my RLS - recovery

Here you can share your experiences with substances that are ingested, inhaled, or otherwise consumed for the purpose of relieving RLS, other than prescription medications. For example, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, diet, kratom, and marijuana (for now) should be discussed here. Tell others of successes, failures, side effects, and any known research on these substances. [Posts on these subjects created prior to 2009 are in the Physical Treatments forum.]

Important: Posts and information in this section are based on personal experiences and recommendations; they should not be considered a substitute for the advice of a healthcare provider.
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georger
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:06 am
Location: Olympia, Washington

my RLS - recovery

Post by georger »

I have been a RLS sufferer for over 10 years. Just my legs, every night - a repeating sense of legs need to move and uncomfortable sensations. I was on Mirapex and took a small amount every evening. I decided to spend a year improving my health, I got rid of inflammatory foods and held a consistent program of short walks and yoga, everyday. like religion. I did get better, but I was not able to end the RLS. One night I felt a clear insight that the problem was in the small of my back. And then I created two, difficult exercises/poses to hold for 40 seconds. And the first night I did this, the RLS stopped. And then the second night and so forth. I am just fine now with no more RLS. I will share these two exercises with anyone who wants to know about them. I know the source of my RLS may not be the same as yours. But, if this sounds in some way similar - then sharing this may be worthwhile. The first exercise is on your stomach, with relaxed arms and legs in a lowered position. Spread your legs apart about 15 inches,put your ankles to the floor and with them and the tops of your feet, lift up the lower half of your body and hold the position for about 20 seconds if you can. Rest for a moment, then, still laying on your stomach reach behind your back with your arms and lift your feet behind you also...then grab your ankles with your hands and hold this position (like a circle) for about 20 seconds. Let go and relax a few minutes. That is all. I hope that this does not make you feel worse, if you are suffering. I am just sharing and hope that you find the answers you are looking for. My theory is that the small of my back is blocking the energy to my legs, and creating RLS. However these two intense exercises...effect the very specific location. If you suspect that you have a specific location that may be the source of your problem, I suggest working with intense and brief exercises that flex and hold the muscles in one spot for 10 - 20 seconds. Unblocking the energy could be the problem. No one listened to me when I said it was in the small of my back. NO one. So 10 years of suffering, until I listened to my body. I wish everyone the best.

Noreserve
Posts: 41
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:42 am

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by Noreserve »

Hi Georger. May I ask if you had any back problems prior to exercises ie misalignment, degenerative discs?

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

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by ViewsAskew »

So glad you've found a solution for your misery and hope it never comes back. Thanks for sharing.
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.

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

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by Polar Bear »

It's wonderful that this is working for you, how long is it since you began to do these exercises and has there ever been a night when they have not worked?
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

Caldwell
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2016 3:55 pm

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by Caldwell »

I had major spine surgery 4 months ago & when the surgeons said they couldn't help the RLS, I hoped they were wrong....but....they were right & the RL is worse now than before surgery. It seems to me that the RL is centered around the lower back surgery site, so I was so delighted to read that exercise has helped. Hopefully it will not aggravate my healing spine, but I will give it a try! Thank you.

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

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by ViewsAskew »

The spinal cord - and what's in it - has definitely been implicated. And we have countless people whose RLS/WED started after injury or surgery to the back. Anything that can help those folks is worth trying.
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.

legsbestill
Posts: 561
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:22 pm
Location: Dublin Ireland

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by legsbestill »

Thank you very much for taking the time to set out your exercises so carefully. I too have had a feeling that my problems were founded in my lower back - at least when just the legs are affected - it's different when symptoms are in arms and torso. I will give your exercises a try. Thanks again.

badnights
Moderator
Posts: 6259
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:20 pm
Location: Northwest Territories, Canada

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by badnights »

georger wrote:The first exercise is on your stomach, with relaxed arms and legs in a lowered position. Spread your legs apart about 15 inches,put your ankles to the floor and with them and the tops of your feet, lift up the lower half of your body and hold the position for about 20 seconds if you can.
I have not had the sense that my lower back was involved for years now, but initially it was one of the things I wondered about. Low-back pain changed to sciatica at around the same time the WED/RLS went nuts. But there were other things to consider - namely, knee surgery, and a spider bite followed by infection in the bone of my arm followed by heavy antibiotics, also at the same time the WED ramped up.

However, I am eager to try anything. But I don't quite understand the first exercise. How do I lift the lower half of my body, which presumably includes my legs, if I am simultaneously pressing down into the tops of my feet?
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.

georger
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:06 am
Location: Olympia, Washington

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by georger »

Thank you for the inquiries - following my first written comments. First I have not had a spinal injury, however, I have been a dancer and used my body extensively. I also wonder if I have been arching my back as a habitual posture...it seems to me that I have...just a tiny bit. My thoughts are that I may have been putting some kind of stress on my lower back for most of my life and that possibly this created some kind of block.

It has been over a year since I began the exercises. I do have vague sensations that do not escalate into the need to medicate myself. When they occur I do a series of touch my toes to my ankles and up again, about 10 or so of those and re-do my 2 exercise routine described and if that is not enough I take a bath. Then it stops. This occurs maybe once a week or so.....and you can see that my issues are still in the background of my condition.

It was asked about the exercise of lifting the lower half of the body with your ankles. It is the top of the ankles and feet, and I put my feet inward toward each other. It requires you to keep your legs and body very stiff and then lift the lower body as much as possible using your ankles/top of feet.. It may be a small lift amount, but it will be putting stress or tension on the center of the small of your lower back. If you practice..you will become stronger. Let me know if that is not clear.....I can draw these exercises if someone would like that.

And for those of you that may be interested, I also take Taurine in the early evening....and Niacinamide right before bed. I have found that I also need to take 3 short walks a day (10-20min each) and some light yoga in the evening. This is a routine that I keep regularly. I am glad that some of your are sharing that the small of the back seems to be indicated.

I wish you all the best in the small but important steps to help be more healthy. I will check later if someone has another inquiry.

badnights
Moderator
Posts: 6259
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:20 pm
Location: Northwest Territories, Canada

Re: my RLS - recovery

Post by badnights »

Thank you. There have been other people who found taurine to be of benefit.

I think I understand the exercise - the feet stay on the floor, the chest stays on the floor, and you raise your hips off the floor by pressing the tops of your feet down, while keeping your feet and legs pressed together?
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.

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