Restless legs

[Firefoot]

Has anyone had restless legs?

I started getting it two weeks ago and it really is uncomfortable. It gets much worse at night and I have trouble getting to sleep. If I wiggle my feet around it relieves it for a few minutes (sometimes only seconds), then the feeling creeps back again.

Can anyone share their experience of it?

[frit]

Id suggest putting the flames out

[goldblum]

OP - Have you recently started doing more exercise for your legs?

[Firefoot]

I am not doing anything different to normal exercise-wise. I stopped taking citalopram medication a few weeks back and have been wondering if this could be related.

[kentmotorcompany]

You are Karl Pilkington AICMFP.

[sl0wlane]

I too am suffering from this.. almost tingles like my legs need a stretch.

Sounds almost funny and doesn't really feel unpleasant but it is disturbing my sleep somewhat.

[goldblum]

Firefoot said:

I am not doing anything different to normal exercise-wise. I stopped taking citalopram medication a few weeks back and have been wondering if this could be related.

There's a theory that restless legs may be the effect of capillarisation, ie you take up running and at night the blood vessels in the legs undergo growth.. but in your case obviously not. Could well be citalopram withdrawal.

Edited by goldblum on Wednesday 12th September 14:40

[ehonda]

This won't help at all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6gI7CHYRrU

[BuzzLightyear]

The OH gets this sometimes and finds raising her feet above chest level helps.

I have also heard that certain foods help, such as bananas (potassium levels?) but not sure about that one.

[King Herald]

Google 'restless leg syndrome'. It was on the TV commercials in the USA a lot a couple of years ago. There was some drug supposed to stop it.

I occasionally get it when I'm too hot in bed.

I also get it if the wife throws an arm over me at night, get this horrible feeling I need to shake it off and have a quick 'wiggle' of freedom, but that's just me....

[Jonathan27]

Firefoot said:

I am not doing anything different to normal exercise-wise. I stopped taking citalopram medication a few weeks back and have been wondering if this could be related.

I get this quite often, but never looked in to it (I assumed that it was just me being odd). But as it happens I have had it a lot since starting to take citalopram.

[Firefoot]

BuzzLightyear said:

The OH gets this sometimes and finds raising her feet above chest level helps.

I have also heard that certain foods help, such as bananas (potassium levels?) but not sure about that one.

Sounds worth a try

[Firefoot]

sl0wlane said:

I too am suffering from this.. almost tingles like my legs need a stretch.

Sounds almost funny and doesn't really feel unpleasant but it is disturbing my sleep somewhat.

Mine feels like something is crawling around inside my feet and lower legs. Really unpleasant sensation. Glad to hear yours doesn't sound like it's too unpleasant, but it's bad enough to disturb your sleep which is not good.

Looking up restless leg syndrome as suggested by King Herald shows that dopamine is used in severe cases, not sure I would want to resort to that. Hopefully mine is just from the Citalopram withdrawal and will vanish soon

[Driller]

Do any of you that have this go running regularly?

[goldblum]

Yes, occasionally. Sometimes quite severe cramps in only one calf as well.

[Driller]

Absolutely not stirring but I'd be very interested to know what regular running (or similar) did for this problem.

Logic being: tire the muscles out and they're less likely to do their own thing.

[dave_s13]

I've read somewhere that magnesium supplements can help.

You can also try drinking tonic water in the evening for the quinine.

It can sometimes be a medication side effect, in which case you are stuck with it unless you stop the medication.

[james_gt3rs]

kentmotorcompany said:

You are Karl Pilkington AICMFP.

That's what I thought

[goldblum]

Driller said:

Absolutely not stirring but I'd be very interested to know what regular running (or similar) did for this problem.

Logic being: tire the muscles out and they're less likely to do their own thing.

You'd have thought so..but it seemed to happen to me when I upped my regular mileage to prepare for a race. The twitch is a nerve thing with me but I'm stumped as to why it happens.

[Chilli]

I've had it for years! I used to gym everyday and be knackered for bedtime...made no difference. I've tried the magnesium and other things, made no difference! I've learnt to live with it. Hvae you ever tried to resist the urge and think you can beat it?! Yep, I gave up after a minute or so too!
I would say that you get used to it. It doesn't bother me to the point where I can no longer sleep, but a quick stretch of the legs and a bit of rolling around, and I'm soon off to sleep. I used to have to sleep upright which seemed to relieve it.