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Restless Leg Syndrome
I started having this burning feeling in certain pressure points in my body. Mostly on the elbows, under forearms mostly on my left side ....mostly worse in the late afternoon and evening. It's usually burning and/or uncomfortable feeling when I am sitting down on couch or chair. the burning sensation like I said on pressure points of the elbows, legs, or butt when sitting even if only 2 mins or so and seems like I can't remain still.......upon getting up and moving around it relieves the sensation. Went to neurologist 4 years ago..........he confirmed that it was Restless leg syndrome............there are different types of RLS but the classic symptoms are a feeling of burning, tingling, and a general sense of unable to relax when quietly sitting or even laying down and relief comes when changing position and/or getting up. Diagnosis is by symptoms....there is not a definitive diagnostic test.........all bloodwork etc.... is normal . I now take Gabapentin, and Klonopin to calm the "restless" nerves...........there is no cure for this ( my Neurologist says )........It's just something you have to learn to live with and take those medications for it..........It is believed there is a link between low iron (which I had) and and RLS . Now I take more iron (but that does not alleivate the symptoms so far . ( even when iron level becomes normal ) . I was diagnosed with low thyroid 5 years ago and started taking the levothyroxine to put my thyroid back to normal which it IS NOW. But even though I still have the RLS........there is a possiblity that I had LOW thyroid for years before I was diagnosed with it........hence I think (my theory) the RLS evolved due to the years of LOW thyroid. This is just my thinking on this. No Dr. Told me of that.....anyways I hope maybe this helps others and they can begin to pinpoint their symptoms and get a diagnoses.
I would love to know others with RLS and how they have dealt with it over the years. It seems to be a tricky act to balance the medications with side effects and still manage the RLS........appreciate any feedback. Thanks Jim B.
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@lioness I also use dill pickle juice to help settle my stimach. It works for me.
@gayle1 Good glad it helps your stomach It's surprising how just spices,herbs,old fashion remedies helps
That is rough -- sleep is so welcome, but two hours is NOT enough. So disappointing for you. I know the feeling of being awake that often during the night - are RLS a problem all those times too?
Wow - I've been taking dill pickle juice too since @lioness recommended it. I haven't had an upset stomach since so maybe that's why - a double benefit. Thank you @lioness
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1 Reaction@suecreader your welcome
Sorry @barbarn - I realized that I hadn't responded to one of your last posts. I may not be "much younger" than you since I am 67 . . . . I can't remember if I mentioned that my RLS have always kind of been there but mild at first, but they have been increasing severe for the past 20 years or so. I do believe, and my Sleep Center doctor confirmed it, that 'any pain below the waist aggravates RLS." So you are right about that . . . now that my surgery is done, and I'm feeling better physically, and the pain is minimized in the lumbar area (although now the doctors think I may have some bone-on-bone in my hip area . . . so this is 'another level of pain' that might need to be addressed). It could also be sciatica. I don't know if fibro contributes to RLS - I do think that lack of sleep can make people more exhausted, and with fibro it does complicate the whole healing process. Thanks for your good wishes . . . . I hope so with the Neupro too. Like you mentioned earlier . . . I am hoping if not, I can switch between Neupro and Requip since the latter worked for nine years but then stopped, pretty abruptly.
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1 ReactionIn case it might help someone, there are two things that I have discovered activate my RLS : wine at dinner, probably any alcohol, as well as SSRI medications. Even when avoiding these, I occasionally still experience symptoms in the evening, particularly when fatigued and relaxing in a recliner chair, but they are much less intense and more tolerable.
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2 ReactionsI've had RLS for years. It's really horrible. I take Requip and it works great. Low iron does worsen the symptoms and well as certain medications for me anyway. I was told my iron levels needs to be at least 60 by a sleep doctor.
Hope this helps. It sucks for sure.
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1 ReactionAmen to that @susan2018! I quickly learned as my restless legs progressed that alcohol not only started them, but it worsened through the night. You mention wine, but for me, it is any kind of alcohol. It used to be that I couldn't drink any after 6:00, and over the past years, the time has become earlier and earlier so that now, if I drink alcohol at all, it can only be one beer or one glass of wine before 3:00 p.m. I do miss the occasional glass of wine at dinner, but the after-effects are not worth it. The same is true with any product containing caffeine - chocolate, Bufferin, or coffee. As for SSRIs, they worsened my symptoms as do Ativan, Compazine, Klonapin, etc. My Sleep Center doctor suggested I use only Wellbutrin for treatment of depression since studies have shown that SSRIs especially aggravate restless legs. So, you are right about the SSRIs too . . . I was taking Celexa and when I switched to Wellbutrin, it worked even better for me than Celexa.
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1 Reaction@suscros68 - have your RLS symptoms become worse as the years progress? Mine have. . . and I sincerely hope they've reached a plateau by now. I've had symptoms beginning with slightly aggravating and occasional to nightly and much more intense. I used to take Requip, but it stopped working and I had to start increasing to larger doses which then had side effects that made it difficult to function the next day. Now, I'm taking Neupro, a transdermal patch that is 'in the same family' as Requip, and so far I'm up to 3 mg and that dosage seems to work for me. I'm sensitive to many medications as well, and I was told by a fibromyalgia doctor at Mayo that it is common for people with fibro to have many sensitivities. I only mention fibro in case you might have that diagnosis or condition also.
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