Restless Leg Syndrome Type Symptoms?

If it's a potassium thing, OJ and bananas and lots of other things have potassium. Maybe you're just very tired. Would a warm bath or shower help? How about some gentle stretching exercises?

I had RLS for years. I was 8 months pregnant and couldn't stand it anymore and went and had reflexology done and haven't had a problem since.

Hi K.,
I have a similar issue and found that it occurs more often on days that I spend most of my time sitting at a desk. When it occurs now, I ride my eliptical, do squats and leg exercises which seems to help. Hope this is helpful!

I am a serious RLS sufferer. I am 42 and have had it since I was 8 so I've pretty much tried all there is. You can get a lot of information from www.RLS.org. People post all kinds of home remedies. There is a product out there called essential oils that you rub on your lower back or legs that I tried. I am too severe for it to work, but it did cause some relief-just not enough for me to sleep. When I was using it, I thought that if I had a less serious case, this stuff might actually work. As far as potassium is concerned, that is not the cause. It is caused by low iron or low serum ferratin (iron storage). You could have your dr. check those levels to see if they are low. Iron is hard to take. For me, it causes serious constipation and upset stomach. Good luck!

I have rss and it not only will wake me but sometimes starts before i go to sleep.then there is no sleeping until it stops.my foot doctor perscribed a medication but said try tonic water with quineine every night and see if it will help. He uses it him self and said it worked for him. I have been using it for about a month and no rls.

J.

Hi K.,
I've been advising people who ask for help with any ailment to call Dr. Joel Wallach on his daily radio show at 3:00 pm eastern... it's 888-379-2552
You can also go to listen to the recordings on
http://ksco.com/dddl/index.cfm
I just saw a topic on Restless Leg Syndrome on the January 20th segment.
Contact me if you have any questions...
L.
____@____.com

K.,

I experience the same thing a lot of times at night laying in bed. I just take a couple of ibuprofen and that usually settles my legs down enough to let me fall asleep.

Good luck!
B.

Have you tried taking Magnesium vitamins? Someone suggested them to me and it helped a lot.

Bummer. That can be quite annoying, can't it? I do know of a natural product that has impacted RLS in people I know. Send me your e-mail address and I will link you to a web-site page that talks about it.

S.
____@____.com

Hi K. You are on the right track about supplements. And I commend you for working on giving your body the building blocks it's telling you need more of.

Calcium and Magnesium are very important when dealing with restless leg. You mentioned Potassium...have you tested to know if you're actually low in that?

There are some other nutrients as well that are useful for keeping the muscle twitching down. How those nutrients are made is also important. Would you like some information to help you choose supplements?

warmly, M.

Leg cramps are different from RLS. If you are experiencing cramps, your potassium could be low. You don't need a blood test, it won't hurt you to eat a banana or canteloupe, and if it solves the problem, there you go!

Quinine is no longer available for leg issues, but you can get enough of it in tonic water to help calm your symptoms if that is what you need.

I have severe RLS...the meds on the market today make mine worse. I found a drug (quite by accident) that works wonders and I thank God for it everyday!

Good luck with your diet modification, it's the best first approach...hope it works for you!

~L.

K. ~
Muscle cramps are usually caused from low (usually just barely) potassium...eat some bananas once in awhile and it could help. Also, calcium is used by the muscles to contract, so you may need more calcium.
D.

as mentioned, calcium and potassium are great.

For soreness I use a product that I get from my chiropractor called sombra. Call around, not every office carries it. I use it on my frequent leg cramps, and sore muscles. The kids calm down in about 3 seconds, when they awake from ssleep with growing pains.

I swear by it. its about $8 a jar - worth every penny!

Hi K.---I've muscle contraction problems in my back and neck for a number of years. I've been told that magnesium and calcium are two big nutrients that are important for proper contractions.

Your magnesium MUST be gluconate. It is better absorbed than mag. oxide, which you will find in most grocery/drug stores. You'll find gluconate at your health food store. Here is a bit of info I found from the Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. As always, your best source of nutrients is from food.

Food sources

A large U.S. national survey indicated that the average magnesium intake for men (about 320 mg/day) and the average intake for women (about 230 mg/day) were significantly below the current recommended dietary allowance (RDA). Magnesium intakes were even lower in men and women over 70 years of age (4). Such findings suggest that marginal magnesium deficiency may be relatively common in the U.S.

Because magnesium is part of chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, green leafy vegetables are rich in magnesium. Unrefined grains and nuts also have high magnesium content. Meats and milk have an intermediate magnesium content, while refined foods generally have the lowest magnesium content. Water is a variable source of intake; harder water usually has a higher concentration of magnesium salts (4). Some foods that are relatively rich in magnesium are listed in the table below along with their magnesium content in milligrams (mg). For more information on the nutrient content of foods, search the USDA food composition database.

Food Serving Magnesium (mg)

100% Bran Cereal (e.g., All Bran) ½ cup 93.1
Oat bran ½ cup dry 96.0
Shredded wheat 2 biscuits 61.0
Brown rice 1 cup cooked 86.0
Almonds 1 ounce (23 almonds) 78.0
Hazelnuts 1 ounce (21 hazelnuts) 46.0
Peanuts 1 ounce 48.0
Lima beans ½ cup cooked 63.0
Spinach, frozen, chopped ½ cup cooked 78.0
Swiss chard, chopped ½ cup cooked 75.0
Okra, frozen ½ cup cooked 47.0
Molasses, blackstrap 1 tablespoon 48.0
Banana 1 medium 32.0

The type of calcium is important for maximum absorption as well. This website, http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium, states that carbonate is best absorbed. Contrary to popular belief and recommendation, milk is NOT the best source of calcium. Broccoli, kale and bok choy have LOTS more absorbable calcium per unit of weight AND calorie content.

I am currently studying wellness long distance and will be certified by Dr. Pam Popper, naturopathic doctor who has her PhD in nutrition. I have other resources I can share about how to optimize your diet for good health and disease prevention. Please feel free to contact me at any time. I do not charge for the info that I share. I would also recommend, as does Dr. Popper, Dr. William Sears (Baby Talk, Parent Magazine) and Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld,(medical editor Fox Sunday News and Parade Magazine), a wonderful, whole food supplement to help insure your daily intake of fruits and veggies. It contains the dehydrated juice powders of 15 different fruits and veggies along with the bran of 2 grains. It's called Juice Plus+ and it is the most thoroughly researched whole food supplement in the world. Let me know how I can help. IN FACT , we are hosting a health education event tonight in Troy, MI, 7 pm at the Troy Community Center, on Livernois, just north of Big Beaver. Feel free to join me...and bring a friend. Be sure to introduce yourself. Dr. Kim Dalzell will be talking about how different foods affect different parts of the body, why a diet with a huge VARIETY of foods is your best answer for disease prevention. You won't want to miss this.

I look forward to hearing from you. In health, D.
###-###-#### www.dianeshealthed.com

Hi K.,

I also have the symptoms you discribe but I am not sure it is restless legs although it may be. Mine happens when I am over tired and trying to relax before going to bed. I get a jerking in the legs similar to what happens when you know someone is going to tickle your foot and you can't control the recoil. The only thing that works for me is to go to bed and go to sleep. That is what makes me think it is't restless leg because I think restless leg syndrome wakes you from sleep. IF you find out what it is, could you let me know?

Thanks,

Donna

My mom has the same problem and a friend told us her Dr. said put a bar of Ivory soap in your bed by your legs or in between them. Sounds funny but my mom swears by it!

Try some magnesium. I've been advised that it helps it. Start with lower dosages than it says because it can also act as an intestinal cleaner. Ahem. That I can personally testify to.

You might consider looking into why you're experiencing this. Personally I've been going through this with both legs, and it does drive me nuts, keeps me up. And sometimes it's aggravated by HOW you're sitting. Maybe you need a chiropractic adjustment. I'm going to be checked for Lyme in March because this is one of the symptoms.

My Dad takes magnesium and calcium, and sometimes drinks tonic water for the quineine (sp?) for his restless legs and it's helped him.
Good luck, A. H

Low calcium can lead to leg cramps.....if you are not a milk drinker, calcium added orange juice works, too.
L.

melatonin calms my legs down at night. I also get that creepy crawly feeling in my hips. What a pain! Hope that helps.

Hi K.,
Yes, I do believe that there are some alternatives for you instead of taking a drug. You would benefit greatly from a good chewable Calcium/Magnesium near bedtime. Try to get a good brand, like Shaklee products. Also a good multivitamin with iron. I know that this sounds weird, but Dr. Gott has a column in the newspaper and thousands of people swear that putting a bar of soap under your sheet under your legs at night stops the restless legs during the night. It is cheap and can't hurt- just don't use something like Irish Spring or any heavily scented or antibacterial soaps.
If you need a good source of quality vitamins, let me know and I can help you.
Good Luck,
M.

Hi K....
I have RLS, I'm allergic to the meds on the market to treat it.. so, oddly enough, I've found that some stretching when my legs are feeling bad and some a half peanut butter sandwhich and some milk calm it all down and I can go back to sleep. Not sure why that works for me.. but i'm happy it does. I don't take any extra suppliments, just a once a day vitamin.

good luck..