Restless legs

[Mustkeepgoing]

No sleep last night legs felt restless all night and still this morning, any on else's suffer with this, is it conected to running?

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate]

I get this as well. I think for me it's linked to adrenalin and excitement at doing something physical late on in the day. I also lay off the caffeine from about 5pm. There's noing worse than trying to get to sleep and it eluding you. Maybe a warm relaxing bath would help? Or could you use deep heat rub or someone similar on them. Ill be interested to see what others put on here.

[Rignold in reply to Sparkyifhungry]

5pm? I don't do caffeine after midday unless I hav a late one planned.

OP - why not get up and go for a run, then? I often do this if I find myself tossing and turning with insomnia - when my mind is whirring with a worry or just won't switch off. Usually I don't run far at all, 2 or 3k generally, although sometimes 5 and once I literally ran till dawn, covering 23k, although that was a massive exception to the rule. I did feel awesome all the next day even though I had not slept. But usually I go out for a short fast run and come home and fall straight to sleep. Beats counting sheep any day, or night.

[flossieflyblow Graduate]

Oh yes!! For me it's not linked to running but I didn't start running till having stopped having periods. I discovered that it was linked to having low iron stores. First had very bad restless legs when pregnant with first child. This was because of haemodilution which you get by all having to supply the baby, placenta, uterus etc.

Then later I had Restless legs on and off for years. In my 40s I discovered that I had low iron stores which I must have had for years without knowing and a course of iron tablets cured it. If you have heavy periods or have had a heavy blood loss at some time it's possible this could be a problem and maybe the exertion of running has exacerbated it? If you think that's the case ask to have your blood checked at the GP. But make sure that they check your Ferritin (iron stores) as well as your Hb (haemoglobin) as you can have a normal Hb but a very low ferritin.

Important: don't take high dose iron tablets without your GP supervising you because high iron can be dangerous!

When I'm very tired I occasionally get Restless legs and find a magnesium tablet once a day seems to help.

It's a wierd and not well understood condition!! Hope this helps.

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate]

Right I'm off to boots for iron and magnesium tablets. I was going to mention the paracetamol, but didn't want to sound like a druggy!! Thanks for the suggestions, keep em coming ......

[flossieflyblow Graduate in reply to Sparkyifhungry]

Sparky, please read what I posted below. Do be careful!! Maybe try the magnesium tablets first?

[misswobble Graduate]

Yes. I've answered quite a few posts about it. I gave the funny feeling in my legs at night post run as "electric legs" i felt they were charged with current running through them

My husband reckoned it was a sign that things were happening for me and my running legs had woken up. it's not been detrimental in any way and it did ease off once i began to run more regularly and my legs toughened up

[Heggers Graduate]

I've got it right now!! It runs in my family... Grandad,mum ,brother, me and my son. My mum swears by aspirin but I find walking around helps. I get it when I've had a drink (might have just knocked back a bottle of wine....) And when my legs get hot in tights. So off to bed with nice cool sheets I go. Good luck.

[flossieflyblow Graduate in reply to Heggers]

Yes, I've been known to rip socks and shoes off to get my feet and legs really cold!

[flossieflyblow Graduate]

I think that you can still buy 200mg tablets of ferrous sulphate over the counter. Please remember that it is possible to overdo iron and that it really can be dangerous. Get your GP or Practice Nurse to check your Hb and Ferritin as I mentioned above.

Whilst I'm at it, iron tends to be poorly absorbed. Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron so take vit C or eat an orange. Also, if I remember rightly, tea and coffee and dairy products chelate iron. In other words they bind with the iron and make it unavailable to the body, so avoid taking it with tea, coffee, dairy. Most supplements provide you with a very small amount of iron so it;s a good excuse to eat red meat and offal!

All best!

[Heggers Graduate in reply to flossieflyblow]

Ooo yes, iron is difficult to absorb. When I was pregnant I had to take iron tablets and the midwives said drink a glass of orange with the tabs as it makes you constipated and your poo black (not sure we need to know that!!!). I might try iron though (or stop drinking). On the IC for nearly 6 weeks now, so justified I think!!!

[flossieflyblow Graduate in reply to Heggers]

Ah yes! Black poo! Great isn't it?!! (Don't forget, take it under supervision!!)

Sorry about the IC- what a complete drag. 6 weeks.......aaarrgghhhh!

[Heggers Graduate in reply to flossieflyblow]

You said it. 'Miserable' doesn't even come close. But good luck to you floss. Keep moving and less twitching. X

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to flossieflyblow]

You can't take iron tablets with eggs either.. I am another one. My iron dropped a bit further when starting running. like you say always best to get it checked that way the GP monitors you as it is always better to have a base starting level then they can check the iron levels are actually going up. But restless legs always tells me when they have dipped a bit..

[flossieflyblow Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Ah ha; it was you RFC that I have been thinking of! We must have had a similar conversation 18 mths ago! You found a really useful article about iron stores and anaemia, I think!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to flossieflyblow]

Yes that was me. I have had a little root around and found it again. It's a good article.

runningwritings.com/2011/11...

[flossieflyblow Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Shazam!! That was it! You're brilliant for finding it again! Thanks.

[flossieflyblow Graduate]

Hope it helps! Have just written a bit more down the page about taking iron supplements!