Restless legs getting worse.

[Isaanbiker]

Sorry to hear of your problem. Please see: https://www.amitywellness.com/use-these-natural-remedies-to-treat-restless-legs-syndrome/

 

   

How to treat restless legs syndrome with the use of natural remedies?

Restless legs syndrome is normally treated with the use of proper medications, prescribed by a doctor. However, in most cases, patients are encouraged to using natural remedies as well. This, of course, does not mean that the patient should not take his/her prescribed medications and rely only on natural remedies. In this case, the natural remedies are only a helping hand in the situation.

• Change your lifestyle – Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol are known triggers for the symptoms of the RLS. We advise our readers to think about changing their lifestyle to the better by avoiding smoking, excessive drinking and drinking too much caffeine. One coffee a day will not do much harm, but anything above that should be reconsidered. Smoking and excessive drinking are bringing to much health risks as it is, and apparently, they do not stop at restless legs syndrome.
• Establish a good sleep schedule – Make sure that you go to bed and wake up each morning so that you have slept through at least 8 hours throughout the night. Fatigue is another known trigger for restless legs syndrome symptoms, which is why you should consider getting enough rest throughout the night.
• Start exercising – Exercising has so many health benefits that they are almost impossible to count! Well, add symptoms relief to the list as well, when it comes to the RLS. In fact, a study back in 2006 revealed that 23 RLS patients have found exercising beneficial for their RLS symptoms after they have practiced aerobic exercise and lower body resistance training for 12 weeks, three times a week.
• Try yoga – Not only will you reduce your stress, speed up your metabolism, improve your sleep and feel more calm and relaxed, among other health benefits, yoga will also help you reduce your RLS symptoms, according to scientific research published in Sleep Medicine Reviews.
• Using supplements – Since iron deficiency is a known cause for secondary RLS, we encourage our readers to move towards using a quality iron supplement to combat the deficiency in their treatment for RLS. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin D supplements can also be used as a part of the treatment since their deficiency in the human body have been commonly linked to the occurrence of severe RLS symptoms.
• Hot and cold therapy – Another great natural remedy that you can use at home is hot and cold therapy. In order to do so, all that you have to do is apply hot and cold compresses on the affected areas. You can also try taking warm and cold baths to achieve the same effects. Your symptoms will reduce, your blood flow will improve, and you will feel better in no time with the simple use of hot and cold therapy.

[giddyup]

6 minutes ago, thasoss said:

I'd try blackmores bio magnesium. If you Google it will give you the ingredients and dosage Blackmores are an Australian company, many Thai pharmacists stock them 

Already said 3 times I'm taking Magnesium.

[thasoss]

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Already said 3 times I'm taking Magnesium.

OK sorry,, are you taking the blackmore range?.. they are the best imo

[Trentham]

20 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Was that for RLS?

Yes - for RLS. I have really tried every treatment there is but not hypnosis or acupuncture. I did some research with some of the practitioners of those therapies and got negative answers. That fact is, medical and brain researchers don't even know what causes it - only that they think it is a misfiring of neurons. There is a fortune awaiting whoever finds a cure.

[UPDEHSOI]

20 hours ago, Sheryl said:

What you describe in the daytime does not sound like RLS.  And if I recall correctly your night time problem was not RLS either but rather periodic limb movement disorder...which I am noiw thiunking may actually have been muscle spasms rather than hypnic jerks.

 

Which doctors have you seen? Did you ever consult Dr. Jakrin Loplumlert at Bangkok Hospital as previously recommended?

 

You need to see a neurologist and have some basic lab work (electrolytes, including potassium, calcium and magnesium) done. If you want you could get the labs fdone on your own first., Iwoudl suggest a basic chemistry panel (BUN, creatnine, ALS AST, electrolytes) plus Magnesium and Calcium if nto already included.

That worked super for me a long time ago....also included zinc.

[Sheryl]

He does not have restless leg syndrome.

 

He is suffering from involuntary leg spasms. AKA dystonia. It was originally at nioght (hence the confusion with RLS) but is now happening day time as well.

 

Alrready taking Mg but has apparently not had blood levels done.

 

A comprehensive chem panel, inclusive of Mg, Ca++, potassium, sodium, liver enzymes, BUN, creatnine etc is needed and can readily be done at a local lab.  If all comes back normal next stop should be a neurologist specializing in movement disorders.

[AAArdvark]

I suffer from similar leg and feed cramps.  The cooler weather definitely exacerbates the problem.  

[Isaanbiker]

2 minutes ago, AAArdvark said:

I suffer from similar leg and feed cramps.  The cooler weather definitely exacerbates the problem.  

I've had that for a few months, but it occurred only once or twice a week at night.

 

  The solution was very easy. I started to drink more milk and it's gone.  

[Rimmer]

Have you tried gabapentin ?

[atyclb]

2 hours ago, Trentham said:

Hi giddyup. I am pleased you started this topic. RLS is a very common problem which many do not know about. Research suggests that one in every 7 to 10 people suffer with it but many so mildly that they never do anything about it or even know they have it.

 

I am 76 years old and have had it since I was a teenager. It is usual that it gets worse with age and in my case severely so. About 6 years ago it got so I was not sleeping before 3 t0 4 AM every night so finally went to the doc. about it and was prescribed carbidopa levodopa. It worked like magic for 1 week and then the RLS became incredibly severe.

 

So WARNING here. My research shows this reaction to carbidopa levodopa happens in many patients. It is called drug augmentation and one uni website [Yale or Harvard] suggests 60% of the time.

 

RLS runs in families and my sister has it too. Sifrol is great for her but has no effect on me. I have tried about 15 different drugs now [Ropinarole, Gabapentin, Baclofen, Lyrica, etc.etc.] and also magnesium Oil and supplements. I have been given iron infusions, I have tried ice packs, pressure bandages and nothing works for me.

 

After the carbidopa levodopa the RLS became so bad I cannot sit or lie down anytime of the day. It now occurs in my whole body and manifests as electric currents, ants crawling in or on me, prickles and itches or none of these - just an incredible urge to move without having any feelings at all.

 

Finally in desperation my neurologist prescribed an opiate [Targen] and it works for me. I now get 8 sleep hours every night but the opiate constipates me so consequently I dose up heavily on laxatives. 

 

 

 

excellent informative story, could be a journal article.

[fhickson]

hate to be funny here, but have you tried sex and cold showers?

 

???? restless leg

 

i have rls as well, but only occassionally. i also get the sharp pain pinched nerve down leg and cocked arch or toes sometimes. never thought they were related till now.

 

if you have rsl daily or nightly, my prayers go out to you brother. 

 

things that have worked for me:

 

peanut butter

bananas

cold showers

running around the block or quickly or in place

swimming

Edited January 12, 2020 by fhickson

[Trentham]

18 minutes ago, Isaanbiker said:

Sorry to hear of your problem. Please see: https://www.amitywellness.com/use-these-natural-remedies-to-treat-restless-legs-syndrome/

 

   

How to treat restless legs syndrome with the use of natural remedies?

Restless legs syndrome is normally treated with the use of proper medications, prescribed by a doctor. However, in most cases, patients are encouraged to using natural remedies as well. This, of course, does not mean that the patient should not take his/her prescribed medications and rely only on natural remedies. In this case, the natural remedies are only a helping hand in the situation.

• Change your lifestyle – Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol are known triggers for the symptoms of the RLS. We advise our readers to think about changing their lifestyle to the better by avoiding smoking, excessive drinking and drinking too much caffeine. One coffee a day will not do much harm, but anything above that should be reconsidered. Smoking and excessive drinking are bringing to much health risks as it is, and apparently, they do not stop at restless legs syndrome.
• Establish a good sleep schedule – Make sure that you go to bed and wake up each morning so that you have slept through at least 8 hours throughout the night. Fatigue is another known trigger for restless legs syndrome symptoms, which is why you should consider getting enough rest throughout the night.
• Start exercising – Exercising has so many health benefits that they are almost impossible to count! Well, add symptoms relief to the list as well, when it comes to the RLS. In fact, a study back in 2006 revealed that 23 RLS patients have found exercising beneficial for their RLS symptoms after they have practiced aerobic exercise and lower body resistance training for 12 weeks, three times a week.
• Try yoga – Not only will you reduce your stress, speed up your metabolism, improve your sleep and feel more calm and relaxed, among other health benefits, yoga will also help you reduce your RLS symptoms, according to scientific research published in Sleep Medicine Reviews.
• Using supplements – Since iron deficiency is a known cause for secondary RLS, we encourage our readers to move towards using a quality iron supplement to combat the deficiency in their treatment for RLS. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin D supplements can also be used as a part of the treatment since their deficiency in the human body have been commonly linked to the occurrence of severe RLS symptoms.
• Hot and cold therapy – Another great natural remedy that you can use at home is hot and cold therapy. In order to do so, all that you have to do is apply hot and cold compresses on the affected areas. You can also try taking warm and cold baths to achieve the same effects. Your symptoms will reduce, your blood flow will improve, and you will feel better in no time with the simple use of hot and cold therapy.

Sorry giddyup, I don't mean to take over your post. This is really for your info.

 

In spite of my RLS I am a very fit and active 76 year old. I have never smoked in my life. I occasionally have one glass of wine with dinner. I jog or speed walk 2 or 3 kms. every day and work hard in my large garden and grow all my own fresh fruit and vegetables. I don't drink coffee after midday and in the morning it is very weak. My weight is 68 Kilos. When I was much younger I did yoga for about 12 years and used to swim 10 kms. per week. But none of those things helped me. As I said in an earlier response, I have suffered RLS since my teens.

I have used pressure bandages, hot and cold compresses and hot baths before bed to no avail. Under the neurologist I have tried doses of vitamins C, D, E, and B. and iron supplements and iron infusions  - all of no help.

 

RLS runs in families and my sister has it, 2 of my nephews and a cousin have it as well as my best friend and also a neighbour. We have all been helped by the usual drugs except me and my cousin and we use opiates. All of us have tried all the natural therapies and none of them have worked for any of us.

[Letseng]

Trad. Chinese medicine would be my way. Acupuncture and may be herbs. Huachiew Hospital, St. Louis Hospital e.g.

[atyclb]

20 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

"Restless legs" thought it was another I'm leaving Thailand rant.

 

could argue the opposite, restless (middle) leg syndrome is the big draw

[Trentham]

Giddyup a bit more to my use of opiates [Targin]. 

 

I was afraid of becoming addicted to them. I tried to give them up and just sleep when it finally came. The doctor gave me some valium and a sleeping pill - Mogadon to help. I was determined not to take Targin. I did not sleep for one whole week even with the help of Mogadon and Valium. I was desperate and also not right in the head - we all know sleep deprivation is a form of torture.

So after one week I was determined to get a good nights sleep so I took 4 valium, went to bed and wriggled and squirmed for ages [Do you know it only takes me a month to wear holes in my sheets] so got up and took 4 Mogadon. Back to bed and still the RLS driving me crazy. So I got out of bed and collapsed on the floor. I was so bombed by the 8 pills. So I crawled to the kitchen and got the brandy and drank a full glass neat. I went back to bed and woke 12 hours later.

Next day I went to the doctor and told him how naughty I was but at least I got 12 hours sleep.  His words "You were not asleep, you were unconscious".

However I do not believe I am addicted after several years of taking them. It is not a large dose that works for me and I only take it when I am ready for bed. I have no feeling or indeed thoughts about taking it during the day or if I am having an extra late night past my bedtime.

[baansgr]

Tonic water, can a day

[giddyup]

2 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Tonic water, can a day

"The typical dose of Quinine for leg cramps is more than 200-300 mg. A 6 ounce glass of tonic water contains less than 15 mg of quinine. One would have to drink close to a gallon of tonic water to get the therapeutic effect for leg cramps," Buchfuhrer wrote in an email. "It is one of these ‘Urban Legends’ that may possibly be true for one leg condition then gets spread to other conditions that may affect the legs ...There are likely many patients who believe that both treatments are effective for RLS but they likely work through the strong placebo effect."

[samuttodd]

I am not certain if this has already been suggested,   But my mother had terrible rls,  and she has been able to effectively knock it out with calcium magnesium and zinc.  Some places sell all 3 in a single tablet.    It really helped her. 

[samuttodd]

6 minutes ago, giddyup said:

"The typical dose of Quinine for leg cramps is more than 200-300 mg. A 6 ounce glass of tonic water contains less than 15 mg of quinine. One would have to drink close to a gallon of tonic water to get the therapeutic effect for leg cramps," Buchfuhrer wrote in an email. "It is one of these ‘Urban Legends’ that may possibly be true for one leg condition then gets spread to other conditions that may affect the legs ...There are likely many patients who believe that both treatments are effective for RLS but they likely work through the strong placebo effect."

That would keep you from getting Malaria too.    Bonus points!

[Trentham]

10 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Tonic water, can a day

Tonic water is for cramps. RLS is not leg cramps. It is an irresistible urge to move ones legs. It is only movement that can give relief. Along with the urge to move can be many other feelings - ants crawling on or in your legs, a feeling of electricity flowing through you, itching, prickling and a sensation of hot tingling feet. Many times there are none of those feelings - just the incredible urge to writhe and wriggle and rub your legs and feet together.

 

Without treatment these feeling only disappear when one stands up and moves about. Then it all disappears like magic. Science has no real explanation for the phenomena.

[rumak]

2 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

How to treat restless legs syndrome with the use of natural remedies?

 i have had various aches, pains, discomforts, etc over the last 20 years.   as of now, i take no

pharmaceuticals on a daily basis. I do take some supplements ,  good ones ( i think) from iHerb, mostly NOW brand.    The stuff you buy at most pharmacies are junk.  IMO  .

I do NOT take calcium.( i did, but now believe that excess calcium does the opposite of what most think it does.  Hard to find, but there is some writing on it though certainly not as much as those promoting calcium supplements.   I do take vit d,  magnesium,  and boron (read about it).  Also vit b and e. and a GOOD multivitamin.  Took me long time to decide to spend a bit more.

Soaking feet in hot water with magnesium sulfate (one kg about 60 baht in thailand) and gentle massage feels goooood. 

i will not go into details as i my protocol has been established by trial and error and reading and more trial and error.   What i do now has worked well for me. I do think it is wise to know what your body chemistry is.  What you do to correct abnormalities is IMO up to the individual. Sometimes harsh drugs are needed.  Often the body can fix itself in a natural way.        I  Also exercise which is mainly biking and walking,  with some muscle toning. I am 69 years old

[fhickson]

i can say if i get rls again some options personally, in this order:

 

1. eat bananas with peanut butter

2. run quickly in place for 5 minutes

3. take a cold shower

4. go for a swim

4. run around the block

 

how often do you get it while your walking? not often is my guess. seems to have something to do with circulation and not moving.

 

also, some of it feels psychological. when im lying down or still my mind focuses on it making it worse. when im exercising i dont feel it as much because im focsing on other things. would never get it while mountain biking for example.

 

 

Edited January 12, 2020 by fhickson

[sawadee1947]

RLS is a sign of misfunction of Dopamin in your body or the first step of Parkinson. 

Vitamin C might help. But definetely Restex. Go for a prescription. 

[Rockhopper]

Gabapentin is used in adults to treat nerve pain caused by herpes virus or shingles (herpes zoster). The Horizant brand of gabapentin is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).

[Chivas]

I have the exact same issues at night time or more importantly I "did"

I didnt even know what was happening and had never heard of restless legs and only actually mentioned it to the GP as a throwaway remark when seeing the GP for different issue

 

Immediately prescribed Pramipexole 0.26 mg and that was the end of what I knew as restless legs. I must have had since my 20's because I can remember being irrated by it 30 years ago

 

Every other night has changed to once a month at worst

 

 

 

 

[holymoly]

Try iron pills like FBC.  I have been reading recently that one signal of iron deficience are restless leg syndrome. Lots of pharmacies have FBC.

 

Do some research on google under "symptoms of iron deficiency"

 

Also do some light leg exercises and see what happens (You Tube)

[Aussieroaming]

I take gabapentin and sifrol. I try to avoid both for a few days a week. Sugar or alcohol make mine worse. For me lack of sleep makes things much worse, which with RLS is inevitable, so if I've suffered a couple of nights I take the gabapentin and Sifrol, both requiring a doctor's prescription but both readily available (at least in BKK).

[giddyup]

2 hours ago, holymoly said:

Try iron pills like FBC.  I have been reading recently that one signal of iron deficience are restless leg syndrome. Lots of pharmacies have FBC.

 

Do some research on google under "symptoms of iron deficiency"

 

Also do some light leg exercises and see what happens (You Tube)

Have Googled iron deficiencies and restless legs is the only symptom I have, all the other symptoms I don't have, so pretty sure it's not that.

[The Theory]

If you drink coffee, stop it for sometime and see how it will effect the problem. 
not even one a day. 
I understand that my problem could be very different, but coffee and sodium were my problem. Now my med is drinking lots of water daily. 

Edited January 12, 2020 by The Theory

[Ireland32]

On 1/11/2020 at 3:43 PM, donnacha said:

If you happen to be in a position to try it, I've heard that pot or grass can help.

I smoked for years , I still had it