Does the evening meal or snack make RLS worse for you?

Please share your experiences, successes, and failures in using non-drug therapies for RLS/WED (methods of relief that don't involve swallowing or injecting anything), including compression, heat, light, stretches, acupuncture, etc. Also under this heading, medical interventions that don't involve the administration of a medicine to the body (eg. varicose-vein operations, deep-brain stimulation). [This forum contains Topics started prior to 2009 that deal with Non-prescription Medicines, Supplements, & Diet.]
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Anonymous

Does the evening meal or snack make RLS worse for you?

Post by Anonymous »

I have suspected that I had RLS for a few years. Because of insomnia, I've been to many Drs and finally was diagnosed with RLS by a sleep specialist.

One thing that I've noticed recently is that after I eat my evening meal, the symptoms seem to come on very strong. I've looked at quite a bit of research, but have yet to see any correlation mentioned. I also recently brought this up with my regular Dr, but she didn't seem to know much about any link. Does anyone else experience this effect?

Also, I hear of people with this problem in all areas of the body: legs, groin, trunk, arms, but no one yet with it in their feet. Mine is, and has always been in my feet. This caused a long delay in diagnosis, but now it's a pretty classic case that is growing more severe over the past 2 years or so. Anyone else out there with this in their feet? Just curious since I'm now taking the time to really research this disorder.

Thanks!
Sleepy

Rubyslipper
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Post by Rubyslipper »

One of the bad things about RLS for me is that it is inconsistant. I can do almost everything the same each night and still it won't affect my symptoms the same. I am convinced that certain foods we eat interact with our meds more than we think. Some meds work better on empty or almost empty stomachs, some on full. As for feet, just recently my RLS seems to have moved to my feet instead of just above my ankles. Go figure! :wink:

Anonymous

Evenibg Snack

Post by Anonymous »

Dear Sleepy
I have something in my feet- I think it is a form of neuropathy. I also get the tingling and shooting sensations in my feet. It could be related to food. I am not sure. I seem to get the RLS before a snack in the evening and have not had the same snack often. Will pay closer attention.
This neuropathy of the feet is more like your feet are asleep and is mostly from the toes to midway of the foot. I really believe they are two different things, miserable just the same.
Luck in the future.
:)

skygreen
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noogapat

Post by skygreen »

Ask your Doctor to let you try Tizanidine 4MG at night. It has really helped my feet pain and cramping.
I also eat one bowl of Rocky Road ice cream every night, I am not sure if it helps but it sure does taste good. :lol:

dogeyed
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Snack or Relax?

Post by dogeyed »

Do you eat your snack at the same time you rest and relax on the couch or in a recliner? If so, it may be the resting that intensifies the RLS. All the literature says resting makes the RLS worse. So, EVERY time I lay on the couch, my legs start aching and jumping around, whether I'm snacking or not.

As for the FEET thing, YES, MY FEET ARE KILLNG ME! Funny thing is, I've been limping and I've had leg aches since 2001, but just since last Christmas, my legs jerk like crazy and are worn slam outl, then on top of that, my feet got tender and after a few months they are MAXED OUT with pain. I have to put foam in my bedroom slippers just to get around the house, and I have to wear running shoes to go anywhere, and I can't do stairs anymore, I can't run... What a nightmare!

Guest

Post by Guest »

What you put in your mouth can intensify the symptons. I find that caffeine and alcohol increase the severity. Also certain food seem to make it worse, but it is harder to tie this down and can be different from person to person. If I stay off trash foods and stick to good old meat and two veg then the RLS goes down to irration level. Will have to get to the raw food diet one of these days. If I have to give up much more I'm going to join a monastery...

Rubyslipper
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Location: Missouri

Post by Rubyslipper »

I have also had BAD foot pain at times. It just hurts to even think about walking. A friend of mine was going through foot surgery and gave me her anti-inflammatory pills to try. No, I do not advocate using others prescription meds. And I realize this thread in under Non-Pharmaceutical listing. But I just wondered if anyone else who has such foot pain has tried anti-inflammatory meds.

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