Another disturbed night - restless legs driving me insane. I get a horrible tingling sensation in my legs and cannot keep them still. I’m not overweight, get plenty of exercise, practice yoga, don’t have caffeine at all and only the occasional glass of wine at the weekend. Is this associated with PMR or is it a side effect of pred? I was offered amytriptyline, but not really keen to take any more medication on top of the pred, lefluminide, alendronic acid and a statin.
Any advice much appreciated by myself and my marriage!!!
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artisam
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Restless legs can happen with and without PMR or pred and none of your medications are associated with RLS.
However, research suggests some forms of RLS can be due to magnesium deficiency and that isn't uncommon with pred. It is probably worth trying magnesium supplements or foot baths with Epsom salts before bed. There are also sprays and oils for topical application.
Thank you, I had heard that before. If taking the supplement, does it make any difference the time of day you take it. I have a vague recollection of reading that taking magnesium at night aids sleep, but I may have made that up or be confusing it with something else🙄
Trouble is you have to post before you can see them… the search facility is a bit tenuous at the best of times… so probably quicker and easier to do as you did….
I suffered quite regularly with restless legs both in an evening when sat on sofa and during the night.
You've already received good advice regarding magnesium.
I personally didn't take a magnesium supplement but I did (and still do) soak in an Epsom salts bath at least 3 times a week. I put a lot more salt than the recommended one cupful in my bath though and soak for at least 20mins, but often longer. This definitely seemed to help ease my discomfort.
I also make sure my bedroom is a cool temperature. If it's too warm, the sensation feels far worse.
I don't seem to experience this problem too much now thankfully but on the occasions when the restless legs were at their worst, I used to find just letting a cold shower run over my lower legs for a few mins would really reduce the restless, fidgety sensations.
Green lipped mussel gel (correct spelling of mussel, and, yes, I know, it doesn't sound too great) really helped too.
It comes in a tube and if googled can be easily found. It can be bought online or from a well known high street UK pharmacy, and a well known UK health food/supplement shop.
I'm currently on 2mg of prednisolone and haven't really experienced this problem for some time now.
Hope this helps you together with all the other advice, to work out a plan that works for you.
Thank you so much, that gives me hope for sure. I do enjoy a soak, so I’ll definitely be trying the Epsom salts. Our bedroom is always unheated, even in the depths of winter, but my body seems to think otherwise😂 I’ll look into the green lipped mussel gel; something has to work.
Prescribed I presume. I’m a bit reluctant to add more medication to the mix, but if it gets much worse I may have to. Rheumy prescribed amytriptylin, but I haven’t taken him up on it yet.
Glad all is working for you, thank you for your reply.
I had dreadful problems with RLS. I tried magnesium, & it helped a lot. However, I have a total of 11 named diseases now, &, for one of them, it was suggested, by GP & rheumy, that I try amitryptylline as a muscle relaxant. I take it about 7pm…if I take it when I go to bed I am too drowsy in the morning. I had 4 years of only having 3 hours sleep per night & was completely drained. The amitryptylline helps me to be able to go to sleep. I still wake at 2am, but with no restless leg syndrome. Hope this helps a little.
Thank you. I will consider the amitriptyline if magnesium doesn’t work, but I had heard it makes you drowsy in the morning. Disturbed sleep is really messing with my days as generally I am such an active person and I just feel so lethargic - I hate that as much as the pain!
Hi, I’ve suffered with RLS for many years. My GP had read a number of articles which recommended treating with Iron supplements. After completing blood tests I am currently taking two ferrous 200mg daily. Initially they helped extremely well, however, now I do have episodes recurring but it’s worth a chat to your GP. Good luck x
Thank you. I'm really hoping magnesium will help, but if not I think you are right- a trip to the GP is in order. So hard to see one these days.I appreciate you replying and hope you find relief too.
Not sure what is causing mine, but I tried a magnesium spray last night which stung like crazy -a possible sign that the body’s cellular magnesium is low. I could still feel the slight fizzy sensation in my legs but no twitching! I’m taking a magnesium supplement before bedtime too, so we’ll see what happens. Time will tell; it has only been one night, so I’m trying not to get too excited. I also need to relate it to how much I have been on my feet during the day; there may be a correlation there.
Good luck with your GP visit, it really does drive you insane doesn’t it.
I’ve suffered with RLS for years - it’s much worse now that I also have PMR and have to take steroids. My GP was never really interested in it - but I figured out myself that low magnesium was the culprit and fortunately a teaspoon of magnesium citrate powder (can be ordered online or from a health food shop) in water makes the RLS go away instantly. I often have to get out of bed in the early hours to take some if I’ve forgotten it for a few days. Magnesium supplements- which I had also tried - did not work for me for some reason.
I try to tell as many RLS suffers as I can about this as it may work for them too.
That’s really interesting to know, thank you. Magnesium supplements are helping me a lot, but I will certainly bear this in mind next time I have a bad episode. It’s so good to hear other people’s successes; they really can be a godsend sometimes can’t they? That's why this forum is so important. Thank you again and wishing you well.
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