Hi - first time poster.
I was wondering if anyone else found that when they exercised, their RLS was worse that night? I found that over the years, the periods when I've been 'good' and exercised regularly, the RLS got worse. In lazier times, it almost disappears.
Kama runner and have suffered with RLS for many years. Definitely my legs are much worse after exercise. I asked my doctor about it and apparently it is common,that it exaperates the syndrome. It may not be that way for everyone but it is something that happens to some. You maybe better with some relaxing stretching exercises. Yoga may help.
Last week I read that doing the birddog exercise might help to strengthen lower back muscles, thereby possibly helping with RLS. all it did was fire up the nerves in my legs so bad that I was miserable for 2 days. I found that the only exercise that helps in just walking at a normal pace. I take my ropinerol about 7ish which puts me down for the night around 8 or 9. Good luck, hope you find something that works for you.
Yes exercise definitely makes it worse for me, as does long periods of standing. However walking is okay & gentle stretching is very helpful.
Amazingly I have discovered that if I knit when the symptoms first start early evenings I get instant relief. When I stop it comes back. However I have to start knitting with the FIRST TWINGE, otherwise once it takes a hold, nothing works except moving around. I keep a bag of wool at the ready & knit squares for charity blankets. Using fine motor coordination must be the logic behind it I suppose. Has any one else found this helpful?
That's very interesting as I also noticed that when I knit I don't have the urge to move my legs, maybe it's to do with the fact that the arms and hands are moving takes away the need for the legs to move.
By the way, welcome to this forum Capital One!
Agreed, exercise aggravates RLS. My legs are always tired, probably because they never stop! and other than a few different stretches that I do when I am standing up reading in the middle of the night, the only exercise I get is walking the floor at night.
3:55 am in Canada
Yes Exercising makes it worse for me but I asked my docter about it and she recomeneded to go swimming and just walk through the water, like you going on a long walk but you body is being held up by the water and reduces the weight on your limbs.
Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't - - - !
Over the 50-odd years I have had RLS, I haven't found any consistency. If I had, I would stop doing it. That's the problem with the demon, he is very resourceful.
I have cut out all caffeine and alcohol though. That isn't as difficult as it sounds, and I'm sure it is beneficial in other ways. Hasn't prevented me ultimately needing medication though (ropinirole).
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I do a lot of exercise and have noticed it totally depends on what I'm doing. If i do extreme amounts of exercise it makes my RLS slightly better because I normally just fall asleep quickly (probably due to exhaustion). Also if I do exercise which really works my legs (cycling being a good one) it can help me a bit. I would say exercise doesn't make my RLS much worse in general but I could be wrong, everyone is different!
One possibility- perhaps those of you that get worse with exercise, it could be that lower back problems are causing the RLS to start with, and exercise just makes it worse. Just a thought. There's loads of info online about chiropractic to relieve RLS, but with severe lower back pain, that may not be an option. Chiropractors can be pretty rough.
Hi welcome! Yes when I used to go out dancing in the evenings as soon as I got home and into bed my legs would start.However exercise has many health benefits so how about trying exercising earlier on the day say before 2 in the afternoon and see how this goes.If you still get bad symptoms try them in the mornings so thete is a longer period between exercise and bed.If this fails try a different form of exercise such as yoga or swimming .Good luck
I get the RLS which I like a lot of you manage it, but yesterday I did a lot of decorating then come night I was woke with the most painful cramp type pain in my left foot only, the leg was fine, this lasted for several hours. This type of attack unlike rls only occures when I have done a lot of exercise type work, I am in my 70's and in remission from lung cancer, I wonder if any other of our group have this type pain. Keep smiling between attacks floks.
Thanks everyone. Good to know. BTW - I would usually work out before work and it still affected me that night.
CO
I find too much exercise makes it worse and too little - especially too much sitting around - makes it worse! The trick is to find an in-between level. Exercise near bedtime is definitely not good.
It's the oddest thing..for months I have been telling Rahim that I have not been
suffering RLS.. incidentally, when I look back now, it's been since the running stopped
for me. I had what would normally be a short illness that carried some complications..I had to stop running to redevelop my lung slowly...well, lets just say that without that stress release (bigger runs often) I had another problem come on in my knee..and I
am suffering the consequences of that - I would say "Rahim, no RLS for the past week,
then a month and still today... No dopamine used in more than a year. I have oxycodone
in my schedule of medicines, I can go a month without it and rls does not return.. I am walking again, starting to re-develop the leg muscles all over again today as I have been for the past 2 months or so. I am going to keep tabs on it if RLS starts up again..I know
that since I learned how to stretch the flexors ( hips) properly -it takes 2 people to
master the task..I can get rid of it in my back and butt where rls shows up on me..
Does it last? for several hours.
Had it for years, after kung fu or running, hard exercise. Poor sleep followed inevitably with itchy leg muscles you feel you want to tear apart! Got to get up and stretch, have a valerian tea... If you let it wind you up it gets worse. Years later at 54 im going through the same symptoms but exacerbated by arthritis in shoulders and stiffness from old back injuries. Fortunately not working any longer. I may have to give up weights and even swimming my weekly mile. Stretching and walking however is a must.
For me it hasn't made a difference , as I'm chair bound at work I find if I sit all day my restless legs are worse The days I am able to move a bit more they seem better
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