What works for me: What works for me... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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What works for me

davidadill profile image
6 Replies

What works for me:

1. 500mg of magnesium 6 hours before bedtime (if I take it later I usually have RLS after 3-4 hours)

2. 24mg of codeine just before bedtime

3. 1.3 miles of walking at 4 mph on the treadmill just before bedtime

4. A folded bath towel under the bottom 18 inches of my bed sheet prevents hot feet (this seems crazy but it works for me)

5. After about 7 weeks the codeine benefits start to decline, so I go off codeine for 7-8 days and then efficacy returns.

6. This may be irrelevant, but I also walk about 8-9 miles per day, mostly inside my house. When I sit on a couch or go to a movie, I sometimes have RLS, but other than the movies or driving a car I seldom sit for more than 30 minutes. Leaving aside RLS, sitting when you could be standing or better yet walking is a dumb idea. It is better for your brain and your body and your weight control to be moving. People sometimes look at me strangely wondering why I am walking while they stand or sit. I look back at them and wonder why they want to be stupid and have poor health and eventual obesity.

7. This may be irrelevant, but I also do 35 deep knee bends before bedtime.

8. This may be irrelevant, but I also go up and down the staircase 4 times just before bedtime.

Other than that, I am reasonably normal....

This has worked perfectly for the last 6 days, meaning that I sleep between 8-9 hours with no restless legs ever.

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davidadill profile image
davidadill
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6 Replies

Great! I’m glad you have found things that work for you!

Graham3196 profile image
Graham3196

Hi David

Thanks for sharing this very well defined regime. Its very good to know that this works for you so the rest of us have the hope that it might work for us as well

I have recently started doing deep knee bends but for a hamstring problem. With some effort I can do ten in one session. I'd better raise my game and see what happens!

Thanks

Graham

davidadill profile image
davidadill

Bodziu,

You are incorrect. 24mg of codeine is 6mg below what the Mayo Clinic suggests as the starting point for treating RLS and their recommendation is that 60mg to 160mg are reasonable levels. I am told that the sign of addiction for opiods is that when you stop taking them your body start to shake. When I stop I just get restless legs more often. These doses are far below what typically leads to addiction.

davidadill profile image
davidadill

I figure as long as I stay at 24 mg (where I have been for 11 months), I should be very safe. It means not using it for a few days every few weeks, but I can live with that.

Dogdoo profile image
Dogdoo

Michael Jackson died from a propofol overdose, not an opiate overdose.

He was an opiate addict for sure but not what killed him.

Whitney Houston did crack, ate some valium, passed out, hit her head and drowned.

SuzeWooze profile image
SuzeWooze

I wish i could stand and walk more but i have severe arthritis in lower back and knees, also fibromyalgia which especially effects my thighs and hips, i find relief when sitting down, unfortunately due to lack of exercise i have become obese, but when i try my hardest to fight the fatigue from fibro and painsomnia/rls, going for a walk/exercise bike, i end up in more pain and have to sit more, its a viscous cycle which i hate and upsets me greatly, i feel like i have no choice but to sit down😪 I used to be a great dancer, latin amercian, and play quite a bit of sports, hiking, this sedentary lifestyle kills my soul

i tried sitting exercise along to morning TV, just reaching and circling my arms slowly, i got chostochrondosis in my left rib, agony for 6 weeks.

i went to a fibro physio course, second week doing exercises my knee went and i couldn't use it for 2 weeks

something always happens to set me back when im trying to move forwards, HELP !!

i try to keep my chin up, but i really struggle through every day just barely functioning

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