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moderate exercise.

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:43 pm
by HeatherB
I was just wondering how many of you do moderate exercising every day to help with the RLS.
I walk every night about 2 hours before I go to bed. If the weather is decent I go outside and walk. If not I walk on a treadmill.

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:05 pm
by Scarlett46
I am a runner... I try to make the time to run 3-5 days per week (I'm only up to about 2-3 miles, and I'm very slow, though).

I find that the running helps. As long as I take it slow - working up to increasing my distance, and not pushing myself too hard. My legs usually only ache on the days I don't run, or during the day before I run, and feel better after the run. So that tells me that running is doing them good.

I've also got to get back into the habit of doing yoga in the mornings. We have satellite tv with a DVR, so I set it to record daily (Yoga for Life, with Kurt Johansen), and then turn it on after I wake up my daughter to get ready for school. I haven't done it regularly all summer long, since school's been out, I don't have to wake up the kid! But I did notice a very big difference in my whole day when I started it with even 30 minutes of yoga.

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:14 pm
by becat
Hi Heather and to Miss Scarlett as well,

I walk as well, normally 3.5 every night. That is what I found my body thought was even. By that, I mean that it does good for my legs and for me, but it's not over the limit.

Moderate is just what we should be target for most of us over a moderate to severe level of RLS.

Over doing is harmful more often than not.

The trick is to find what level and what activity is best for you.

The old saying all of us are slightly different, so it's a personal thing, like most of the things we all do for a better Quality of Life.

LOL Scarlett, I would need the phone right by my side if I did some of those positions. LOL

Lynne

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 3:58 am
by SquirmingSusan
Hello. I like to walk every evening after it's cooled down a bit. I take a short walk, 3-4 blocks, with the old dog, then take a longer walk with the young dog, about 1-1/2 - 2 miles. Lately I've been swimming half a mile or so in the afternoon or evening which has done wonders to help with anxiety. For some reason, walking doesn't help with my anxiety, and last night I noticed that I was more crabby and agitated after walking than before. Weird.

Neither seems to affect my RLS at all, but exercise does help me sleep better and feel better in general.

Sometimes if it's 4am and I'm just hyper and can't wind down, I'll get on the Concept 2 rower. About 10-15 minutes of that and I sleep like a brick. And I can do that exercise sitting down. Love it.

I've often heard people say that it's bad to exercise in the evening if you have RLS. Well, it may be bad for those individuals, but we're all different. You need to figure out what works for you.

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:02 pm
by HeatherB
I have found that walking a mile on flat ground does good for me. However, if the weather is yucky and I can't go outside to walk I have a treadmill. I can only do 1/3 of a mile on the treadmill. Walking uphill takes more effort then walking on flat ground!

I guess I should have put this in my original post! :D

walking and jogging

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:26 pm
by helen1965
Hi everyone, I have always been a walker, well before I developed RLS 2and a half years ago. Throughout my RLS I have kept walking (sometimes I had no choice!) and I have also been jogging for the last 6 years. I walk roughly for 3 hours for 5 out of 7 days, in the afternoon to early evening, and the other 2 days I go for a 40 minute jog. I jog at a pace thats comfortable for me, not fast. I love to do both, and it calms the RLS 99% of the time, for a while anyway. But lately I have noticed on a few occasions that the RLS still shows through the walking, although for only part of the walk, and on one occasion I also experienced the cursed RLS after a jog, which I was most upset at, that's not a normal experience for me. Could it be that the exercise is aggravating the RLS now. I sincerely hope not, because it's a way of life for me, my family are all walkers.
Also, I have managed to get my Ferratin levels up from 11 to 53. But I don't feel any major improvements in my RLS, in fact tonight I have been in tears since 6pm. It's now 8.20 pm. When can I expect to see any improvements, if any. I am clinging to the hope of my Ferratin levels being the answer to this, I am at my wits end now. I feel I have no life and I often think what it is better to take an overdose of...the Iron Tablets or the Ropinirole. Of course, it's the Iron. I definately don't want to die, I love my man, I love my family and my pet. I don't love life, and I can't live like this. And having to stop my exercise would just be the icing on the cake...

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:01 pm
by Chipmunk
Helen,

Usually it's only when you change your level of exercise that you possibly will affect the RLS/WED. So if you push yourself too much, or stop exercising that *possibly* might up the RLS/WED. It depends on your body.

I have not heard of anyone who had to stop exercising to help symptoms - usually a bit of exercise tires your legs out a bit and improves the RLS/WED.

I wonder if you could be augmenting on the Ropinerole?

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:03 pm
by Chipmunk
I would also encourage you to get your Vitamin D levels checked, and talk to your doctor about a small dose of anti-depressants. Lack of sleep really messes with your brain chemistry and you might need something to correct that until you can get reliably good sleep. ((hugs))

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:55 pm
by ViewsAskew
Hi Helen - so sorry to read of this. [see me frowning]

Is it spiking at other times, too, or only during exercise? If it is during exercise, then that is a weird coincidence. As Tracy noted, it usually only gets worse during exercise if you're not used to it. But you clearly are used to it.

What are you taking for it these days?

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:54 am
by helen1965
Hi thanks for taking the time to read my post and to reply. Yes, I do have augmentation, and I reduced my Ropinirole (Requip) from 3mg per night to 2 mg. I did this gradually and it was a horrendous process. I did it without help from any other medication, and I read on these boards that Opiates can help with this process. I am due to see my Doc tomorrow with regards as to starting Tramodol as well as Ropinirole, am I right in thinking Tramodol is an Opiate? If so I am thinking of taking the opportunity to further reduce the Ropinirole. The augmentation has improved, but not gone completely.
That said, yesterday has been the most wonderful day I have had for two and a half years. I had only two occurrences of RLS, each lasted 10 minutes or less. I had nothing at all from getting up till 5.30 pm, then another 3 minute attack at 7pm, then nothing for the rest of the night! I don't know why this suddenly happened, but even then I was in tears because I was so scared to just sit down and do nothing in case it aggravated a 'real' attack. Why is it that I can have a great morning and by 3 pm or so (that is a normal day for me apart from yesterday) I have no quality of life? It is like I have a morning personality and a completely different afternoon/evening personality. I am two completely different people. And of course, since I had a great day yesterday, I am hoping desperately that today will be the same or even better, and so will tomorrow and the day after....and I will be crushed if it isn't. I am tired of crying, and turning down invitations, and affecting my partners life too. We have just bought a beautiful house, have no kids at home and both work. We should be having the best time of our lives and going places and doing things together. But every invitation is turned down. It was my birthday a few days ago, and I couldn't face going out for a meal ( I used to love doing that). So we got a Chinese meal delivered instead, and I spent the whole duration walking the floor with the plate in my hand. I just want to be the person I used to be. She was fun, and nice to know.

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:57 am
by helen1965
Sorry to sound so depressing, I actually do feel better after yesterday, I cling to days like that and wish they were more regular. I don't want to depress everyone here, there is such a positive feeling to this Forum. It is a godsend to 'talk' to people that really know how I feel, and the advice is sooo helpful. Thank you for listening to my moans, everyone.

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:16 am
by Laurachrissy
Get that Tramadol.......it has saved my brothers life. His RLS is the painful kind the is 24/7. Tramadol might be my next choice. Edit: skip that, I read below that it's an opiate?!? Wouldn't that mess you up with your job?

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:58 am
by Polar Bear
Tramadol is a synthetic opiate. I take it with my Requip.

I find it interesting that you have attacks that can last only 10 minutes or 3 minutes. When mine starts, that's it, no reprieve. And it is there pretty much 24/7 but is medicated for relief.

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:01 am
by helen1965
Polar Bear, my usual attacks are relentless. From 3 pm onwards I may as well be in a mental institution. The attacks I mentioned that lasted minutes were a total shock to me, I don't know what I did that day but I wish I did because I'd do it every day! No, my life is ruled by RLS, I have been awake now for 3 hours because of it and it's only 5 am. This is the norm nowadays, even with taking Ropinirole every night. The day I had the attacks that just lasted minutes were wonderful, but even then I cried and cried because I was so scared to stop and sit or stand still in case I aggravated the RLS and was back to square one! It's really a no - win situation. And of course the day after that was the usual, and it looks like today will be too. This is very cruel.

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:28 am
by helen1965
Chipmunk, what are the recommended levels for Vitamin D? I take vit D every night (1000mg) but I've only been doing that for approx 2 weeks now, because I read it on this Forum that it could be beneficial. I am seeing my Doctor this afternoon and I'll request a check, but she probably won't know the required level because the Doctors here in UK don't know much about RLS/WED.