The cure to my sons restless leg

[Elizab32]

Hi. I just want to let all those people that are suffering with restless leg know what cured my 7 year olds severe restless leg. He had it for years, and then got significantly worse. He missed the last few weeks of school last year bc he was unable to fall asleep due to pains in his legs. Anyway, after traveling to many high profile doctors, and numerous tests and various medicines that didn’t work, he had an X-ray of his stomach done based on a doctors hunch. This showed significant stool build up We started my son on miralex daily and suppositories for 10 days and he’s cured now.

Also, he was having a bowel movement daily, (so there was no reason to suspect constipation), so I guess it was old fermenting stool that was somehow causing this? I’m not sure, but I’m just hoping other people try this to see if it helps them (and please let me know if it does).

It does explain why magnesium helps some people though, bc that’s a laxative, albeit mild compared to a suppository.

Anyway, good luck 🍀

[Hidden]

I am wondering what your little son's symptoms were apart from pain in his legs...?

[Elizab32 in reply to Hidden]

He had to shake his legs to get rid of the creepy feelings. He also had 2 sleep study tests done which confirmed it.

[Bganim1947 in reply to Elizab32]

Did he have any smptoms that involved, nausea, upset stomach, pain or discomfort?

[Elizab32 in reply to Bganim1947]

No, he didn’t have any of those symptoms. He was eating fine etc. Maybe it’s a gut brain toxic old stool connection. I’m not sure. Even the doctor said I don’t know what causes rls but I know constipation makes whatever is wrong with you much worse.

[Joolsg]

Wonderful news. A few people have posted about constipation causing RLS so there’s definitely something in it. Also magnesium acting as a laxative could explain why it helps a lot of people.

I suspect that there are different types of RLS . Some as a result of back or bone surgery. Some clearly genetic, others linked to chemical imbalance like anaemia. Kidney disease where the blood is not being cleaned of toxins is another form.

It therefore is logical to conclude that toxins in the blood from compacted bowel would also cause a form of RLS.

It’s brilliant that your intuition has helped your little boy.

Thank you for sharing.

[nightdancer in reply to Joolsg]

RLS is a neurologically related sleep disorder. There is Primary RLS, which is about 70% of us. Then Secondary RLS, caused by the wrong meds, or whatever personal triggers that one might have, like caffeine, sugar, alcohol, etc.

[Joolsg in reply to nightdancer]

I agree but kidney disease and severe anaemia also cause a form of it or, as in my case, MS lesions.

Primary RLS is clearly the most difficult to treat.

[nightdancer in reply to Joolsg]

That is what I mean by triggers, I neglected to say other diseases, too.

[nightdancer]

When you say "cure' , how long are talking here since he has had symptoms? RLS can go "quiet" in children and adults for periods of time. So, he took MIRAPEX for 10 days? What dose was it, and I take it you are saying that he does not take it any more? Would like to know how long the relief period has been for him. My niece's kids both have RLS since they were little, and are now 11 and 13. We have tried everything, including "cleaning them out". They show no signs of extensive stools in the bowel, so that is not the answer for them, and we are trying to avoid meds, but both are getting worse, not better.

[Elizab32 in reply to nightdancer]

Not mirapex. Miralex (the laxative). He’s been rls free since June. (So 4 months). He needed both miralex and suppositories to Clean him out. Just miralex didn’t do it. Suppositories were the cure for him. Not sure how your nieces kids were “cleaned out”. But I thought my son was cleaned out,

Then we had the X-ray of his stomach which was shocking. Good luck!

[nightdancer in reply to Elizab32]

Oh, Miralax. I use that myself. I was a little confused that they would give a 7 yr old Mirapex. We have tried them all, and the kids do not have that issue at all. Believe me, we have done it all, including xrays. IT just is not the answer for everyone, but am very happy for your son!

[Elizab32 in reply to nightdancer]

Ok sorry to hear that.

[Elizab32 in reply to nightdancer]

One more thing, the saline laxatives didn’t work. He needed the chemical ones (pedilax).

[nightdancer in reply to Elizab32]

I always have to use the chemical ones, too. The saline ones are fairly useless if one is really plugged up.

[marsha2306 in reply to Elizab32]

There’s also mineral oil fleet enemas that my gastroenterologist recommends. Works great.

[Hidden]

Well, I'm going to be supportive like Joolsg here and say I am very happy for your son! Long may it continue!

Thank you for sharing!

(There has to be more than Joolsg and I here who will actually support this woman. Here she is, telling her son's story and she gets a lot of fire. Don't get me wrong, but isn't this a support group??)

[nightdancer in reply to Hidden]

I said I am happy for her son, and AM supporting her, but also am questioning a couple of things I did not understand at first. This is also a discussion group.

[Hidden in reply to nightdancer]

Sorry about that. Guess I shouldn't post when anxious. 😊

You are very supportive

[nightdancer in reply to Hidden]

I was merely trying to get clarifications on a couple of things. That is not arguing, that is looking for information. I am VERY glad her son has been RLS free for 4 months. Long may it last.

[Hidden]

Its also ok to ask questions to a poster when they post anything.

[nightdancer in reply to Hidden]

Totally agree, Elisse. I am not "throwing fire", was asking for clarification on a couple of things.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sorry about that. Guess I shouldn't post when anxious 😊

You are very supportive

[Pippins2]

So happy your little one is having relief from his RLS. It is bad enough an adult having it and is heartbreaking to see a child suffer. Why did he have the xray in the first place?

I have had x rays showing the same thing as I suffer from constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. I have had several courses of Miralex and suppositories over the years but not had any impact on my RLS unfortunately x

[Elizab32 in reply to Pippins2]

He had the X-ray bc one doctor thought he may be constipated or have too much stool in him, and that’s that was causing the rls.

[Hidden]

I have had two colonoscopy,s the "stuff" they give you to clean you out (ugh the thought of it still makes me groan) believe me you are CLEAN. I wish it had cured my RLS.

[Elizab32]

The other “out of the box rls cause” a very smart doctor was trying to determine is if too much adrenaline was causing the problem. The idea was to take proponolol during the day and before bed to blunt the adrenaline. Prior to doing this, we were taking his blood pressure and pulse nightly, which showed they were elevated. This was when he was reading in bed (so resting heartbeat before the restless legs started). I never read that in a post before or in any of the books I bought so wanted to Throw that out there as well, incase anyone is desperate for things to try.

[nightdancer in reply to Elizab32]

That med was made for blood pressure, but it also slows the heart rate down, and the woman whose father developed it did so for panic attacks, so that makes sense. That is my blood pressure med and it works great for that for me, but no help with my RLS.

[Eryl]

Pleased that you found a solution to the problem. It supports my feelings, that rls is often caused by dietary issues. I've been trying to improve my diet over the last few years. So far I've reduced regular cow's milk to a minimum, (helps with me with alertness and focus during the day) and more recently, reduced my gluten intake to see if it would affect my bowel function, which it has. My bowel movements are very regular now, but as a side effect I'm sleeping better. This could be due to reducing the trigger that was causing your son's rls. I've recently reduced my sugar intake, which has further reduced incidence of rls. Presumably because there is less to feed fermentation.

Thanks for sharing. It could be a big piece in a very complicated jigsaw which we're all desperate to solve.

[Tapir]

Several decades ago saw my doctor about RLS and he had a theory that some people's nerves were "wired" differently and that if they were routed where the nerves could be pressured, e.g. full bowel, full bladder, pressure from sitting cramped up, this could cause RLS to start. That explanation worked for me but was pooh-poohed by any other doctor to whom I mentioned it. However, later I underwent a double hernia operation by keyhole surgery (2005). A mesh was inserted and fixed in place with titanium coils which the surgeon positioned, as he always had over 100's of ops, always well away from any nerves. In my case the coil was placed immediately adjacent to a nerve so that any movement of my leg caused me to collapse in excruciating pain. Clearly my nerve did not run as normal. Fortunately, he was able to remove the offending coil with a further operation. I think the mystery of RLS is that it can have both physical and mental triggers.

[Hidden]

Full bowel, full bladder etc. would be triggers for some people. But the RLS wouldnt disappear.

[Elizab32 in reply to Hidden]

One more thing which may be helpful, my son is gluten and dairy free and dairy is a cause of constipation for him.

[Docholiday1 in reply to Elizab32]

Almond milk is a great substitutes. 87p a litre in Aldi

[Tapir in reply to Hidden]

That was when I was young and it was intermittent often triggered by what I have described. Dealing with the trigger allowed to be walked off. Now it is almost continuous, made worse by Pramipexole, which has shifted it from night only to all day. Some relief at night with this drug but only after about an hour's thrashing about after taking the dose.

[Elizab32 in reply to Tapir]

The nerve hitting something internal makes sense for why pregnant women get restless leg a lot. Sry that’s not working for u anymore.

[rlsandibs in reply to Tapir]

Poor you... I cannot imagine.

[rlsandibs]

That's right. Same for me. My RLS is triggered by my bowles situation. I have said this on and on to my doctors... And the symptoms stop when I take Movicol, which is a laxative.

[Roblau]

Interesting to hear about fecal buildup. I find that my RLS stops during the night once I feel like I have to do a bowel movement. Like you said magnesium helps that as well.

[Docholiday1]

Never been regular at Toilet can go a week without. Will try laxatives every day thank you