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Soap in the bed? can someone explain?

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:58 am
by jy13131
I am wondering if I read it right!

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:30 am
by Polar Bear
I am sure you probably did read it correctly.

A bar of ordinary white soap, placed under the bed sheet at the bottom of the bed.

Been there and tried it: it did nothing for me, but I was sceptical to begin with.
May be the placebo affect when it works, who cares anyway, I'd try anything.

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:27 am
by jy13131
I would EAT the soap if it would help! :D

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:05 am
by ViewsAskew
Yeah, it started from a Dr Gott column (some doctor who writes a column that is printed in many newspapers). He said to use it for cramps. Somehow it morphed into RLS. I once read a column by him that said he never meant it for RLS and that is doesn't work for RLS....but by that time, it was years later and everyone keeps repeating it.

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:51 am
by runkrun
If I hear one more person say "Put a bar of soap under your sheets " for my RLS I'll scream.Been there ,tried that! It just does'nt work! But then again, people just don't understand the severity of our disorder. I believe that alot of these home remedies and old wives tales for cure alls are just power of suggestion.It's a mind thing!

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:51 pm
by Wayne
Old wive's tale, placebo effect, whatever.

Home remedies are (mostly) harmless/cheap and you'll never know that it doesn't work until you try. I myself was delighted to find that I get some temporary relief with the vibrating pad on my recliner (which I read on this forum somewhere).

As jy13131 said "I'd eat the soap....".

That's the real problem with most of us, we are desperate enough to try anything. This also makes us more susceptible to the snake-oil salesmen. As long as it cheap or harmless enough, that it's not a big loss the snake-oil salesmen will still be in business

Keep reading jy and be forewarned. I found several documented snake-oil cures on this forum that I might otherwise have considered trying, because I was/am that desperate.

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:46 pm
by Polar Bear
As they say 'I was that soldier'... I tried the snake oil :oops:
wasted my money.

Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:19 am
by mackjergens
After you try the soap under the sheets, then try turning your shoes upside down under the foot of your bed.*grin*, that is another old one that someone told yrs ago.. But hey at that point I was so desperated I tried them both but as most of us know they do not work.. But why always wonder, just go ahead and try them, they are cheap and certainly will not harm you.

Lavender fragrant rather than soap itself

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:49 am
by leggtree
Although I have not tried this soap concept, I did watched the Dr Oz show where he talked about soap under the sheets. He seemed to stress the soap was lavender and the benefits of the soothing fragrant rather than the actual soap itself.

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:58 pm
by Polar Bear
First time I've heard lavender mentioned.

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 1:58 pm
by Betty/WV
Some people swear by these "old wives tales". Myself, I don't understand, could be many reasons why they feel they have been helped. For 30 years I tried everything I heard of. Nothing helped, and I like you was desperate. From doctor to doctor. Finally I got on Mirapex and now I have relief for the first time. Its not perfection, but even though at times I have insomnia, it is insomnia with out the twitchy legs. RLS is a problem in the brain, how could "soap under the sheets" possibly help.

BETTY/WV

Experimenting with TENS Unit

Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:41 am
by sleepdancer
Hi. I am new to this board, but not new to RLS. I also have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. I came to this site hoping to hear from anyone using a TENS device to treat their RLS, because I'm hoping their experience will be transferable to PLMD also. I've run the gamut of meds in the last 12 years. They all end up causing more trouble than they fix. Just went off Requip after a few years, and I'm soooo hoping to find a non-medicinal approach to treatment that works.

Out of desperation I began experimenting with the TENS device, which I've had for my back pain. Found a couple general references about putting the electrodes on the legs, but had no success with that. For the past 2 weeks I've used the TENS before bedtime with the electrodes on my lower back, and my worst night with the TENS is still worlds better than my best night on any meds after being on them a while. I feel like I need instruction to fully benefit from this treatment, but neither my ortho doc or my sleep doc have heard of using it for this purpose. Can anybody help? Oh, and what about acupuncture?

Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:21 am
by Polar Bear
Hello Sleepdancer,
I understand that generally speaking acupuncture is not a great success with rls symptoms, however as we always say, we are all different and there are those who benefit. It did not help me. If you search and check posts by Moonlight I think a few of her recent posts were about her benefits from acupuncture.

Regarding the tens machine I recall there being posts but not the content. A search should help but a search can be a bit tedious especially without the name of the member who posted. Its good to hear the tens is helping with the rls.

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:17 am
by SquirmingSusan
Interesting that Dr. Oz would mention soap between the sheets. Usually he gives good information, but sometimes even he can pass on some strange information. It is true, though, that lavender is proven to help induce sleep, but you can spray the essential oil onto the pillow or into the air. There's really no purpose for putting soap between the sheets. Although I've always loved the scent of Yardley English Lavender soap.

I haven't heard of anyone having success with a TENS for RLS. There is one kind of electrical stimulation device that makes muscles contract repeatedly, and I can't remember what they're called. But those have been known to help with PLMD.

I tried it.

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:23 am
by SmartKat
Did nothing. But it wasn't at the foot of the bed.

I agree it would have to be the placebo effect. But I wouldn't want to bust anyone's bubble. If it works, it works, even if it only works on your minds expectiations.