep because when I sleep well I have no problem.

[Janice]

Yes, they may work for you. Give it a try. I am sure there are a lot of things you can do that will work for you. As we get older, we all need more iron, that is for sure. Good luck. I have a lot of other health issues with my legs, etc. I could not walk for months. I have spurs on my back that would touch my nerves, causing great imflamations in my legs. It felt like someone lit a match inside my legs. I have great med for it too and it stopped. So, this may be part of why I had severe RLS.

[Stephanie]

I've heard that about potassium as well.

[Janice]

Maybe you would want to try it, Stephanie, you can just get it over the counter. It won
't hurt to try.

[CajunMama]

Dr. Gott, a physician who has a syndicated newpaper column, has suggested a bar of soap under the sheets to relieve restless leg. Readers have written that it really does work. Try it! Sure beats a doctors visit. Here's a couple of articles i found.

Soap therapy cleans up leg cramps
By DR. PETER H. GOTT
DEAR DR. GOTT: I don't know how the soap-under-the-sheet technique works for leg cramps, but it does.

I have been diagnosed with restless legs syndrome and, since using the soap therapy, have had no symptoms.

I now can sleep through the night for the first time in many years. Thank you for the tip.

DEAR READER: Since I first published this remedy for nocturnal leg cramps, I have received dozens of letters from readers who endorsed this novel approach.

Recently, I also received mail from patients with restless legs syndrome, a serious and uncomfortable disorder of unknown cause. These RLS patients have had success with the soap.

Although it would be irresponsible of me to endorse this as a cure for RLS, the initial responses have been overwhelming. I'll update you in a future column as I receive more feedback from readers.

To review the technique briefly for people who may have missed previous columns, here is what to do: Take a bar of soap (large or small, new or used, but no Dial or Dove) and place it under the bottom sheet of the bed in the area of the feet and legs. Go to sleep and see what happens. If you sleep, undisturbed by leg cramps or RLS for a full night, let me know. Of course, write me if the technique is ineffective. I'm looking for honest and objective analyses.

Dr. Peter Gott: Scientist says soap does indeed cure leg cramps

Dear Dr. Gott: You asked to hear from readers experienced with the soap cure for leg cramps.

Let me begin my answer by saying that I am a college graduate and a professional scientist who is naturally skeptical of unproven treatments and cures.

However, I do have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and check in periodically with the related Web sites (such as http://www.copd-international.com) to check on recent updates. For decades, I have been troubled by leg cramps that disrupt my sleep five to 10 times a night. All the standard therapies, including quinine pills and massage, have been ineffective. Several people on the Internet have touted the soap cure: a bar of soap placed under the mattress cover near my legs.

Did this sound ridiculous? You bet. But I gave it a try. Did it work? Yes, indeed. I haven't had a cramp since.

The proper technique is simple. Unwrap a fresh bar of soap (don't use Dove) and discard the wrapper. It doesn't need to be a huge, bath-size bar; even the small bars common in hotels work for most people. Then place the unwrapped bar directly under the bottom sheet or on the bed where the legs are usually located. That's it.

Some people may need to rub the legs with an extra bar of soap, but, in most instances, this is not necessary. The cramps are gone. Why? I haven't a clue.

Dear Reader: Nor have I. But I am publishing your letter - which is one of dozens I have received since mentioning the soap cure for leg cramps - because the therapy is, apparently, an effective preventive for a common human malady. In such circumstances, we probably don't need an explanation of how the technique works, but it does. Thanks to you, and other readers, for writing

http://www.reallans.com/mmml.shtml?/002240.shtml#002240

[Janice]

Wow, thanks. Who would have ever thought of that?

I wonder if it works on anything else, like arthritis?

[mtm4319]

I didn't even know this was an actual condition. When I'm awake for a long time (>18 hours) I occasionally start to get cramps, but they aren't very severe and they usually go away within an hour or so.

[Janice]

These are not really cramps like you would thnk of a cramp. Maybe mico mini cramps. It does not hurt at all, just so annoying, the movement in your legs keep you up all night. It gets to the point that you eventually go without the sleep you need. Just try some of the overcounter things mentioned in these posts or consult your doctor. It is treatable these days.

[Stephanie]

FORTUNATELY, I haven't had a problem with waking up in the middle of the night with RLS. Actually, when I go to bed, I lay on my stomach and that tends to help rid me of that feeling as well. I have no idea why other than to guess that having my feet perpetually pointed helps it. Maybe it makes my legs "think" that they are being used.

The soap idea is so unusual, but I guess whatever works for you, go for it!

[Janice]

When you are suffering, you will try anything.....

My doctor told me this is really common and I have talked to so many people who have it. Just with this post, some here have it too.

Not a big problem, can be treated.

[brunota2003]

Hmmm...I dont have this...however maybe someone knows what this is...since as long as I can remember I occasionally cant sleep at night because of my knee hurting...when it starts hurting I cant sleep worth a darn, it hurts like a %$^&&&^$#@, also, sometimes when I was younger it would hurt to the point that I couldnt walk on the leg in the middle of the night. Why must pain pick on me? Between my knee and migrains...grrr...My mom thought it was "Growing pains" at first...until she got it once...I laughed my head off, how quick things can change...it went from I dont believe you to growing pains to it hurts like a...

[breeze]

Tstormwatcher, I work for a neurologist who treats RLS, on a daily basis.
Ask your doc about Mirapex. It's FOR folks with RLS.

~Annette~

[Janice]

Thanks, Breeze. My medication is working great. If it ever comes up again causing me problems, I will tell my doc about it.

I have had mine for years, is this something fairly new?