Cause and cure for RLS

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.]
Post Reply
Mark Fan
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:40 am

Cause and cure for RLS

Post by Mark Fan »

I had suffered RLS for 30 years, one day I had a hypothesis for the cause, and developed a simple exercise to cure it. From that night, my RLS was gone and never came back. I am sharing my theory and exercise here, hope it will help someone.
First, the cause.
There is no disease involved; it is simply a sign of the degeneration of our feet and legs.
Our ancestor have been running around on four legs for millions of years, and when you run on four legs, you engage your front balls and toes all the time. And when you move your front balls and toes, those related muscles give your lower leg a thorough and deep massage and keep your legs healthy. I’m sure our ancestor didn't suffer RLS.
Nowadays, we don’t run on four legs anymore, we don’t even run on two legs, we sit all day, and when we walk, we walk on our heels. Our toes have already lost its functions. Because we haven't use toes and front ball for generations, our lower legs are degenerating. Our feet and legs are dying before our heart and brain, see how many seniors are stranded in wheelchairs! Our left leg usually suffer worse than right leg, why? Because we do exercise our right foot while driving. Why RLS disappear upon standing up? That's our body yelling to us: get up, exercise!

RLS is caused by inactivity of toes and feet, so the cure is simple: activate your toes and the front balls of feet.
1. Pull your toes toward you and then stretch your toes away from you;
2. Snap your big toe and second toes;
3. Jump, be sure to lift your heels first, then your front balls, then lift toes away from the ground.
Do these whenever or wherever you feel like to; Do as many times as you can.

Try this and tell me your result, Good luck!

Rustsmith
Moderator
Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:31 pm
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Re: Cause and cure for RLS

Post by Rustsmith »

That sounds a lot like my pre- and post-running stretching regime. I run as much as six days/40 miles a week during the winter months, so if this were the cure for my WED I would never have really experienced any issues. As it stands my WED is severe when not controlled by medication.
Steve

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

Polar Bear
Moderator
Posts: 8799
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Cause and cure for RLS

Post by Polar Bear »

My right leg suffers the most, not left as you suggest.
Also my arms, right side is worse.
And my Right shoulder.
I have put in many many hours of the stretching exercises being a sufferer of some 35+ years, and relief is very temporary.

What about sufferers who have symptoms in the torso, head, etc. etc.

I am glad that the exercises are bringing you such great relief from symptoms and hope that it continues to work for a long time.
Betty
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16571
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Cause and cure for RLS

Post by ViewsAskew »

My WED/RLS isn't in my feet or toes. It's in my thighs and arms. I often do similar stretches, however, because I occasionally have plantar fasciitis , so I stretch regularly as this helps prevent it. I stretch toes, arch, ankles, etc. It never affects my WED.

There is a lot of info from science to suggest it is a disease, unfortunately. I wish that weren't so. But, we have genes involved, our brains our different than those who do not have it such as not having enough iron in the right places, and there are many other differences between us and people without it, including differences in our brain chemicals and what is in our cerebrospinal fluid.

One of the WED specialists, Dr Rye, actually has a similar hypothesis about how WED developed in cave man :-). He hypothesized that it was the bodies way of telling a person that he/she needed to go kill a buffalo or other meat source and eat it to build up his/her iron.

I am so happy this works for you. Hopefully other people who have WED in their feet or calves will find success with your method when they need to stop their symptoms.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

Mark Fan
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:40 am

Re: Cause and cure for RLS

Post by Mark Fan »

Seems like it only works on me. I exercise a lot, stretch, run around with my son, tai chi, sit up; I didn't do them for RLS, and they didn't relieve my RLS. But those toes exercise worked immediately. I guess you guys haven't really try yet, try it, doesn't hurt anyway.

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16571
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Cause and cure for RLS

Post by ViewsAskew »

I really have tried it. Truly! When my symptoms first start each day (and I've done this for years), I automatically and almost subconsciously do toe and ankle stretches immediately, exactly as you write in step 1 and 2. And it does help! I'm doing them right now :-). The WED still comes on stronger later though. This, for me, just sort of delays it. And, I also do toe, arch, and ankle stretches every day to prevent foot problems. I do not jump, however, as I have a knee injury and this would hurt me.

When I was a teenager with WED, I could stop my symptoms every time with a hurdler's stretch. I was sure I had the solution for everyone. Then I realized that many people can't do those - they are murder on knees and many older people certainly couldn't do them. Eventually they stopped working for me, anyway, which is good as they are no longer recommended as safe to perform without modification!

One of the things I do when I awaken with symptoms is this weird set of stretches. I couldn't even describe them, lol. But, they really help me. The one that helps me the most is when I engage my hamstring and really, really, really stretch it - until it almost hurts. I can almost feel the symptoms subside. I imagine that for all of us, there is some stretch that works better than any others.

Are your symptoms in your feet, calves, or thighs? That may have something to so with which stretch works best. Mine are always in my thighs (when in my legs - I also get symptoms in my arms) - I've always guessed that this is the reason the hurdler's stretch worked so well for me, but I really don't know.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

Mark Fan
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:40 am

Re: Cause and cure for RLS

Post by Mark Fan »

I only has it on my lower legs. Although I had it for 30 years, I never took any drugs, I only tried Magnesium before, it worked for a month or so; I started my toe exercise about one month ago, I don't feel it will come back soon, yet.

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16571
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Cause and cure for RLS

Post by ViewsAskew »

Let's hope it does stay away for a LONG time!
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

Phillips2768
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 2:47 pm

Re: Cause and cure for RLS

Post by Phillips2768 »

I have done similiar exercises and it worked well for me until my symptoms started frequently coming back during the night and I had to get up several times each night to do it over again. I hope it keeps working for you.

Post Reply