Better than foot wraps? I think so... :)

[bjmartens]

Hi to everyone! I've been following this forum for a couple of weeks because like you all, I struggle with RLS. I've recently found some ways that seem to be relieving my RLS and I want to share them. BTW, I'm 72 female.

First, after reading about foot wrapping I've been doing some research about the new Restiffic foot device for RLS. I wanted to out how/why it works to see if I can do it myself because no way can I afford $350! Here's what I found....

The Restiffic device massages two specific muscles in the feet (which foot wraps also may accomplish if they can applied in a way to reach them). These muscles are the abductor hallucis and the flexor hallucis brevis which are on the bottom of the feet.

I searched for massage devices that can reach these muscles that are less expensive than the Restiffic. There are so many! Most of them claim to work by rolling or putting pressure on these two muscles. Looking through some of the stuff I have at home, I found a couple of devices that might work like some that I saw online - mostly by "rolling" massage. But it's hard to get up into these muscles enough to be effective.

Then while taking a bath I thought of massaging the bottom of my feet with my hand-held shower massager. BINGO! I can direct the pulsating stream directly up into those muscles. This might be the answer (or one of them) that we've all been looking for!

I'm also using a couple of other RLS remedies and the last few nights I haven't been awakened (or kept awake) by RLS. One is a massage cream I got from Amazon called Restless Leg Calming Cream by Miracle Plus. The reviews were so positive I thought I'd try it - and maybe it's part of the relief I've had the last week or so. I don't know for sure if it is something in the cream or just the actual vigorous massaging (which I had not done before). But I just ordered another one just to have it on hand.

Another thing I started doing is drinking tonic water. which I think has Quinine or something like Quinine. For years I used Quinine pills for RLS until the FDA took it off the market due to health concerns. Maybe the amount I get from about 4-6 ounces of tonic water is helping. I use S.PELLAGRINO sparking natural mineral water. It doesn't say Quinioneon the label but I've read that it helps with RLS... and maybe it does. (Please be aware of any potential health detriments from any Quinine that might or might not be in this mineral water.)

I recently tried Hylands Leg Cramps PM which didn't seem to help, but maybe I got the wrong Hylands. Maybe I should have bought Hyland's Restful Legs instead... but I won't worry about it since what I'm doing seems to be working, for now.

One other factor that may be relevant is my RLS was very very bad the last couple of months - much worse than ever before. A couple of months ago I decided to self-withdraw from Morphine and Oxycodone as well as Trazodone because of the combined side effects. One of the worse things about drug withdrawal is terrible RLS. (One person suggested that's why they call it "kicking" the habit.) Now that I'm more than two months into my withdrawals maybe that's part of the RLS easing up, but maybe not because I've been on RLS meds for 20+ years.

Btw, I'm still on Ropinerol which I've been taking since Requip first went generic , but I am cutting down because I may have reached the augmentation point - not sure because withdrawal sure does cause augmentation! My GP agreed to switch me to Miraplex but after reading the side effects it doesn't seem to be much better. (I'm working toward eliminating as many meds as I can so I can recover from their combined side effects that have undermined my quality of life for so long... but that's another story.)

For now, since I've been getting some relief from my RLS, I wanted to share what seems to be working for me in case maybe some part of what I'm doing might be helpful to others who are struggling with this relentless enemy. I sure do hope so!

[Madlegs1]

Thanks for all the research and reporting. Sounds like something is working though difficult to put the finger on which!?

I certainly know the quinine tonic water has zero quinine - most just have a chemical taste but no real quinine to have any effect on the cramps. That's what the quinine tablets do- stop leg cramps - which some people think they have restless legs.

I can't comment on the rest of your medications- too complex for my simple mind- but othershere are wellinformed enough to be of help.

I really think the methods of massage you have indicated are very promising - look forward to hearing more.

[Retren]

20July 2amI personally am unable to take quinine which is in the caffeine family.Caffeine has horrendous affects on me,and I especially love coffee.,another thing which one gives up because of RLS.As you can see the beastly disease has caused me to be up at this hour as a result of having to take tramadol which for some reason causes wakefulness with me.If it Isn,t one thing it is another.A relative gave me my license plate which is fortitude,there was not room for the rest which is endurance.!To BJ Martens.

[Shaft1952]

Thanks for the information, i will certainly look at cream on amazon. I recently bought a machine called revitive. They are not cheap but there are various machine's also you get vat back & you pay over 4months.if you go on line and type in revitive you will get the information. Cheers and good luck shaft1952

[cumoneileen]

A lot of information. you have worked hard to find a solution. might try cream and massaging soles of my feet. Tried tonic water no good for me. thank you.

[DisneS]

Hi Bjmartens I am also looking for relief from rls with non drug treatment. The relaxis pad is currently unavailable in the UK, also the foot wrap. I have been looking up the calming cream but, guess what, this can only be obtained in the US. I have been using a magnesium spray and getting some relief but wondered if anyone has discovered anything else (in the UK) which is non drug and helpfull

[Sprite66]

BJMartens - it's funny you should mention the shower spray on your feet because when I go swimming I always end up spending ages with my feet against the jets on the side of the pool. It's a bit painful and intense at first but eventually massages my feet, and I do get some relief. I eventually have to take them off the jets as it gets too painful and bruised feeling, but definitely does help for a short while. I also find the magnesium oil spray effective immediately, but it doesn't last very long, and unfortunately makes me feel nauseas as I can taste the strong smell too much. I'm currently taking high doses of magnesium malate but it's early days as it takes time for your levels to adjust. Although 50 mg tramadol first thing helps, I've discovered 100mg creates RLS symptoms. I can't take it at night as it activates me, which is great during the day after RLS insomnia. I've been on Ropinerole for 6 weeks and find it helps getting to sleep with relaxed RLS but I get worse rebound of RLS early morning. I'm going to try pramiprexole next if there's no improvement. Thanks for the info about the particular muscles on the feet, this explains why I enjoy a foot massage so much, even though I find it incredibly intense.

[Retren]

To Bj Martens1August.watch where your weight goes if you are on Mirapex.Of course everyone gets different reactions as you know.I put on 27lbs in a few weeks and am still trying to get some off.which is difficult as lyrica tends to increase weight as well.It is all like Russian roulette regarding medications.Hope you have some benefit with your latest foray.

[lauraflora]

Please give Chiropractic a try! I myself have had great relief with a chiropractor when my RLS kicked up really badly. When the nerves running thru the spine are pinched, even if it is not very painful, it can cause hypersensitivity, malfunction and inflammation of the nerves running down to your legs and thus RLS. Even tho there are also chemical causes in the body (check out rlcure.com) there are also structural causes. Chiropractors take care of this.

[kevinwright200958]

Might be wrong but this post sounds like a sales pitch.

[Billdel]

Thanks for the review of things you have tried. You mentioned Quinine. I had colon cancer and after surgery and chemo, I developed a severe case of Peripheral Neuropathy, which resulted in uncontrollable leg cramps. My Doctor Rx'ed Quinine for me but as you said, I couldn't get it in the US. But, was able to buy it from a pharmacy in England, at a very good price. If it helped you, check out on line, Canadiandrugs.com. , River East Supplies Ltd.

Something I have found to be very helpful is to have my wife, a "sweet heart", go over my legs with a hair brush. Really helps, more sometimes than others.

Good Luck,

Bill