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rapid leg and arm movement whilst sleeping

dch252 profile image
13 Replies

Hi Everyone,

For a little while I have suffering kicking like leg movements and to a lesser extent arm movements and vocalisations whilst sleeping and dreaming.

This is quite alarming to my wife! I have suggested that I sleep separately but she doesn’t want that.

Has anyone in the group suffered similar things? I am not even sure it is connected to my PA, but I trust this group. Is there any treatment?

Thank you.

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dch252 profile image
dch252
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13 Replies
Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

It's not something I am familiar with but I do remember having restless legs. What you are describing sounds completely different and I would get it checked out. I hope sombody else can give you advice.

I have just found this link which you might find of interest......

aans.org/en/Patients/Neuros...

Showgem profile image
Showgem in reply to Jillymo

pre diagnosis of PA and injections I had these problems during sleep, a few years now of regular b12 injections and I very rarely have them now.

I was very interested in the link. I had some of the things discussed in the article and thought I might have the onset of Parkinson’s Disease.

I had both long standing iron/ ferritin deficiency and extremely low b12. One of the problems that return if I don’t have b12 injections often enough is the dystonia like symptoms.

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo in reply to Showgem

It most certainly make's me wonder how many have been wrongly diagnosed. I upped my injections and feel so much better for it.

KBird01 profile image
KBird01

This happened to me last week! Just the once, but was such a strong reflex in my leg it jerked me awake. It was definitely different to the myoclonic sleep starts we all get sometimes.

I watched a video from a sports nutritionist recently, which mentions a woman kicking her husband at night! It appears she had an iron deficiency. Here's the link:

youtube.com/watch?v=PtczW43...

I'm currently treating low ferritin, so wondered if this was what I'd experienced too. Haven't had it since, but I started on my B12 and iron regime a couple of days later...

I'll be interested to see what other people suggest too. 😊

Marlboro123 profile image
Marlboro123

I suffer from this and have for the past 3 years. My neuro suggested it was possible that it was REM sleep disorder. In my case i knocked of bedside lamps, kicked and punched the air as i fought of attackers and shouted. In one case i thought i was throwing a ball and my wife said i was sat bolt upright throwing imaginary objects. This is not in any way connected with sleep walking as it is only during REM sleep that this condition manifests itself. It is caused by a faulty switch that is supposed to immobilse the body during REM, thereby protecting the body from harm during dreams. This is a difficult symptom for both the sufferer and bed partner as harm can be done to yourself or partner. I also suffer from restless legs which is different but classed as a sleep disorder. Although the neuro could not confirm that the on off switch has been affected by my b12 problem he has said he keeps an open mind on the issue.Luckily the Neuro prescribed me Gabapentin which has not only reduced my restless legs but has stopped the REM sleep problem along with reducing the electrical generator that runs out of control in my head. Combined with self injection i am sleeping better but some nights neuropathic pain sets of random jerks and electric shocks. Have you seen a neuro? Or see whether you can talk to your g.p about Gabapentin. Take care of yourself .

Showgem profile image
Showgem in reply to Marlboro123

interestingly I’ve found that Gabapentin has helped lessen the painful feet and toes I experience at night. I was prescribed it following a fall where I injured my hip and pelvis some months ago. The hospital physiotherapist said this shows that the pain is from nerve damage and my GP has agreed to keep prescribing it.

I still have partially numb feet but the pain at night and stops me from sleeping well so I’m hoping once the hip and pelvic pain goes I get to sleep better.

dch252 profile image
dch252

Thank you I’ll try that.

KBird01 profile image
KBird01

Just been rummaging on here to research iron doses and found there's a restless legs syndrome forum. Might be worth checking in with them?

healthunlocked.com/rlsuk

KBird01 profile image
KBird01 in reply to KBird01

 dch252 Here's also some of the info from rls-uk.org

Does this sound like your symptoms?

"- Symptoms usually affects both legs but can affect other body parts too."

"In addition, most individuals with RLS have limb jerking during sleep, referred to as Periodic Limb Movements (PLM), an objective physiologic marker of the disorder which is associated with sleep disruption."

Dilly_blue profile image
Dilly_blue

You should definitely get a referral, as it does sound like it might possibly be rem-related sleep disorder. In the meantime you should make sure that there is nothing near your bed when you sleep that could be dangerous if wielded as a weapon - bed partners of people with rem-related sleep disorder can sometimes be injured (sometimes very seriously so). My partner has had episodes like this, and has ended up kicking me or hitting me (while he is sleeping) as he is acting out a dream that he is fighting off attackers. We have found that if he is getting broken sleep, or is under a lot of pressure / stress, then it is worse. He has not had an episode for a long time - but he has been getting much better sleep for the last couple of years.

As well as very promptly seeking medical advice, if you can reduce stress in your life, and make sure you are getting plenty of good quality sleep so avoid alcohol, avoid/ reduce caffeine, and follow all the other guidelines for good sleep, and ask your partner to see if you are snoring / gasping / stopping breathing during sleep (just to see if there is any sleep apnoea that might be reducing the quality/ amount of sleep that you get) - then these things might help a bit in the meantime.

Just as a note - the advice about reducing stress and getting better quality / quantity of sleep is perhaps not something that the medical profession would suggest in this context, but we have definitely found that incidences of it have significantly reduced when he has managed to do this, and when he is getting very broken sleep (due to eg child waking up lots in the night, or painful back/ shoulder stopping him sleeping, or reduced sleep due to work stress), then it tended to happen more. But definitely go to the doctor and ask for a referral.. good luck

Dilly_blue profile image
Dilly_blue

oh, and we switched to a superking bed (approx 2m wide) which has really helped (in terms of reducing disturbance for each of us, and improving sleep quality, but also as I am no longer in quite such easy reach if he does start kicking)..

Rexz profile image
Rexz

This sounds very much like iron deficiency. With a confirmed diagnosis of PA/AIG it is known that one of the malabsorption issues is iron. Have your serum iron levels checked. The symptoms of iron deficiency are:

Restless Leg Syndrome, and others fatigue, heart palpitations, brittle nails, hair loss...

wishing you the best, Rexz

dch252 profile image
dch252

Thanks everyone for your replies and support. I have an appointment with my GP on Monday so we’ll see how it goes.

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