Not sure if I have RLS but....
Not sure if I have RLS but....
Maybe you guys can help me. I have had several sleepless nights with my legs cramping. I dont know if I can really say that they hurt they are just annoying. It isnt just 1 leg it is both. I will go to bed either bouncing/moving my legs or my boyfriend will have to give me a massage till I fall asleep. Once I fall asleep I am fine until something wakes me either to use the bathroom or to tend to my little one when he is sick. I cant fall asleep. I find myself trying to fall asleep on my recliner because I tend to wake up my dear boyfriend. It is frusterating. Maybe you guys can help and tell me if I am dealing with RLS, where I could go to be diagnosed. I hate to take the drugs though, that is my biggest problem. Thank you very much for you time!
Re: Not sure if I have RLS but....
Anonymous wrote:Maybe you guys can help me. I have had several sleepless nights with my legs cramping. I dont know if I can really say that they hurt they are just annoying. It isnt just 1 leg it is both. I will go to bed either bouncing/moving my legs or my boyfriend will have to give me a massage till I fall asleep. Once I fall asleep I am fine until something wakes me either to use the bathroom or to tend to my little one when he is sick. I cant fall asleep. I find myself trying to fall asleep on my recliner because I tend to wake up my dear boyfriend. It is frusterating. Maybe you guys can help and tell me if I am dealing with RLS, where I could go to be diagnosed. I hate to take the drugs though, that is my biggest problem. Thank you very much for you time!
Hi Lindsey
I'm glad i'm not the only one who's resorted to "sleeping" in the recliner!
Below is a list of excellent RLS info sites.
General Information Sites:
http://www.wemove.org/rls.html
http://www.jmjudson.com/rls.html
http://www.rlshelp.org
http://www.sleepnet.com/disorder.htm
http://www.rls.org
Medications & Treatments:
http://www.jmjudson.com/medications.html
http://www.rlshelp.org/rlsrx.htm
Treating RLS without Drugs:
http://www.rlsrebel.com
You might find it helpful to print out any information you think is important and put it together in a folder. If you're GP/Neurologist doesn't know much about RLS, they should be open to learning about it and helping you out.
Treatment-wise, you will find that you are your own "guinea pig" as no two people with RLS are the same and everyone is taking a different "cocktail". Patience is the key to finding the right combination.
Non-drug wise I have found the herb Valerian to be useful at night for helping me to relax. I've also found that massage and CranioSacral therapy (working with the central nervous system) have helped a lot, particularly with improving my sleep. Stretching is also good and I have a small home gym set which gets a major workout on the bad days.
Things to avoid are "bad" stress, all types of caffeine (although some RLSers can tolerate it) and alcohol (which can react with drugs).
There are a couple of excellent support groups on the web at yahoo groups: rlssupport and earthgirlsrlsclub where you will find many other RLSers who can give you advice or lend an ear when you're having a rough time.
Hope this info is of some help to you.
Take care
Nadia
Nadia
My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!
My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!
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Mma2MyPrince03 wrote:Thank you very much for your info. I will have to look at those sites. Thank you very much once again. Does it sound like RLS?
Hi again
No problemo on the info! The more you read, the more you will learn. I just re-read your initial post. It sure sounds like RLS. For a proper diagnosis, you should start with your local GP. If you're not sure that they know about RLS, take some info with you so they can read up on it. If your GP isn't sure then he/she should be able to refer you to a sleep clinic or neurologist who can do more tests.
Hope all goes well!
Take care
Nadia
Nadia
My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!
My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!
cure for RLS
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 3:54 pm Post subject: I FOUND A CURE FOR RLS
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I am 32 years old and suffered from RLS all of my life. This disorder is so bad that suicide has crossed my mind many, many times. But one day I started taking a drug for another condition and I noticed that my RLS completely went away. The drug is called Neurontin, it is used for many things, but mainly epilepsy (which i do not have). For me, Neurontin has NO SIDE EFFECTS WHATSOEVER, it is great. What a relief. I just take 3 around dinner time (before the onsite of the RLS) and then I sleep fine, and I can watch tV now and go to the movies and fly on airplanes. Wow, I am so happy that "by chance" I found permanent relief from RLS. Now, I am no doctor, but my doctor was happy that we discovered this and supports it all the way. Please talk to your doctors and try it, I promise it works. Some may need to take more Neurontin or less, I take 300ml a day. Most important though, you should not wait until the RLS is starting to kick in before taking Neurontin, take it before the onset, if you wait too long, it will take twice as long to work. So I just take it early, before dark, that way I am covered, and I never even feel the RLS anymore, ever.
I hope this helps. Now I can live.
Maria Moss
Suffolk, VA.
mariamoss@charter.net
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I am 32 years old and suffered from RLS all of my life. This disorder is so bad that suicide has crossed my mind many, many times. But one day I started taking a drug for another condition and I noticed that my RLS completely went away. The drug is called Neurontin, it is used for many things, but mainly epilepsy (which i do not have). For me, Neurontin has NO SIDE EFFECTS WHATSOEVER, it is great. What a relief. I just take 3 around dinner time (before the onsite of the RLS) and then I sleep fine, and I can watch tV now and go to the movies and fly on airplanes. Wow, I am so happy that "by chance" I found permanent relief from RLS. Now, I am no doctor, but my doctor was happy that we discovered this and supports it all the way. Please talk to your doctors and try it, I promise it works. Some may need to take more Neurontin or less, I take 300ml a day. Most important though, you should not wait until the RLS is starting to kick in before taking Neurontin, take it before the onset, if you wait too long, it will take twice as long to work. So I just take it early, before dark, that way I am covered, and I never even feel the RLS anymore, ever.
I hope this helps. Now I can live.
Maria Moss
Suffolk, VA.
mariamoss@charter.net
Sounds like you have RLS to me
It doesn't have to be in just one leg, it can be in both at the same time, it is just most common to be felt in one leg at a time. Also, I have found that it's mental too. For instance, I may wake up in the middle of the night to tend to my child, then lay back down and say "Wow, I don't have RLS tonight" and then BOOM - here it comes. It's like thinking about it tends to set it on, or bring it on I should say. Wierd I know.
Anyway, as far as taking drugs for it, that is just a personal choice. I take Neurontin for mine, and as long as I take it early enough, I have been RLS free for God knows how long, since I was pregnant I guess.
Good Luck
Maria
Anyway, as far as taking drugs for it, that is just a personal choice. I take Neurontin for mine, and as long as I take it early enough, I have been RLS free for God knows how long, since I was pregnant I guess.
Good Luck
Maria