Holistic Remedies for Restless Legs and PLMD

[tqpannie]

As part of my diagnosis I have been put on Klonopine for restless legs and also to help me fall asleep. I've tried a product called Restful legs and it helps some what but last night I had a terrible night with my legs and leaks in my mask. I'm not sure if there is a comparison to make between the two.

So has anyone tried any natural treatments for restless leg and PLMD?

[kteague]

Quite a few of us here deal with RLS and/or PLMD in addition to OSA. It makes it hard to tell which one is causing poor sleep. I personally think my best move was following my data and assuring my OSA was therapeutically treated so I could be reasonably sure residual sleep issues and daytime symptoms were limb movement related. My ferritin level was in the lower end of the normal range, and those with limb movement disorders like this are generally advised to keep their ferritin level on the upper end of the normal range. I take some vitamins and supplements, to include iron and magnesium. At one time I was doing warm foot soaks in the evening - my sleep doc recommended that. I have taken several of the commonly prescribed meds over several years, but for the past 2 years I have controlled my legs solely by using a TENS Unit before bedtime.

[deltadave]

However, I think I'd be a little careful about taking mineral supplements. Too much iron ends up in your heart, and magnesium has purging effects which might upset your electrolytes.

[Todzo]

As part of my diagnosis I have been put on Klonopine for restless legs and also to help me fall asleep. I've tried a product called Restful legs and it helps some what but last night I had a terrible night with my legs and leaks in my mask. I'm not sure if there is a comparison to make between the two.

So has anyone tried any natural treatments for restless leg and PLMD?

Hi tqpannie!

I strive to walk the recommended 10,000 steps a day. Last workout with my PT she ran my legs to exhaustion on the machines then put me on the treadmill and ramped me up to nearly maximum heart rate for ten minutes. This was to keep the lactic acid produced by the exhaustion from being able to stay in my muscles which would make them sore the next day. This worked great!

I am simply wondering if using the legs a lot more would help.

If you are able and do try this out please let us know.

Thanks!

Todzo

[VVV]

... if a patient has a serum ferritin level below 50, medical research has shown that it can cause or worsen RLS. So if the patient has problems with RLS it is recommended to supplement with ferrous sulfate to achieve and maintain a ferritin level of 50.

See also - http://www.rls.org/Document.Doc?&id=1296

But you should not guess about this. Have a blood test to check your serum ferritin (iron) level and if it is below 50 supplement with ferrous sulfate as indicated in the linked document. Make sure to follow up with another blood test because you don't want to have an excess serum ferritin level.

Supplementation with ferrous sulfate (iron) cured my RLS. My beginning level was 22.

[VVV]

I am simply wondering if using the legs a lot more would help.

Medical science says moderate exercise may provide some relief but it is not a cure.

No exercise and vigorous exercise may make RLS worse.

[deltadave]

But you should not guess about this.

Right!

You don't want no Hemochromo...

Hemakroma...

Chromahema...

[kteague]

Just adding my support for the comments about the wisdom of being informed about your personal needs and not just randomly adding supplements to your routine. I was prescribed potassium and iron by my doctor based on blood tests, and recommended to take magnesium at a much larger dose than I actually take.

[Todzo]

I am simply wondering if using the legs a lot more would help.

Medical science says moderate exercise may provide some relief but it is not a cure.

No exercise and vigorous exercise may make RLS worse.

would love a reference to the studies

[kteague]

I am simply wondering if using the legs a lot more would help.

Medical science says moderate exercise may provide some relief but it is not a cure.

No exercise and vigorous exercise may make RLS worse.

would love a reference to the studies

I have seen some studies on this in the past, but can't readily find them. At any rate, I doubt there's a one-size-fits-all solution for either RLS or PLMD, especially considering how many possibilities for cause of the symptoms are suggested. (dopamine, circulation, nerve damage, kidney failure, iron deficiency, medication side effect... just to name some) What could help one may hurt another.

[stage0]

I have only heard the Quinine will help relieve RLS

http://www.progressivehealth.com/RLS-quinine.htm

never tried it

[lullaby]

After more than a year on CPAP with great stats but still really tired through the day, i visted my sleep doc yesterday to review my latest sleep study results. I've been fairly certain that PLMD was the cause of my daytime tiredness as my wife kept telling me about my jerking, twitching legs throught the night. My sleep doc is a stickler for proven results only and never really wanted to discuss plmd with me until the results were in. He also thought i was still too young to have plmd (i'm in my mid 40's mind you). Well, the sleep study did indicate leg movements (not a huge amount) so my sleep doc finally relented and has prescribed Sinemet for me. I'm hoping that this may help with the leg issues and i can finally get some restful sleep. Guess i should also have another blood study to check my ferratin levels.

[VVV]

I have only heard the Quinine will help relieve RLS

http://www.progressivehealth.com/RLS-quinine.htm

never tried it

Prescription strength quinine is a wonderful treatment for RLS. But how do you propose it be obtained?

There are a few off-label use of quinine and one of these is in the treatment of restless leg syndrome. However, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has since banned quinine for this use.

(The amount of quinine allowed in beverages and supplements is miniscule and therefore ineffective.)

[deltadave]

Prescription strength quinine is a wonderful treatment for RLS. But how do you propose it be obtained?

Tell them you have malaria?

[TheUglyTruth]

As part of my diagnosis I have been put on Klonopine for restless legs and also to help me fall asleep. I've tried a product called Restful legs and it helps some what but last night I had a terrible night with my legs and leaks in my mask. I'm not sure if there is a comparison to make between the two.

So has anyone tried any natural treatments for restless leg and PLMD?

You can look on the internet and see many claims that certain home remedies cured RLS. What happens is that many people try these remedies and make enthusiastic reports that they work. But then a week, a month or a year later they figure out they are just as exhausted as before and that the remedy did not work. But they don't go back and update their previous enthusiastic reports.

My advice: Don't waste your time with home remedies. Do follow good sleep hygiene practices, good diet, moderate exercise, optimize salt intake, drink three glasses of water daily, have your blood-iron level and other electrolytes checked, and make sure CPAP is working well.

I also don't like Klonopin for treatment of RLS. You should works with your doctor to try some different drugs that are not addictive. But be careful because all of them have bad side effects.