anyone have this and if so how do you deal with it???

Im not quite sure what my problem is but about 3 nights a week i can't fall alseep, or i wake up, because i get the most intense urge to stretch. And if i get up and stretch it out then the feeling somes right back. Its not painful or anything its just super uber ulta annoying, like having an itch you can't scratch (except that it keeps you up half the gd night). Takin a pill isn't really an option im happy about but srly, this is the 5th night in a week, and its been happening regularly for months. HALP TWW!

sincerly,
sleepless & spelling challanged

7/10/2007 1:26:58 AM

happens to me too sometimes...I think it's the same...I feel like I have to keep moving my legs. Like, they dont really hurt, I just feel like I need to get up and run or bike or something.

7/10/2007 1:36:40 AM

Medical studies

http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/stu66793.html

first result on google

they'll give you some meds, observe you, and pay you for taking part in the study...enjoy

7/10/2007 1:38:15 AM

I think I read something about magnesium supplementation helping with that... ring a bell anybody?

Oh, and Jen, you need this:

http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/0877798087.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS500_.jpg

7/10/2007 1:42:39 AM

^ Well it has a lot to do with both iron and dopamine levels in the body.

So, if you can, try eating iron-rich foods and see if that helps. Some people have such bad RLS that they need to be on heavy iron supplements or low doses of dopamine. If it seriously continues to bother you, consult a doctor.

7/10/2007 1:44:28 AM

Quote :

"like having an itch you can't scratch (except that it keeps you up half the gd night). Takin a pill isn't really an option"

i'll scratch that itch

but you'll still be up half the gd night

and you're gonna have to get on board with takin' that pill

7/10/2007 1:54:35 AM

my problems is that my legs/feet constantly move whenever I'm sitting or lying still. Its most noticeable at night in bed of course since I'm just lying there. They don't really itch or anything, just move, usually to some type of rhythm. Its more annoying to others who may sleep with me, I've learned to live with it to the point that I don't really notice it.

7/10/2007 2:45:10 AM

my dad used to get this and instead of prescribing him meds...his doctor told him to eat a handful of almonds every night before he goes to sleep. The almonds have lots of magnesium which i guess is good for stuff like that...and his twitching legs ceased to keep him up at night.

7/10/2007 2:56:09 AM

get this....

http://www.restfullegs.com

It works or at least tricks you mind into thinking it's doing something. In either case the result is positive.

7/10/2007 7:23:53 AM

is this anything like TNS?

7/10/2007 8:27:32 AM

the meds for RLS make you drowsy and dizzy (that happened to a co-worker and the doctor said it was typical),

7/10/2007 10:20:42 AM

This disorder may occur as a primary (idiopathic) disorder or in relation to pregnancy, iron-deficiency anemia, peripheral neuropathy, or periodic leg movements of sleep. It may have a hereditary basis. Restlessness and curious sensory disturbances lead to an irresistible urge to move the limbs, especially during periods of relaxation. Disturbed nocturnal sleep and excessive daytime somnolences may result.

Therapy is with long-acting dopamine agonists or with benzodiazepines such as clonazepam. Levodopa is also helpful but may lead to an augmentation of symptoms, so that its use is generally reserved for those who fail other measures. In some instances, opiates are required to control symptoms.

- Restless legs syndrome: an update on treatment options. Drugs 2004;64:149.

7/10/2007 12:08:17 PM

http://www.reallans.com/mmml.shtml?/002240.shtml

7/10/2007 3:12:49 PM

you got the jimmy legs?

7/10/2007 3:20:56 PM

i have it, my mom, dad, brother, and both of my mom's parents have it. i've had it for as long as i could remember (since at least 5 yrs old). we always called it "the budgies"...before it was popular on tv and got a real name.

my mom has the worst case and she takes neurontin every night as well as a very hot bath. if she doesn't have the medicine or the bath she can't sleep at all. my brother takes ibuprofen right before bed, and that helps him (my mom does that sometimes too). i don't take anything (well, i already take aleve twice a day every day for my knees so that might have something to do with it).

your legs moving at night while you sleep is NOT the same thing as restless leg syndrome. that has a different name (mentioned in the latest issue of NightWalkers) but i can't remember it. the article basically said you rls =/= legs moving at night, but if you have rls you might also have this other thing too...but if your legs just move at night it doesn't mean you have rls. okay that's confusing i'll look for the article.

those compression leg wrap things for old people help too. both mom and i have tried magnesium supplements but it didn't make a difference.

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 3:28 PM. Reason : ]

7/10/2007 3:27:28 PM

usually a nice healthy dose of getting your back blown out by old Tree can cure that...usually

7/10/2007 3:28:27 PM

I *think* I have this. I get it only rarely, and only in the past 6 months, so I'm still diagnosing myself.

At first I just thought I could get over it in my head, by making myself be still and go to sleep. But sometimes it's so strong that I almost get a panic attack and HAVE to get up and walk around. Like my body actually tells me that I'll die if I don't move type response.

It's fucking annoying.

Glad it doesn't happen often.

7/10/2007 4:31:46 PM

it's related to tourettes (distantly) and most of the meds for it were originally for alzheimer's.

when i get it, if i don't move my leg it will eventually move itself and it spazzes out like tourettes or something. the more i try to control it the worse it is. i sit in a rocking chair/lazyboy at home so when i'm watching tv in that chair i rarely have a problem. i can't sit on a couch for very long though.

7/10/2007 5:09:31 PM

I think I have it, when I'm trying to go to bed and I feel the need to twitch my legs, or move them. If I start though it usually doesn't go away so I fight really hard to resist the urge. It feels like my arteries are clogged and blood is having a hard time getting to my feet, so I wiggle my legs or fidget them for a while and the feeling passes. Sometimes I have to get up and walk around to make it stop.

Doesn't happen too often.

7/10/2007 5:13:51 PM

I get it in my arms.

I figured it was just from lack of exercise. Like, my body's just like, "You ain't done shit today...why you tryna sleep?"

7/10/2007 5:31:06 PM

i used to only have it in my legs (when i was younger) but i get it in my arms and my torso now. you can flail your arms and legs around all day...

...but wtf are you supposed to with restless torso? i've tried running, swimming, situps, stretching, etc but there is apparently no way to move your torso enough. that REALLY sucks. the only thing that helps a little bit is if someone stands behind me and hugs me really hard, but my bf isn't always around and even if he was he can't do that for 30-40 mins at a time.

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 7:45 PM. Reason : ]

7/10/2007 7:44:45 PM

Quote :

"your legs moving at night while you sleep is NOT the same thing as restless leg syndrome"

its not that my legs move uncontrollably, its just that I have an uncontrolable urge to move my legs when im trying to sleep.

Quote :

"At first I just thought I could get over it in my head, by making myself be still and go to sleep. But sometimes it's so strong that I almost get a panic attack and HAVE to get up and walk around. Like my body actually tells me that I'll die if I don't move type response. It's fucking annoying."

amazing, thats pretty much exactly how it is. I dont think i could have said it any better except that I dont feel like im gona die . but i feel like if i dont choose to move then my body will eventually do it for me.

7/10/2007 8:10:43 PM

nobody ever had this shit before those restless leg syndrome drug commercials came out.

7/10/2007 8:20:34 PM

smath do you *ever* have any idea what youre talking about? i mean, ever?

anyhow, Jen, my wife has had this for years. pregnancy made it worse. she doesnt get any treatment for it, and some nights it drives her nuts.

thanks for the thread. i'll be interested to see what comes out of it and pass on the info to her.


[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 8:37 PM. Reason : ]

7/10/2007 8:36:51 PM

body pillows really help.

at least it does for me.

i can at least get to sleep.

7/11/2007 12:13:10 AM

I never said I had restless leg syndrome, I just said I have problems with my legs twitching.

but I guess once people figured out that all those who showed what we now call "flu-like" symptoms had what is now called "influenza", that all those other jackasses who had the same symptoms and said "oh I guess I have the flu" were just talking out of their asses and just making up an excuse for being sick.

7/11/2007 2:38:59 AM

Quote :

"body pillows really help. at least it does for me. i can at least get to sleep."

You're calling it "sleep" now?







And for the ladies or queers



[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 3:24 AM. Reason : 454]

7/11/2007 3:23:13 AM

my dad has had this for as long as i can remember. we got a jacuzzi like 6 years back and he hasn't complained since.

7/11/2007 5:47:12 AM

i've noticed as long as i keep eating and sleeping i dont really have any health problems

7/11/2007 10:21:08 AM

seriously smath, you are the worst at trolling. are you even trying anymore?

---------------------

i never get in bed until i am dead tired. if you lay down any earlier then your legs will know it and go crazy. i've also noticed that if i'm restrained somehow it's much more likely to happen.

7/11/2007 10:30:56 AM

I have had this for a very long time in the back of my upper legs (quadraceps?)
what helps me is to stretch them before bed then place these things called "bed buddies"
under them while I'm laying in bed. They are these long sock like things that you put in the microwave to heat. The heat really helps relax out the muscles, and you can fall asleep without worry of over cooking yourself, like with a heating pad.

http://www.esgmassage.com/the_bed_buddy.htm

I cut the rope out of the ends.

7/11/2007 10:36:28 AM

tell your doc you want a sleep study done up at Rex center

7/11/2007 11:38:39 AM

NBC just did a spotlight on it and talked about how new england journal of mediccine did a new study on it and how they have supposedly found a the gene associated with it

worth the look up if your interested

7/18/2007 6:48:27 PM

anyone who said iron was shockingly on point. Got my blood taking, gah fuckin hate that, but yah... my iron levels were really low.

and requip, not so much working. Increadably frustrating as you can see im still awake and twitching

7/27/2007 12:18:00 AM

i got that restless wang syndrome

7/27/2007 12:19:02 AM

^^ Well I'm glad that helped you out, though I'm sorry your iron levels are so low, though.

7/27/2007 12:21:51 AM

they could help you get that problem all staitened out

[Edited on July 27, 2007 at 12:23 AM. Reason : quick nothen]

7/27/2007 12:21:53 AM

gettin' properly worn out seemed to solve your problem

7/27/2007 12:24:42 AM

yah ive tryed that, no such luck

[Edited on July 27, 2007 at 12:34 AM. Reason : tmi]

7/27/2007 12:26:47 AM

I on occasion have teh jimmyleg, but it's nothing to be worried about.

7/27/2007 1:00:31 AM