Restless Leg Syndrome Solutions-help!

Another pitch for the cal/mag--you want a pretty solid dose of both. Plus whatever trace minerals you can find--talk to an ND for a good supplement recommendation. I'm speaking from personal and professional experience, and I know how excruciating the RLS can be! Good luck.

L.,

I so sympathse with you! I have had that with both my pregnencies also! The only thing that I found that helped was having my husband rub my legs. I also took unisom (approved by doctor)because I can not sleep when I am pregnant, it may have helped to I do not know.

Best wishes,

N.

I too am pregnant and suffering! It's not fun and exhausting! Calcium intake and going to the chiropractor have helped me cope (although it's never fully gone away!). I drink A TON of water during the day along with yogurt, oj, and calcium supplement and prenatal vitamins and go to chiro I liked the sleeping ideas with pillows and elevations they taught me along with the other things from your list! If you work sitting down try propping one foot up on something like a stool to help and then alternate legs. Also my dr said that my body is adjusting differently because I still deal with my 2 1/4 year of daily. Things like picking him up, sitting to read with him, pushing the stroller, and moving throughout the day is taking a toll! I've tried to watch my movements and not pick him up as much and that helps too!Hope these help!

If anyone can help you, Dr. Bejing Men can. He is a wizard at diagnosis and acupuncture and Chinese medicine. He helped me with Chronic Fatigue and my daughter with seizures.

I suggest going to him - he is in the Northgate area of Seattle and I'm sure he could help. Anything related to nerves responds very well to acupuncture.

I get restless legs every so often (but not while I was pregnant). I find if I forget my calcium supplements I get it worse. When I was pregnant, I had horrible acid stomach and was taking Tums and Rolaids all the time (high in calcium) so maybe that's why I didn't have it then. What also seems to help me is if I have a brisk 20 - 30 min walk early in my day, my legs feel better at night.

Might sound weird, but its free and worth a try....

Sleep while in a more sitting up position, with legs crossed Indian style or with a couple pillows under your knees. Prop up the pillows behind your back and shoulders like you were gonna sit up and read.

Comfy position when lots of things are ailing you.

RLS is a neurological issue not a muscular one, from what has been told to me. I too suffer from this and was presribed anti-tremor meds for Parkinsons. I hated it, although it did stop the pain and annoyance. I have found this great natural remedy that you can purchase at New Season and I am sure Whole Foods. It is a naturpathic product/mineral name Zincum Mettalicum. It comes in blue tube and you just pop 4-5 under your tongue before bed or going to a place you will have to sit for a long period, like the movies or in a car. You may want to check with your OB or a Naturpath Doctor, if it is safe to use during pregnancy. Good luck in your pregnancy and with the RLS.

Sounds crazy, but orgasms take care of it. However you want to get there is up to you!:)

L. - Unfortunately I don't have any helpful advice about the RLS. Just one thing about your iron - I am severely anemic. It's not the normal anemia, but the iron stores (ferretin) that I have no supply of. My doctor (who is an ND that teaches at Bastyr) said you're flushing your money away taking the normal little black iron supplements. The form is not easily absorbed by the digestive system, and what is absorbed is not readily available for your body to use.

Instead I use Thorne Pharmaceuticals' Ferrasorb. You can buy this online (I use Vitacost.com. It's the cheapest and a well-established business.) or at Pharmaca in Seattle. You take more capsules at a lower dose, but I've noticed a huge difference. My blood tests have come back better and better whereas with normal iron from Walgreens the levels never really changed.

Blessings on finding relief.

I had this same problem and if I had a knife handy some days would have cut both legs off!! When I got it during the day there wasn't much I could do but at night some times I would take a tylenol PM at the advice of my OB and it would help me sleep and keep my RLS away. Since my last son was born I still get it but not as bad. About 6 months ago my dr suggested taking iron and vitamin c which it sounds like you do and I hardly get it now. Maybe after the iron and vitamin c have a chance to absorb in yoru system it will start working. I think it took a couple of weeks but was very excited because my dad takes the medicine for it and it is hard core and I didn't want to resort to this so taking something more natural that worked made me very excited. I hope this helps because I know exactly how you feel, it is horrible and terribly frustrating.

Hi L.. I remember having RLS when I was pregnant with my twins. I ended up having to sleep in a hospital bed for the last few months of my pregnancy because the heartburn was so bad and I had to sleep practically sitting up. Sleeping in that position also helped the leg cramps and RLS. I know it sounds extreme but if you aren't sleeping well at night, you might want to talk to your doctor about renting a hospital bed (adjustable bed)for a while. My insurance covered the rental and it was delivered and set up for me (very easy). Even if my insurance didn't cover it, it was only like $100 per month and it would have been worth it to pay out of my own pocket.
Also, I wanted to recommend a homeopathic product that I have used for years and have found great relief from RLS. My mom uses it now as well for RLS and loves it. It's called Formula 303 and you can purchase it online at www.earthturns.com My chiropractor a few years ago recommended these and I have been a fan ever since. Here is the link for the large bottle: http://www.earthturns.com/Formula-303-Natural-Relaxant-p/...
It is a natural muscle relaxant and I take these also to help with menstrual cramps and back pain. I haven't had to take advil for about 6 years because of the Formula 303.

Sounds crazy, but it will work. Put a bar of soap under your sheets, near your feet. That's it. Worth a shot, right?

L., I am sorry to hear about your misery. YOu might want to look into a homeopathic remedy when you check into the acupuncture. I once heard (and I could be getting the remedy wrong) that Rus. Tox. can help alleviate the ticks of Parkinsons disease...there are so many homeopathics and they are all so very effective and affordable. They do not have side effects and work well to provide relief within about 15~20 minutes...you can try to ask for help with a constitutional also - one that strengthens your core constitution. You may need to ask a Naturopathic doctor, but the acupunturist you see may have info also. This only a suggestion and the first instinct that comes to mind. I truly hope you find some relief...oh, one more thing, are you getting enough magnesium with your calcium? remember to take them before bed to help calm you for sleep.

OK, this may sound weird, but I think I read somewhere that putting a bar of soap under your sheets at night can help! I read it in People's Pharmacy in the newspaper, but I think they are online too. I think I read that it can help RLS and leg cramps. I guess it can't hurt! Good luck!

Try calcium. I've had RLS for years especially at night and 500 to 1000 mg of calcium calms it instantly.

You might want to try Hyland's homeopathic pills for restless legs. They work great! I have it too and it really helps. you can find them at many drugstores for about $5. They come in a red box.

Also, accupuncture worked wonders for me for other issues so I'm glad you're looking into that as well!

All the best!

My mom has suffered severely from RLS for years. I have it, but not to the point she does... yet. I just know I have to get to bed as soon as I notice the symptoms or it will keep me up all night... so far I can beat it but I am sure my time is running out there!
I do know that my mom tried acupuncture as well and said it was amazing. She said it didn't work maricles right away, but she started noticing after a few visits that she was sleeping a little longer each night. She never got to the point of being able to cut back on the visits as insurance changed and she could no longer go, but you are supposed to be able to cut back to once or twice a month being all you need.
It doesn't work for me as one major factor of mine is that I can't stand anything putting pressure on my legs, but my mom loves it when one of my kids will sit on her legs and put pressure on them... might try it!

Calcium and Magnesium taken together can stop restless leg syndrome.

There are prescription medications available, but being pregnant may limit your ability to use them. You should ask your pharmacist or physician to see if the FDA has approved any for use during pregnancy.

Here's a site for a foundation that may be able to give you more information: http://www.rls.org/Page.aspx?pid=471

I think the acupuncture route may be a really good one and hope you find a way to get some relief soon.

Calcium.... take a couple of Tums or a calcium replacement. I would get charlie horses as well, again, calcium is what my doctor prescribed. My sons are distance runners, calcium and potassium... a Tums followed by a banana.

Hope that helps!!!

Hi L.,

I'm SO glad you're looking into acupuncture. I'm an acupuncturist and have had some pretty great results in treating RLS. It gets a little tricky with your pregnancy thrown in, but you should be able to get some relief.

Let me know if you need/want any help in finding an acupuncturist near you!

I have had RLS for years, but for me, it's more like restless body syndrome. An acupuncturist recently told me to take a 2:1 calcium/magnesium supplement. The proportions have to 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium. Then, the pharmacist said to add a vitamin D3 supplement to aid calcium absorption. I'm haven't tried it for long enough to know if it helps. What has worked for me is Tylenol 3 (Tylenol with codeine), which is a prescription drug. I don't know what your OB would say about taking it while you're pregnant. When I first began taking it, 1 500 mg. pill worked great, but over the years I've had to increase it to 3 500 mg. pills per night. I've also tried taking the Parkinson's drug, but I don't like the side effects.

Ok, this may sound weird, try this old time remedy:
Put a bar of soap (little ones from hotels work) at the foot of your bed between the sheets. My husband has RLS and I did it and I haven't noticed any shaking in months. It took about 2 weeks to notice a change. He kept picking up this bar and saying- "What's this soap doing in the bed?" :>)