Restless legs

[Opre]

Any tips here for relieving restless legs?

[trevnfi98 Graduate]

I get this but i call it irritable leg syndrome lol. I associate it with being tired and its getting worse as i get older. It occurs when i'm sitting down and at night, so I either either get up and do something or ust go to bed.

[trevnfi98 Graduate]

nhs.uk/conditions/Restless-...

[Opre in reply to trevnfi98]

Thanks for the link

[farawaytree74 Graduate]

I had restless legs a few years ago and went to the doctors. I had a blood test and my ferritin levels were so low they were almost off the scale. I was put on iron tablets and almost immediately the restless legs stopped. I sometimes get twitchy legs especially after running and I find a few gentle yoga stretches do the trick 😊

[Sarah-A Graduate]

I've never had a problem with this, but i've heard it can be down to insufficient hydration. Not sure - but maybe worth having an extra pint of water..?

I hope you find a solution!

[Soaked_Alien]

I have heard tonic water before bed help with both this and cramp.

[Opre in reply to Soaked_Alien]

Going to try this. Thank you

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

It is so ironic that when we run, we ask ourselves why we are doing this and long to walk. Before we set off and on running rest days, we dream of running and imagine where we would go with longing! Antidote for restless legs? Pour over the posts in the forum, trawl through You Tube for clips all about running. If that fails, how about another form of exercise - cycling is great, swimming or even walking. I have even tried step aerobics, there are some great clips available

[runningphobe_no_more Graduate]

I used to suffer terribly from them - but it's got much much better since I started running...

[davelinks Graduate]

Could it be iron deficiency anaemia as mentioned on the NHS site?

[Opre in reply to davelinks]

I have been prescribed this in past will try supplements again. Thank you

[flossieflyblow Graduate]

Hi, Opre! If you're female definitely check with GP and insist he/she check your haemoglobin and, very importantly, your ferritin levels. These check the amount of iron in your bloodstream and your iron stores. People (myself included) with either are very prone to restless legs. I'm much, much better now this has been corrected but occasionally still get them. I find that if I keep my legs cool at night (i.e. no PJ bottoms: sorry too much information!!!!) that helps dramatically. As trevnfi98 says, I also get them when tired. Cure is to do something or go to bed. Also I take a magnesium supplement at night if I've had a 'run' of restless legs and I find that helps too. Anything better than your legs crawling around the bed all night!! Oh, yes, and the yoga-type stretches are good, too. Hope very much this helps!

[Opre in reply to flossieflyblow]

Thanks for this. 15 years ago I went with a friend to yoga and noticed my restless legs had eased. I ll try this again and the magnesium. Never tried that before. Thank you.