Aching legs: Have suffered with rls for... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Aching legs

J296 profile image
J296
8 Replies

Have suffered with rls for 10 years now. Currently on a combination of pramipexole and pregabalin which controls the worst of the symptoms. My main problem at the moment is aching legs at night in bed. I usually manage about 5 hours sleep then the aching muscles wake me up. Once I'm up the aches disappear after a couple of hours.

Does anyone else suffer from this problem? And does anyone have any suggestions for treating the problem other than painkillers?

Be grateful for any suggestions.

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J296
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8 Replies
Pennyfarthing profile image
Pennyfarthing

I'm on the same medication and yes I get it in one leg only but it only aches when resting and/or in bed. Pretty horrible alongside rls.

Resting my leg on a pillow at night sometimes works for me but my foot has to be hanging off the pillow else it kicks off my rls. Weird I know!

J296 profile image
J296 in reply to Pennyfarthing

Thanks for your reply. Appreciate that. Will give it a try

Parminter profile image
Parminter

I have the same thing, but rather fewer hours of sleep.

I get up for a while, have a cup of something without caffeine, then I do my stretches of the calf muscles and thighs.

While I am doing this I heat two wheatie-bags in the microwave.

I place them on a pillow that will be under my calf-muscles, then I go back to bed with my legs resting on them.

I try to organise the sheets so that my toes are pointing at the ceiling, which keeps the calf-muscles slightly stretched.

That is usually sufficient. However, you may be augmenting on your dopamine agonist, in which case a very small dose of methadone will clear it in twenty minutes.

I refuse point-blank to take more DAs, so I have methadone for breakthroughs. Magic.

J296 profile image
J296 in reply to Parminter

Many thanks for your advice. Much appreciated.

So sorry to hear about the problems you are having. I've suffered with restless legs for years now. I took pramipexole for several years and found initially it helped. The side effect of pramipexole for me was that I needed to keep putting up the dose. It also increased my appetite dramatically and I put on 2 stone. I have come off the pramipexole - it takes courage and several sleepless nights, but I'm glad I'm off it. I found that codiene helped, but it affected my stomach so had to stop taking that as well. I now only get on average two hours consecutive sleep at night. My legs wake me up. I then sit on the side of the bed with my feet firmly on the floor and read. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes for them to settle and I can then sleep again for another couple of hours. Restless legs is a nightmare. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

J296 profile image
J296 in reply to

Thanks for your reply and sorry to hear about your own struggles with rls. Sounds like I need to come off pramipexole too.

All good wishes for a successful resolution to you and all restless legs sufferers.

Parminter profile image
Parminter

J296

Do you by any chance have involuntary toe movements? Or do you constantly scrunch your toes up? Or wriggle them, or stretch them?

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