RLS: I first started to get rls about... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

22,319 members16,384 posts

RLS

Trampleigh profile image
9 Replies

I first started to get rls about 23 years ago after having electric shock treatement in a mental hospital. I recently asked my doctor if I could have a brain scan or a leg scan or both to see if they are damaged but she said scans were only for people with tumors and the like. I have been drinking 4 cans of medium strength lager most nights since it started,sometimes it gets me to sleep and sometimes it makes the rls worse. I take 2 praxilene tablets for it but im thinking that a new York survey which says that a high fibre diet almost always gives you a better nights sleep may be right.

Written by
Trampleigh profile image
Trampleigh
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
9 Replies

Hi Trampleigh, first thing I would advise is to stop the alcohol, drinking like that RLS or not isn't doing you any favours. Praxilene could also be making things worse so be worth speaking to your GP.

Good Luck

Pippins2 profile image
Pippins2

Hi,Praxilene is used to treat circulation problems and RLS is not a circulation problem so Praxilene will not help your RLS.Alcohol will make RLS worse for vast majority of us .A high fibre diet may reap health benefits but will not make any difference to RLS.There are many meds to help RLS though,i would ask for a refferal to a Neuroogist or a Sleep Doctor.There are many meds that make RLS worse.Do you take any other meds for anything else?

Trampleigh profile image
Trampleigh in reply toPippins2

Thanks for your reply pippins, I take tablets for cholesterol and recently have been told after a blood test that I have a problem with my thyroid gland. As far as I can remember I have taken gabapetin and tramadol which didn't make much difference. As I say I've asked for a brain scan but the doctor said they only give them to people with tumours. Trampleigh

Insomniak profile image
Insomniak

Have you had the basic blood test checks done to see if you are deficient in iron, calcium, magnesium?

easterleigh1 profile image
easterleigh1

A high fibre diet can only do you good, certainly better for your liver than alcohol although I have every sympathy as nights when you canno sleep for pain are the worst. Perhaps a neurologist referral?

Trampleigh profile image
Trampleigh in reply toeasterleigh1

Thanks easterleigh1 my legs don't get painfull as such although I get cramp .no it's a sort of creeping feeling that's highly irritating and mainly happens at night. When I have a cold and feel run down I tend to get rls less. Trampleigh

Windwalker profile image
Windwalker

Most RLS patients are genetically predisposed to have the condition. My mother, her 9 sisters, her mother and two of her brothers who lived to be adults, had the condition. Some were worse than others. I have three living brothers and one who died young. All 4 of the old guys have RLS. I take Medicine and don't drink alcohol, but the other three are very successful people, but are alcoholics, professing to drink only so they can sleep. All of us are poor sleepers and for all the above reason conclude that it is a genetic condition.

painburncry profile image
painburncry in reply toWindwalker

I totally agree. My Dad had a really bad case of RLS. He was never offered any meds.

Pippins2 profile image
Pippins2

Around 70 percent of cases are genetic this type is known as Primary RLS.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

RLS and sciatica

I have primary RLS and have been suffering from sciatica since February. I've now had an MRI scan...
MumofSam profile image

Return of RLS

I posted a couple of weeks ago that I suspected Tamsulosin was the cause of RLS that had started to...
50568789 profile image

My experience with RLS

Hello, I have suffered from RLS since I was a child. I always used to explain to my mum how I...
tom456 profile image

Where does stress fit into the nightmare that is rls.

Laid awake flicking last night I started to wonder. Is it stress agrivates rls =sleepless nights =...
Tonkaman profile image

RLS

I’ve had RLS for years and it is I would say it is drug induced 90% of the time. I also have a...
pdpurdy54 profile image

Moderation team

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.