Restless Leg Syndrome?....Help!

Hi guys, I've had been getting this restless feeling in my left leg/hip for a year or so (sporatically), but never bothered me enough to really even think about it as more than an annoyance every now and then, but it recently has just kicked in to full force and it's driving me INSANE! I can't get to sleep at night because of it, even today it's bothering me DURING THE DAY, which is a first. It seems to radiate more in my left tailbone/hip area. The only way I can describe it is it's like an itch you can't scratch! AHHHH! I hate it! Anyone have any ideas on why it occurs or how to make it stop? I see a drug advertised on tv for it, but i'd really don't want to have to take a pill for it. Could a vitamin deficiency cause this? I also just had umbillical hernia surgery two weeks ago, and was laying around for a week, so I was thinking that may be a cause...also my back has been out and I've been to the chiropractor for some relief. I think I may head back to him to see if he can help with this. Any ideas??? Thanks, Theresa

Theresa, there is a med out there now : Requip is the first FDA-approved medication for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome, or RLS (15 or more episodes monthly) specifically for RLS aka restless leg syndrome. Here are some URLS that might be of help: http://www.requip.com/ http://www.rls.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=178&srcid=-2 http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/restless_legs/detail_restless_legs.htm Check with your PCP about the med and see if you can take it. Stacey W

Thanks Stacey! I will check them out. I was hoping not to have to take a med for it though, but I may not have a choice. I did find some interesting things on the net and some things I can try at home to help relieve it. Also, they said a lack of iron can contribute to it, so that I'm sure is one of my problems. Thanks for your response! Theresa

Theresa, You're welcome! I suffer from it too, but for me, it comes from a horrible experience as a child going into the operating room at the age of 2 for eye surgery. I remember the nightmare now like it was yesterday. I am also kind of not interested in taking pills for anything, been there done that, you know? Before WLS I had 12 prescriptions, I'm down to 2 now. And would like to get rid of those but it may not be possible. Hope that you can find something that helps. & Hugs Stacey W

Hi Theresa, Russ has trouble with RLS. He takes extra calcium and magnesium 1/2 hour before he goes to bed. That helps him get to sleep. Maybe you can talk to your PCP nurse for some ideas. That way you won't have to pay for a office visit. Hope you feel better soon. Hugs Ruth

Thanks Ruth! Yeah, when I was at the chiropractor Friday, he gave me some natural magnesium pills because they are a natural muscle relaxer and he knew after my adjustment i was going to need them. But after taking them once, my stomach was upset, so I didn't take them again. I should have, because wow, bad muscle spasms in my back that night! My back was out in my rib cage area, and it wasn't till I was awoke from my sleep that night that it was spasming to beat all! Yikes! Maybe I'll give them another try. I have to do something. Maybe it all is connected somehow...with my back out/restless leg syndrome/laying around after surgery/etc. Who knows! All I know is it's driving me nuts! I got some tips off of the net so hopefully it helps. In fact, I'll go back to it and copy and paste it here, so if others are in the same boat, it may be helpful. Thanks for the advice Ruth! Miss seeing you! Let's get together soon! Hugs, Theresa

You got the "Jimmy Legs." It is related to restless leg syndrome (RLS) in that 80% of people with RLS also have PLMD. However, most people with PLMD do not experience RLS. This disorder has made its way into popular culture, being referred to as "jimmy legs" and "jimmy arms" in an episode of Seinfeld, and has been known to cause couples to sleep in separate beds. In both examples, one subject suffers from PLMD severely enough to disturb the sleep of the other subject. kp

Myhubby has the "jimmy legs" I sing Rod Stewart "hot legs" to him. He usually ends up inthe other bedroom as I cannot fall asleep withhim jumping every 30 seconds...he wont take meds either. Glad he enjoys the spare bed SHannon

Hi Theresa, Sorry I didn't see this until this afternoon. I have as Kevin said both RLS and PLMD. I tried to avoid medications for a year or so post diagnosis, by increasing my iron. RLS can be related to Iron or more specifically the Ferritin levels. Most RLS doctors want the Ferritin levels above 100. I increased mine but still had severe RLS and PLMD. So I went on drugs. There are actually two drugs approved by the FDA for RLS, Mirapex and Requip. I've been on Mirapex for about 5 years. I do so well that my PLMDs went from 74/hour to 0. I still get the RLS symptoms and know that it's time to take my Mirapex. This usually happens between 9 and 10 PM. I know that the two days I couldn't take the Mirapex when I was in the hospital, my legs drove me crazy. I was so happy when he told me I could take the Mirapex. My RLS didn't improve much with the Ferritin increase but others do. Since I had the RLS/PLMD before surgery and saw that my Ferritin level was getting low again I started taking Fe. I used Slow FE before the surgery. After surgery I've been using GNC's Ironchel 18, and my levels have increased. It's a chelated iron. Jeanne

What is PLMD? Oh, and I also suffer from RLS. I take Requip and it has helped me so much. I can finally get some sleep and I can ride in a car for long periods of time without the creepy crawlies. Normie