Are leg cramps part of RLS?
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:34 am
Glad I was pointed to this site, I'm looking for some clarification.
I'm 27 years old and was officially diagnosed as having RLS about two years ago, tests were done to rule out underlying problems and all was clear. Since then the symptoms have progressed rapidly - when diagnosed my symptoms were very hot feet and restless legs, that has now progressed to include painful spasms in legs/feet, some restlessness in my arms, symptoms are now occurring more frequently and during the day rather than just at night.
I'm currently only on 0.5mg of Ropinirole before bed - I was on 1.5mg which was helping enough to let me get to sleep, but still not really helping much and certainly was of no help during the day. I've had problems with my GP giving me the wrong dosage and claiming there's no other medication I can use. I'm working on getting a new GP because all of the GP's at that practice are terrible, but I'm stuck in the mean time!
ANYWAY...
Now the background stuff is out of the way...I've been experiencing another symptom that I'm fairly certain is related to RLS - leg cramps.
When I first started experiencing RLS symptoms six years ago I would also get horrific cramps in the early hours where my legs would completely lock up and which would seriously limit my walking for a few days as I'd be in agony...at the time I thought this was down to calcium deficiency, but now I'm not so sure. I don't get the cramps at night like this any more, however I get cramping during the day.
It will be a feeling deep in the calf muscles of my legs, similar depth and feeling as the feeling when my legs go into spasm or restlessness, but it will go on to feel as though they're being tensed...imagine walking round all day with tensed calf muscles and you'll understand the problem - it makes walking difficult and is sometimes very painful.
This feeling in my calf muscles is definitely related to RLS, when RLS is bad then so is this cramping - I wonder if it is a symptom of RLS or if the cramps and increased RLS symptoms are due to something underlying.
What I'm wondering is this; Are the cramps a possible RLS symptom?
Basically this does effect my mobility, I've heard of others with RLS say it effects their mobility - is this why? With the speed in which my RLS symptoms are progressing I'm worried that if these cramps are another symptom of RLS that it will get worse too.
I'm 27 years old and was officially diagnosed as having RLS about two years ago, tests were done to rule out underlying problems and all was clear. Since then the symptoms have progressed rapidly - when diagnosed my symptoms were very hot feet and restless legs, that has now progressed to include painful spasms in legs/feet, some restlessness in my arms, symptoms are now occurring more frequently and during the day rather than just at night.
I'm currently only on 0.5mg of Ropinirole before bed - I was on 1.5mg which was helping enough to let me get to sleep, but still not really helping much and certainly was of no help during the day. I've had problems with my GP giving me the wrong dosage and claiming there's no other medication I can use. I'm working on getting a new GP because all of the GP's at that practice are terrible, but I'm stuck in the mean time!
ANYWAY...
Now the background stuff is out of the way...I've been experiencing another symptom that I'm fairly certain is related to RLS - leg cramps.
When I first started experiencing RLS symptoms six years ago I would also get horrific cramps in the early hours where my legs would completely lock up and which would seriously limit my walking for a few days as I'd be in agony...at the time I thought this was down to calcium deficiency, but now I'm not so sure. I don't get the cramps at night like this any more, however I get cramping during the day.
It will be a feeling deep in the calf muscles of my legs, similar depth and feeling as the feeling when my legs go into spasm or restlessness, but it will go on to feel as though they're being tensed...imagine walking round all day with tensed calf muscles and you'll understand the problem - it makes walking difficult and is sometimes very painful.
This feeling in my calf muscles is definitely related to RLS, when RLS is bad then so is this cramping - I wonder if it is a symptom of RLS or if the cramps and increased RLS symptoms are due to something underlying.
What I'm wondering is this; Are the cramps a possible RLS symptom?
Basically this does effect my mobility, I've heard of others with RLS say it effects their mobility - is this why? With the speed in which my RLS symptoms are progressing I'm worried that if these cramps are another symptom of RLS that it will get worse too.