Does anyone else suffer with restless legs? And have you found anything that helps?

[MikkieG]

[Speshul]

Yes!! I have suffered with restless legs on and off for years and it was particularly strong during both my pregnancies. Reading other posts looks like magnesium helps as well as tonic water which has quinine in it. From my own personal experience, mine always happens in the evenings or at night in bed. I have to get up and do something to break the sensation, if that means anything to you! So I get up out of bed and walk down stairs, have a banana (not sure why but it seems to help me) walk back upstairs and then depending on how strong it is I either lie on my back and slowly lift my legs in turn, and then bend them whilst they are up in the air, or do some squatting exercises. I also find that I need to avoid chocolate at certain points during my cycle as this increases my restless legs (again, don't know why).

[MikkieG in reply to Speshul]

Mine tends to happen in the evenings too, I get a throbbing sensation and occasionally a pins and needle type feeling. I also tend to jerk a lot when I'm laying in bed, sometimes I jerk so much my whole body shakes and wakes my partner up. Also, does anyone feel like they need to constantly bend their legs? It feels weird behind my knees if that makes sense? I went to my doctors and she said it was normal, so it doesn't look like I'll get any help there! I might give the magnesium a try then, thanks

[Speshul in reply to MikkieG]

Yup that's why I end up doing squatting exercises as it's relieves the sensation. My poor hubbie has had a couple of kicks from me in the past!! Docs been no help to me either as it's not a regular occurrence and only at certain times of my cycle for me. Thanks Brownlow for the magnesium info, will try the baths.

[Brownlow]

Imbalance between potassium, magnesium and calcium could be the cause usually with calcium high in relation to magnesium. Eat magnesium rich foods or take magnesium citrate supplements to deal with it in the short term until you adjust your diet. Bananas have a lot of potassium and that's why they help.

Taking magnesium baths is also suggested but I do not know if these are effective. Either Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate) or magnesium chloride flakes.

More info if you google e.g.

umm.edu/health/medical/altm...