RLS - any non-medication treatments????

[SnoozeButton]

While my numbers seem to be good as far as AHI and mask leak I am still having trouble sleeping soundly. My sleep study showed RSL to be another problem and I have been waking in the middle of the night with leg cramps so I think that is flaring up. I understand that the medications for RLS are pretty rough so I'm wondering if there are any foods to avoid or any thing else I could do to help alleviate my symptoms. Are there any vitamin deficiencies linked to RLS?

On a side note I tried the bar of Ivory soap since I had it on hand I figured I had nothing to lose - didn't work for me.

[WearyOne]

I've tried an OTC product called Hyland's Restful Legs. Places like CVS might have it, but I know the Vitamin Shoppe does, and health food stores probably do as well. You just put a couple under your tongue and let them dissolve. This really seems to help mine. (The bar of soap didn't help me either.) Before the Hyland's, I used a heating pad and that helped some. I usually have it only in one leg, which I know is weird. But I've also had it during the day in both legs, and my arms and shoulders, although this has only happened a couple of times.

Pam

[dwood003]

I knew I had RLS before my sleep study, I didn't know that I was having episodes while sleeping. It usually came around 2 in the afternoon or 9 at night while I was relaxing. It usually lasted for about an hour and I would stand up or sit on the arm of the sofa stomping my feet till it passed.
It showed up in my sleep study and the first thing they ordered was blood work, it was OK. They gave me a card with 2 weeks supply of Requip starting with 1/4 mg and graduated to 1mg. It did have horrible side effect until my body adjusted to it. I'm taking 4 mg a day now with no side effects . 1 mg in the morning, 1 in the afternoon and 2 before bed. Actually I split a 2mg for the 2 day doses.
I've never had leg cramps. I've video taped myself with a infra red camcorder and my legs kick quite often thru out the night, it does not wake me to a level of awareness.
If you have RLS I would think you would be having day time episodes, it's terrible.

[Goofproof]

For Restless Legs, I use Members Mark (Sam's Club) Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc, 333mg-133 mg-5mg in one tab.

As far as the leg cramps, that's not RLS. You could be low on Potassium, I'm on Klor-Con M20 @ 2 a day, so I'm covered, you could try it in OTC
form. Jim

[Snoredog]

magnesium.

They might be a little hard to chew:

[SnoozeButton]

Oh, this sounds much better. I would much rather treat myself with supplements rather than some prescription. I thought RLS caused leg cramps and since my sleep study showed that I had RLS...well you can see how my train of thought was going.

[Goofproof]

magnesium.

They might be a little hard to chew:

Not for a Car chasing dog! You just have to remember to catch them while they are stopped at a light, it hurts to bad while they are turning. Jim

[Raj]

I concur about the magnesium, SnoozeB, as low Mg can cause cramps along with a host of other unpleasant symptoms. Too much Mg is equally bad so it's important for your bloodwork to test specifically for a deficiency (which wasn't necessarily included in your latest test). If you happen to be on a diuretic, low potassium could indeed be your problem and that, too, should be confirmed through testing.

Goofproof, I'd be careful about taking calcium in anything more than minimum dosages unless you take in very few dairy products and avoid cruciform veggies -- it's no longer generally recommended for men.

[trice54]

I was not diagnosed with RLS, but I think I have/had a mild case. They did diagnose PLMD, though. The dr. said low iron or low B-12 could contribute to that. Turns out my iron was low, so I was on supplements for that for a while, and it seemed to help what I consider the RLS symptoms. Since it was after the sleep study, I am not sure if it has reduced the PLMD or not.
Trice

[kteague]

As far as PLMD, it can be either a rythmic jerking, kicking or contractions. Mine have changed depending on what meds I was on. While I would occasionally wake with my foot and lower leg "cramped up" briefly it was not with the intensity of charley horses or toe cramps that came with what I knew was deficiencies due water pills. Can be hard to tell the difference sometimes though, except the contractions from PLMD usually release in seconds upon awakening with none of the jumping out of bed and stretching necessary.

Even if one is not fully awakened, one's sleep stages can be disrupted and cause daytime tiredness. What did your sleep study say about if your limb movements caused arousals? Some people's don't, some do. I agree, if you can resolve your symptoms with supplements, that would be best.

[SnoozeButton]

Even if one is not fully awakened, one's sleep stages can be disrupted and cause daytime tiredness. What did your sleep study say about if your limb movements caused arousals? Some people's don't, some do. I agree, if you can resolve your symptoms with supplements, that would be best.

My sleep study showed that I had 153 arousals. Sometimes I do awaken with charley horses in the middle of the night - i.e, severe cramping. But lately it has been more of a continual dull ache (more like I get if I walk a lot) rather than a sudden cramp. The muscles in my calves are often very hard and tight like they would be if I had just worked out in a gym, but I haven't done that. I am taking Benicar HCT for high blood pressure and it has hydrochlorothiazide (the HCT part) in it. I just googled hydrochlorothiazide and it is a diuretic drug, so maybe you have given me my answer to the leg cramps. My blood pressure has been almost on the low side lately (102/65 at the low end and 127/72 on the high end, but mostly in the 112/70 range as an average), so I was planning on going to my doctor soon to see if he would taper me off of the Benicar or give me a script for a different med. I think between losing weight and starting CPAP that my blood pressure is improving and I'm hoping I can get off the BP meds. Could my lower blood pressure cause me to feel tired, too?

[OldLincoln]

A retired doctor (Dr. Gott) has a syndicated column in many daily newspapers and is receptive to home remedies. One he has received a lot of positive responses from is placing a bar of soap (not Dial or Dove) under the bottom sheet near your feet. He can't and doesn't try to explain how or why it works for many, it just does. Here's one quote:
======
Soap therapy cleans up leg cramps
By DR. PETER H. GOTT

DEAR DR. GOTT: I don't know how the soap-under-the-sheet technique works for leg cramps, but it does. I have been diagnosed with restless legs syndrome and, since using the soap therapy, have had no symptoms. I now can sleep through the night for the first time in many years. Thank you for the tip.

DEAR READER: Since I first published this remedy for nocturnal leg cramps, I have received dozens of letters from readers who endorsed this novel approach.

Recently, I also received mail from patients with restless legs syndrome, a serious and uncomfortable disorder of unknown cause. These RLS patients have had success with the soap.

Although it would be irresponsible of me to endorse this as a cure for RLS, the initial responses have been overwhelming. I'll update you in a future column as I receive more feedback from readers.

To review the technique briefly for people who may have missed previous columns, here is what to do: Take a bar of soap (large or small, new or used, but no Dial or Dove) and place it under the bottom sheet of the bed in the area of the feet and legs. Go to sleep and see what happens. If you sleep, undisturbed by leg cramps or RLS for a full night, let me know. Of course, write me if the technique is ineffective. I'm looking for honest and objective analyses.
http://www.reallans.com/mmml.shtml?/002240.shtml
==============
Another item of interest is his "No Flower, No Sugar Diet". It's simple but apparently works primarily by reducing fat causing foods from the diet. One comment said is not so much a diet as a life style change.

Googling "Dr. Gott" will lead you down his path. Since he's next to the comics I read it every day I get a paper.

[kteague]

SnoozeButton, maybe your doc could spot check you with a chemical profile that would include sodium and potassium. I'm not sure about checking magnesium. Too low blood pressure can cause weakness, but I don't know what is too low.

Some with leg cramps have reported drinking pickle juice and all other kinds of quick fixes. As to the soap, Ivory is the brand most mentioned. When I was transitioning meds I had 4 bars under my sheet by my feet and legs. I felt they actually did inexplicably take the edge off. I have also taken supplements - trying to do everything I can to help myself. But my movements have been incredibly severe at times, and meds are my best option.

Best wishes in sorting out how to best help yourself.

[nonono]

Hi I don't know if this will work for you,
but you might want to try.
Is there any one at home with you? if so, would they be willing to help you?
have them rub your legs nice and soft, to help relax you, I have very bad leg cramps if I stand to long are sit.
but when they get really bad I have my husband rub them and my feet, it helps me to relax my whole body and the cramps
seem to go away and I don't wake up as much with leg cramps, and as far as food go cut out salt as much as possible.
and you might try to ware those leg tights you can get them at a medical supply or sometimes at a
Target, Walmart
well may God be with you and help you to find the help you need.
nonono

[ca_hosehead]

I had a problem with restless legs, but I got it under control.

Calcium/Magnesium is your best bet considering that you have leg cramps as well.

This formulation http://www.calmag.com/ or something similar. It needs to have both in the right balance and an acidic base to help absorption. Take it before bed every night.

-- Eliminate caffeine or set a cutoff point early in the day. I find it takes me 12 full hours to process out caffeine. Some are sensitive and shouldn't have it at all. As you age your ability to process it out gets worse and worse.
-- CPAP. Chronic tiredness keeps my body constantly keyed up. Better sleep helps with this over time.
-- PMR (Progressive Muscle Relaxation)
-- Iron supplements. (I did not test low for iron before or after the supplements.) There was some effect right away and then it gradually got better over several months. Don't go crazy with it as you can overdose (iron levels can go too high, which can cause problems).

Hard to pinpoint which one did it. It got gradually better over about 3-4 months while I was doing all of these.