When Did RLS Rear Its Ugly Legs For You?

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When Did RLS Rear Its Ugly Legs For You?

Post by Guest »

I'm recently pregnant, and have suffered from RLS for many years. Its wasn't till about a year ago I was properly diagnosed, and was prescribed Neurontin (which I am no longer taking due to the preg *sigh*).

Apparently pregnancy exacerbates RLS, so while I did a little research after my diagnosis, I have currently scoured the net for info. One of the things I'm finding interesting is there seems to be 2 teams of RLS sufferers; ones who have semi-recently started having problems, and ones who have suffered since childhood. I personally realised, when the diagnosis was made, that I have had RLS since I was 3 yrs old. In my babybook my mother wrote "Age 3 - started body rocking". Here I am 39 and haven't stopped since! I also discovered my mother suffered from RLS (she was diabetic and we had assumed the feet/leg issues were due to diabetic neuropathy - nope!), and my sister also has it, although she hasn't been formally diagnosed (she's more of a kicker as opposed to a rocker like me).

So its made me very curious. I wonder if there is a difference between RLS thats passed along genetically, and RLS which comes along at a late date. Maybe the RLS which is late onset has a different trigger...one that can be figured out that may help ALL sufferers. I am especially desperate to find something to give me relief, as I am not "allowed" to take any meds due to the pregnancy, and am horribly sleep deprived!

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions would be appreciated :)

Alli

Rubyslipper
Posts: 992
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 2:53 am
Location: Missouri

Post by Rubyslipper »

Congrats on the baby! When are you due? I'm sure that you have already cut out caffeine but some of us also have problems with dairy products. Warm baths seem to help some of us. Make sure to take all your info on RLS to your doctor, sleepless nights are not good for mommies now because you sure will have plenty after baby gets here! Check out the info under Non-pharmaceutical therapies. Somewhere there is a link to a site under rebelgirl (?) that has all kinds of ideas that are not medicine-related. RLS without medicines to help is a nightmare but check out all the other discussions here; so many of us have different ways of coping. From the info I have gathered, RLS is often genetic, almost always gets worse with age, is aggravated by pregnancy (sorry :cry:) and usually gets worse faster when it first occurs late in life. Many, many people seem to get it as they get older. This a great site with wonderful people. The best way to combat RLS is through learning all we can. This is one of the best websites I have found but there is lots on info on the web. Take advantage of it and of us for any help you can get. Keep us posted on your journey, can't wait to hear about the baby.

Allivymar

Post by Allivymar »

*slaps head* Duh; I could have remembered my username eh? The joys of sleep deprivation LOL

Thanx Ruby :) I'm pleased, shocked and terrified about this pregnancy LOL VERY unexpected and I cannot believe I have entered my 2nd trimester already.

I've cut out almost all caffeine; the occasional soda at work when I have a meeting so I don't fall asleep in the middle of it is about it (maybe 2 cans a week). And funny enough, I lost my craving for tea and choc; go figure! Instead I'm drinking a half gallon of milk a day (you'd think that alone would knock me out LOL). You say dairy can also cause probs? Explain! Milk has been my big craving; I don't know what I would do without it.

Warm baths are great..as long as I'm in them. They seem to have no lasting effect; neither does massage, walking around or anything else that provides stimulation. I'm sure its due to the preg; my RLS was NEVER this bad before. I'm hoping the neuro/movement specialist I'm seeing on Weds has some suggestions.

I'm still very curious about RLS and onset. One of the things I have come across is many women don't have RLS until they are pregnant. And for those women it appears to be temporary; once they have the baby the RLS symptoms go away. Is why I'm trying to figure out what the triggers are; a better understanding of the cause may lead to a better treatment. Neurontin works well for me (when I'm allowed to take it) but I do understand its simply a bandaid and likely doesn't address the root of the problem. Is it structural; something to do with the way the brain is set up or changes in the nervous system? Pregnant women, because of relaxin, become very lose in their ligaments; I am hypermobile anyway. Do all RLS sufferers have some amount of hypermobility; if so, is there a link? Is it chemical; deficits in certain nutrients or processing of said nutrients (we all know preg women have different nutritional needs)?

I hate mysteries LOL

Alli

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