Jumping legs!

[KenbrookLondon]

My husband was diagnosed with grade 2. PD 3 years ago. He is doing pretty well on sinemet. The main problem is jumping legs, either one. Usually late in the day. This is apparently Repetitive Limb Movement and Sinemet is also a drug for this but it can make it worse. Does anyone else have this? It is usually from the ankle to the toes, stretching and pointing the toes as if a ballet dancer every 12-18 seconds. It is notTestless Leg Syndrome. It wakes him up or prevents him from going to sleep. I think being sedentary does not help, for example travelling. Sometimes it occurs just before the Sinemet dose, sometimes 25 or so minutes after. It is erratic and it is difficult to see a pattern. Any help or suggestions would be gratefully received!

[Bailey_Texas]

It is like rest leg and requip can help ask your Dr.

[KenbrookLondon in reply to Bailey_Texas]

Thank you for this suggestion

[Alphriver]

It sounds like a well-known side effect of sinemet. I have this at various times, sometimes as the dose is wearing off, at peak dose at other times...

My neurologist at Guys has varied the dose and frequency, and sometimes this helps, sometimes not! I often find myself standing on one leg while the other foot twists and points spasmodically. I must admit, I am learning to deal with it by trying -very difficult sometimes - to keep moving, walking about and so on.

I take Stalevo (levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone) 5 times a day, Half Sinemet CR each night, and Ropinerole once a ady.

Go back to your PD specialist and have a chat.

[KenbrookLondon in reply to Alphriver]

Thank you so much. His specialist has suggested trying patches but F is very against agonists if at all possible. Last night the only thing that helped was Paracetamol 500. Do you find any particular foods are a no no? I agree, keeping moving does seem to help, but is not ideal in the middle of the night! CR simply does not work for him.

We very much appreciate your help

[Alphriver in reply to KenbrookLondon]

The only difference food makes is, I believe, the absorbtion of the meds. I haven't noticed any great effect!

[Bailey_Texas in reply to KenbrookLondon]

I don't know why his DR, does want not to use agonists they are very helpful it stops my legs from moving at night. I take 1 6 mg of Requip 24 hour every day.

[cflloyd]

You might look into magnesium. I'm sorry that I can't give you more information, but I have read that it can help with the muscle contractions. I did find magnesium cream that I rubbed on my husbands legs and it seemed to help some. I have also seen some recipes for herbal tea and adding powdered magnesium was in the recipe.

[KenbrookLondon in reply to cflloyd]

Thank you for your reply - unfortunately magnesium, either as a supplement or as a cream or oil, has no effect.

[silvestrov in reply to KenbrookLondon]

Which forms did you take? If one was an oil it was magnesium chloride.

[KenbrookLondon in reply to silvestrov]

It was Magnesiun Citrate supplement 150mg which he has now increased to 225mg. The oil was magnesium chloride

[Astra7]

I had this. Could not lie in my back without my left foot twitching down until the toes were all curled over and tense. So unpleasant. I started on 250mg magnesium before bed every night and it was much (80%) improved. Since then I was diagnosed and added azilect and then NAC. Toes are around 98% relaxed now.

Just got that 2% to remind me!

[KenbrookLondon in reply to Astra7]

Thank you! He has increased the magnesium from 150mg to 225mg and takes 1 X NAC in the morning. It just does not seem to follow any pattern at all

[silvestrov in reply to KenbrookLondon]

More magnesium is better. The amount you are taking is still below the RDA for magnesium. The best form of magnesium for neurological conditions is magnesium threonate. It was made for Alzheimer's and it rapidly penetrats the blood brain barrier and central nervous system. I take the following brand because it is the best buy on the web:

rakuten.com/prod/absorb-hea...

[KenbrookLondon in reply to silvestrov]

While checking on this I came across

drperlmutter.com/magnesium-...

Dr David Perlmutter recommends it - His book, The Better Brain Book, has a good chapter on Parkinson's

Hope this may help others.

[silvestrov in reply to KenbrookLondon]

I have tried magnesium oxide, magnesium malate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, magnesium chloride and magnesium threonate and I think the last 2 are the best. Magnesium threonate will enhance memory and cognitive abilities whilst magnesium chloride can be used for the detoxification of heavy metals - so I use both.

Here is an article about the use of magnesium chloride for heavy metal detoxification:

vitamindwiki.com/Magnesium+...

[KenbrookLondon in reply to silvestrov]

Thank you so much. That's most helpful. Will try everything!

[KenbrookLondon]

Thank you for this suggestion.

[Beckey]

Clonazepan helped me with all sleep problems, including restless leg.

[KenbrookLondon in reply to Beckey]

He takes 2 a night already and I don't think it makes any difference at all!

[Beckey in reply to KenbrookLondon]

Wow! Well, the other thing that worked for me was oxycodone. I used to take 5 mg. an hour or so before I hit the sack. I just got tired of the side effects -- dry mouth especially.