Restless Leg Syndrome - Jacksonville,FL

Good Morning!
I too suffer from this condition-always. I know I often use elevation of my legs at night, with a pillow to straighten them out so they lay even-ish. Between my knees' and sometimes I use the Therma Care heat wraps, wrapped around my lower legs. It doesn't stop the pains, but it helps a little. I will keep you in my prayers and hope you have a better nights rest! Congratulations on your newest baby!!!
Truly,
Kathy

1 mom found this helpful

Usually it's due to lack of calcium. A liquid calcium-magnesium supplement from a health store would help. Or just a very good prenatal (not those prescription chemical prenatals) such as Solaray's Baby-Me-Now.

Also..there's homeopathic tablets for RSS.

Hi D.,
I, too, am pregnant (5 weeks) and have 2 other children. RLS was terrible with both pregnancies. My sister's father in law is a rheumatologist and said that quinine water (aka tonic water) is a great remedy. I can't see that it would do any harm to your baby.
Hope this helps!

Hi D., I've had success with restless leg clients through nutritional supplements that are even safe during pregnancy. No medication. Visit my 'mom-owned' business listing under Pediatrics. I work with all ages, but listed my business in this category due to the children's nutrition connection. Shaklee Indedpendent Distributor on 6th Ave. in Cape Coral.

Hi D.~

This problem is miserable, I know. I use an essential oil blend that is very effective in solving this symptom. It's called Night Time Leg Calm and is sold by Nature's Inventory. You can order it online by going to www.naturesinventory.com. I hope it helps you!

Hi D.:

I too suffer from RLS (ocassionally). Since your pregnant, I'm not sure if you can take a hot "bath", but that really helped me. I would move my legs up/down in the water and then elevate them. When your ready to go to sleep, put on socks and if you have a heating pad place it over the front of your legs and make sure you elevate them. If you can get someone to rub your legs - that helps too. Wish you the best w/baby and hope you get some sleep!

Hi D.. I had this problem with my first pregnancy and now with my second also. I have read about everything I can find on it. The doctors dont seem to have answers except for the meds we cant take and labs. Anyway, the best help I have found is to sleep on a heating pad on my back. The theory behind that trick is to distract your nerves with the heat instead of your legs. It does seem to work. Dont get in bed until you are so tired and ready to fall asleep and try that,. When it got really bad last time I had my iron and magnesium checked. I also took vitamin B12 and that seemed to help. I have also read not to drink milk at night that it can make it worse. Hope any of this helps. I understand what you are going through I thought I would lose my mind last time. I am still praying that is doesnt get that bad again. I read alot about restless leg syndrome online at their website RLS.com and from blogs. Hope you get some relief.

stretch your calves and legs when it happens and also to prevent it.

Hi D.,
Congrats on the pregnancy!! I also had RLS during my 2nd pregnancy. It may sound crazy, but this soothe my endless temptation of moving my legs all over the place. I did two things:
1. Bought a body pillow and slept with it sideways with belly on it and placed the lower part of the pillow between my legs.
2. Bought a fan, placed it where it would blow air on my legs. The constant cold, brought an enourmous amount of relief.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

N.

I have heard that putting a bar of soap under the sheet can help. I know it sounds dumb... but it is often in those Dr's advice columns in the newspaper. I had it towards the end of my first pregnancy... but it wasn't as bad as your sounds.

I had it more when I was awake trying to watch a movie or something, not at night lying down. Try the soap.. it can't hurt anything.

Please find a doctor who will check your ferritin levels. Although my hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were on the low end of the norm, a NEUROLOGIST finally checked my ferritin levels after having had a sleep study done which diagnosed restless leg syndrome! My levels were extremely low. At a 5 when they should be between 50 and 200. Concerning? A little for me, but more for you because you are pregnant. Chances are yours won't be that low especially if you eat beef, which I haven't for years. Anyway, I pray you discover the cause of your RLS. It is so frustrating not being able to sleep. I have found non-aerobic exercise like yoga, pilates,or squats helps some. Also if I go to bed BEFORE I am really tired, (hard to do with little ones) and read for awhile or listen to music. It seems the more tired I am, the more restless my legs become. A hot bath with a relaxing cup of chamomile tea and candlelight only has helped.
J.

UGH! I know how you feel. RLS about drove me to the brink of insanity when I was pregnant. I found that taking extra magnesium helped me. Try CALM. It makes like a hot tea. You can probably by it online, I bought it from my chiroprator. Its good to take just in general. I have read many articles which say that most Americans are deficient in magnesium.

If you have RLS you need more magnesium. I take a Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D blend. My dad has Diabetes and Parkinson's disease and it has helped him tremendously. Not all brands are equal. You would benefit with a chewable form that is easily disintergrated and fast acting.
I market one with a company called USANA.
One of our doctors said to take them 2 in the am, 2 at night and 2 more if needed. She said on an empty stomach and keep them on your beside table to it is easy to remember and take.
Hope that helps. If you have a good health food store there is a product called Calm that can help.
All drugs leech minerals out of your body.
Good Luck and let me know how it works.

I have RLS too- but mine actually got better once I was pregnant. I've had nights where I did not sleep at all for the constant need to move my legs to relieve the pain. I see an acupuncturist which helps me a lot. Now it is only an occasional night or two a month- instead of almost every night. I'd recommend it- it's safe during pregnancy too- and you feel great afterwards. Good luck. T.

A primary therapy for RLS is magnesium supplementation. You would likely benefit from a full spectrum liquid mineral supplement also. I recommend Vital-Earth's Cal-Mag and fulvic mineral supplements, they are liquid and actually have a pleasant taste. I get them at www.myvitanet.com where you get free shipping with a $50 order by using the V100 code that's shown on their main page.

Hi! I have had RLS for over 20 years (and with all 4 pregnancies it drove me INSANE !!! ). It started in my teens and I still cannot sit still for over 30 minutes. So, that said, I found that while I was pregnant, a rocking chair or "glider" rocker worked wonders! I could sit, rock, move my legs and usually I even fell asleep in them comfortably while watching tv or reading! Also, Vitamin E works wonders! Just take one capsule and it sets in after about 1/2 hour or so. The Vitamin E has also worked for my sister, my mother and my daughter who all also have RLS.

I had that too, and I just chewed on a few Tums at bed time. It helped a great deal

What is called RLS is the result of the joint between the sacrum and illium being stretched or torn, very common in pregnancy, and it needs to be adjusted by a knowledgable chiropractor- check with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Assn.
Icing your lower back area often helps, lots of calcium and mag helps, but the real answer is to get the joint proper ly aligned, and that should be done gently by a chiropractor,
best, k

The doctor told me to put a pillow between my knees when I went to bed at night. It does help some. Also walk, walk, walk. I worked throught he first pregnancy. The second pregnancy I was not working so I walked. I went for three walks a day. I would walk from two to five miles each trip. Avoid all caffeine as it will make it worse. Also sugar can add to restless leg syndrome. Instead of sitting down to watch television lay on the couch with a pillow between your knees. I found bubble bathes to help a lot. But I had RLS before I got pregnant. It just became worse with the pregnancy. Start at food diet and keep track. You will be surprised how different foods will make it better or worse. But your doctor should have told you to avoid caffeine and sugar. In my own personal research I found different foods that will help calm you. Drink hot tea, green tea, lemon tea, cinnamon tea. Avoid, hot chocolate, coffee, etc.... My friend said dairy products made her more anxious and gave her restless legs. Just experment with different foods and things to drink to find what helps you or what makes it worse. The doctor also told me that position the baby is in can add to the problem. He actually pushed around on my stomach to make the baby change positions. Good Luck!!

Hi D.,
You need a mineral (Magnesium) a good liquid formala of Calcium, Magnesium, Vit D-3, and phosphorus!
There is a product called Target-Mins.
It is a Country Life product. Go to www.countrylifevitamins.com and you can see a bottle of it. Also read the ingredients.
This will be rather expensive in a health food store but you can get it on-line very reasonable. It comes in two flavors both are good to me!
You can also buy magnesium in 500mg tablets at low cost in local pharmacy but it is not as good for you as this would be. Because you need the calcium too.
See you body is talking to you and you can locate this very reasonable at www.iherb. com.
You are blessed to have such a good start on a big family!
P. G.