Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

DrWass22 wrote: I always shake my legs when sitting....one member described this as "sewing machine legs"... basically when sitting...toes on ground knees off the ground... your legs shakes up and down. I've always done this totally subconciously as long as I can remember (now 57) . It drives people around you nuts....my wife is always grabing my leg telling me to stop. I was wondering how many restless leg people do this during the day...Maybe our muscles just want to keep moving...(needed to keep the blood flowing??)... Will other RLS sufferer who have this shaking leg thing please respond...also indicate the type of RLS you have (ie. Pain,tingling, etc)......a little research here...

I'm really DrWass2 but it would let me use it...not singed in when I placced this note....

I also do this, as did my grandmother and and does my mother. I only do it when the RLS is active, though. For me, it stops the need to move the legs and it stops the electricity feeling. When that doesn't work anymore, then I start walking.

Ann

Both people with RLS and people without RLS do this, so it's hard to establish whether or not it is directly linked to RLS. Quite often it's a nervous reaction. My mother used to tell me that it was a sign of sickening for something ummmmmmmmmmm .

I do bounce my knees, but when I catch myself and stop doing it, then it doesn't seem to make any difference to whether I have or have not got RLS 'active' at that time.

Pete

Hi, my name is Connie and, yes, I bounce my legs constantly. I've done this since childhood. My mother used to grab my knees under the dinner table to make me stop!!

I still do it to this day (I'm 43 years old) and still get "corrected" for doing it. But, of course, I can't help it!!

I have RLS and PLM. I usually have the "electrical shock" feeling that makes my legs jump and kick. I'm going to the dr. this afternoon because the mirapex doesn't seem to be working as well as it used to. I'm only getting 2 to 3 good hours of sleep per night. This has been going on for a few months now and I just cannot function any longer. I'm hoping she'll either increase my dosage or add another drug to help out.

The electrical shocks are coming earlier and earlier in the day and if I take the mirapex too early, then I have no relief at night. I think I might need to take the mirapex 2 or 3 times a day.

Oh well, we'll see what the dr. says!!

Connie

I am constantly doing this. It has been rough the last couple of months. I broke my lower leg (around the ankle) in 3 places and have had to be in a wheelchair at work. This may be why my rls is becoming more "violent" at night. I only discovered this discussion group yesterday and I really feel great to know that what I have has a name Anyway, I just jerk uncontrollably and sometimes swing my legs all over the bed. We have a waterbed, and it makes the whole bed jump

Yes, I shake my legs constantly, since I was a child. I have RLS, and my sister is much worst and has manifested the disease much differently. Do doctor's think shaking the legs during the day like described is related to RLS? definately have sewing machine legs....so annoying. As soon as I stop myself from doing it, I look down and I have resumed.

I assume that the daytime shaking is our copeing mechanism to allow us to go on with the days activity. Your right,, if your stop...it will just automaticaaly start up again untill someome else complains...so the question is going out to all out there.....???Do you subconciously shake your leg during the day???

Always shaking if not bouncing my foot up and down shaking my foot when crossed or something. I move them all the time. I have rls jerk every 6mins while sleeping. I am taking depakote 500mg and Parcopa 25mg/100mg both at bedtime. It seems to be helping but to early to tell I have only taken 6 days of the parcopa. I flucuate between the electric jerk, to pain and numbness or a swelling feel.

I am new to this board, but post some @ wemove.org. I have the "bouncey" leg as I call it. I have done this since I was young, always getting in trouble for it also. Since I have discovered that I have RLS I have been trying to pay attention to when I do it. Sometimes it seems like just habit, but when I try and quit for a while I notice that my legs hurt, or get a pulling sensation either in the calves or just above the knee.

I have the same problem. Night or Day...never stops. My legs constantly want to move. I think of a habit as something you have grown so accustomed to that you don't realize that you are doing it. However, with my legs shaking, I notice it. I do it intentionally because if I don't, they would shake anyway. To avoid that irritating prickling in my legs and sometimes pain...I keep them moving.

i have the bouncy leg also. but its not just the jumpy leg. its the constant movement of my feet. i dont even realize im doing half the time. when i was young it was my parents who got pissed. but there jumpy all over the place on the sofa. luckily i married a great wife who can deal w/it fairly well.


whats odd is, i think i got RLS from my dad. but my dad has a different version of it. he isnt jumpy during the days, like i am . but he loses sleep at nights because he has burning sensation in his legs. and feels the urge to rub them or move them around.

I've bounced my legs, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously, since I was a kid....recently diagnosed with RLS. No pain or tingling, just an uncontrolable urge to shake or jerk my legs at bed time. My husband says I continue doing it while I'm asleep. I've been taking Requip for several weeks...can't really tell if it helps, but it does cause leg cramps about 4 am. I really appreciate all your shared info.

More than likely jumpy/sewing machine leg is too much activity for me! Have on occasion done this, primarily I have to flex and stretch the leg and arms for relief from the tingly burning sensations. My legs do jerk from the electrical shock sensations. Though I seldom sustain a rapid leg movement like described. We all probably develop certain habits in regards to relieving the rls sensations.

CMG - hope that the doctors appt proves to be helpful Keep us posted.

Poseylady, I can just invision that rocking water bed! Hope that the ankle is healing.

Judgejan, so glad you joined the discussion group. There is a wealth of information here and many wonderful people who are willing to share their experiences with others. Hopefully you will find some tips that help you obtain a better quality sleep and daily life. New to RLS section is full of great information and links. There are several threads through out the board on Requip use.

Hazel

Hmm, leg cramps on Requip? Uck! Judgejan, that sounds like a very uncomfortable side effect. Would you be willing to add your feedback about Requip into the following thread?

http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=1426

Are these cramps different from your RLS? Maybe they could be resolved with magensium. A lot of us take vitamins to help with RLS. Some of these also help leg cramps. Magnesium, potassium, calcium, more water, and quinine (found in tonic water, or by prescription) all have been noted to help leg cramps.

Ann