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What non-medication measures have helped with your RLS?
I'm starting a thread so anyone with a positive experience using something other than medication to deal with RLS can share what has worked for them.
For years, (before I knew what was waking me each night) I used a heavy (4.5 pound) long-handled Brookstone massager on my legs at night. After a few minutes, this stopped the RLS sensations and I was able to go back to sleep. Lying with my leg against the hardness of a bag of rice has also helped.
These things were really the most successful measures for me. What have you tried and did anything work?
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My niece has great success with a weighted blanket.
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2 ReactionsMy husband treats RLS with a tablespoon of yellow mustard as needed. If he awakens with restless legs, a tablespoon of yellow mustard does the trick. This was recommended by his internal medicine physician.
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1 Reaction@crbarefoot That sounds wonderful, and I know from personal experience that yellow mustard works for leg cramps, too. But I wonder: Is your husband's RLS severe? B/c mine is, and I don't know whether it would help my severe RLS. Thank you in advance for your answer.
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1 Reaction@cpj88 no, his RLS is not severe. It is occasional. He says about 2-3 times a month, but it would certainly be worth a try. Best to you.
@becca2025pin Thanks for sharing! I'm willing to try anything. My RLS is severe. Is your niece's RLS severe, moderate, or just intermittent? TYIA.
@crbarefoot Thank you so much for your speedy reply. It helps to figure out how to assess where real help might live for me. Appreciate it,
Yes, I have found surprising help using a vibration plate. It's certainly no magic cure in the sense that it doesn't last forever, but I am a severe sufferer and before I was given the right titration level for meds to settle my legs (which I desperately want to get OFF of) I was up and down all night, and a year ago had heard that vibration plates help with RLS. So I bought one. And sure enough, when I would be woken up by my RLS, I would step on my plate at level 1 for 2 minutes, then get back in bed. It doesn't last forever, but thank God that it at least quieted my legs so I could grab another 2 hours of sleep before having to repeat. B/c I also deal with other issues, like fibromyalgia, I learned the hard way to go light/gentle on the level setting. As to why it helps with RLS, I think it basically interrupts the messages your brain is sending to your neurological system. Kind of like paddles that reset your heartbeat. This is my totally NON medical best guess, but my understanding is that this is the crux of what's happening. Hope this helps somebody out there,