Do you suffer like 5 million other people with restless leg syndrome? Many people who have not dealt with this problem do not think it’s real. It is a neurological disorder that is under-studied and poorly understood. It’s an ‘orphan disease,’ meaning there are not enough people with the disorder to make further research profitable.
But people with this condition will tell you that it is very real. Very, very real. They suffer with the tortuous effects of restless legs continually. Many, like myself, have been unable to find help – something, anything, that will relieve the nightly agony. How many tears of pain and frustration have been shed? How much explaining to doctors and loved ones? How many remedies have been tried? How many sleepless nights searching the internet for answers?
It all started in my mid-30s which is typical. But at the same time, I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Here lies the first of my dilemmas. Is this restless leg due to age and heredity or the brain injury? Does it make a difference? I have come to the conclusion through much research that it really doesn’t matter. The symptoms and so-called treatments are the same.
The general symptoms of restless leg syndrome are (taken from National Institute of Neurological Disorders ):
- People with RLS feel uncomfortable sensations in their legs, especially when sitting or lying down, accompanied by an irresistible urge to move the affected limb. Because moving the legs (or other affected parts of the body) relieves the discomfort, people with RLS often keep their legs in motion to minimize or prevent the sensations. They may pace the floor, constantly move their legs while sitting, and toss and turn in bed.
- A classic feature of RLS is that the symptoms are worse at night with a distinct symptom-free period in the early morning, allowing for more refreshing sleep at that time. Other triggering situations are periods of inactivity such as long car trips, sitting in a movie theater, long-distance flights, immobilization in a cast, or relaxation exercises. Many individuals also note a worsening of symptoms if their sleep is further reduced by events or activity.
- RLS symptoms may vary from day to day and in severity and frequency from person to person. Individuals with mild RLS may have some disruption of sleep onset and minor interference in daytime activities. In moderately severe cases, symptoms occur only once or twice a week but result in significant delay of sleep onset, with some disruption of daytime function. In severe cases of RLS, the symptoms occur more than twice a week and result in burdensome interruption of sleep and impairment of daytime function.
- Individuals with RLS can sometimes experience remissions—spontaneous improvement over a period of weeks or months before symptoms reappear—usually during the early stages of the disorder. In general, however, symptoms become more severe over time.
- People who have both RLS and an associated medical condition tend to develop more severe symptoms rapidly. In contrast, those who have RLS that is not related to any other condition and experience onset at an early age show a very slow progression of the disorder; many years may pass before symptoms occur regularly.
I have tried everything to relieve this torture: quinine, magnesium, niacin, gabapentin, herbal treatment for restless leg, wrapping, rubbing, heat, cold, soaking, exercise, no exercise, elevation, diet, immobilization, massage, iron supplements, pain relievers, different drugs for rls, acupuncture, even medical marijuana. At one point it was so bad that I thought maybe if my leg was broken that would help. I was crazy and asked my husband to run over my leg with his car. That’s how insane this thing is sometimes!
I think I have found a solution that I have never read about in all of the research.
I have been testing this for about 6 weeks or so and it has worked every time. Restless Leg is a weird syndrome since what works for many will not work for you – I say that because of the many things I have tried. The experts will suggest B vitamins. Did that to no avail. But one night I noticed that when I woke up with rls that it went away quickly when I drank a bunch of PowerAde. I thought at first that it was the sudden infusion of liquid – maybe dehydration was causing the creepy rls. But then I ran out of PowerAde so I tried Gatorade. That didn’t work. So, what’s the difference between the two? B vitamins! PowerAde has them,. Gatorade does not. Eureka! Right away I ordered some Vitamin B complex. It doesn’t work if you just take it as a supplement during the day. The SECRET is taking it right when you feel the rls coming on. You know the feeling. I take just one tablet
Super B Complex
I haven’t finished my experiment – I am going to try sublingual B complex. That way it will get in your system even faster. As of now, taking the B complex is working – longer than anything I have ever tried.
It’s worth a try for you. Inexpensive and easy. Even 6 weeks of relief helps your whole outlook on life! It can’t hurt to try (although I am not a doctor, there are side effects – http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA50582/can-too-much-vitamin-B-cause-problems.html, http://www.newhealthguide.org/Vitamin-B-Complex-Side-Effects.html). Please let me know your thoughts on this. Have you tried it? Did it work for you? If it doesn’t work for you, what does?
