RLS with Hypnic Jerks.

[dimpep]

Hi everyone.

My story goes for almost 2 years now. It started with night -calves-cramping, for which I took magnesium supplements and also boosted my general electrolyte intake as well, as i was and still am heavily training for my age. (44 y.o 3-5 times a week, weight lifting and/or running and/or boxing).The cramps went away, but then I started having weird sensations all over my legs.

1)Little crawling sensations,

2)Leg hair like moving (when they were not)

3) Slight sensations of current-feel like- little buzzes in particular point on the legs

4)Small muscle twitches

and more...many more.

The major issue for me, however, was that all these symptoms were combined with hypnic jerks. (hypnagogic jerks-sleep starts). The combination was a great discomfort, as it caused many sleepless nights and me moving out of my wife's common bed.

I was diagnosed with RLS of course and was on melatonin for starters.(circadin)

As all these were not enough, four months after the onset of these symptoms I started feeling (initially the legs again) different sensations of simple stimuli on the legs. When bathing water was "felt" in an exaggerated way. Same with wind and then clothes and sheets became an issue. There are times when I feel like there is almost sand in my clothes or sheets. Desensitization the proper term. The second neuro diagnosed again RLS but now as "Restless Limbs Syndrome" and prescribed Neupro Patches. After 1 week of Neupro not much to mention, so I quit it. Neupro was supposed to make a difference from day one according to my neuro. Now, i am just taking melatonin and I am about to visit him again at least to do sthg about the jerks as they are mostly causing the sleepless nights. All else I slightly got used to...(had to or else the crazy house)Imagine I have tinnitus as well

Anyway, guys, that's my story hope I didn't bore u with too many details.

Hope everyone gets better.

Cheers,

Dim.

[Joolsg]

Hi Dim

I can certainly relate to the hypnic jerks. If I’m asleep I’m often woken by leg jerks. I then get up and do my pilates type leg stretches using a theraband or a few slow squats and it settles.

Melatonin is a drug I’m not familiar with but I recall it’s not supposed to be good for RLS but hopefully someone with more info will comment.

Anti histamines and anti depressants can make RLS worse and low iron can cause it so get your serum ferritin checked- it should be over 100 ideally.

Running later in the day/ evening can make it worse so try running in the morning.

It does sound like you have RLS so I am surprised The Neupro patch didn’t help. It’s often used as a diagnostic med. If it stops the leg sensations, you surely have RLS.

[dimpep in reply to Joolsg]

Hi joolsg.

Thank you for your reply.

Melatonin is considered to be one of the safest choices for sleep disturbances. I don't think it makes restless leg syndrome worse though because it was prescribed to me by my first neuro. Moreover, it is not considered to have augmentation or withdrawal symptoms. I have read about antihistamines as well and it puzzles me because the last 2 years I'm receiving allergy shots (immunotherapy). I don't know if that has something to do with the onset of my symptoms. As for Neupro maybe I will give it another chance.

Thanks again,

Cheers

[martino]

I can relate to the hyping jerks. They often hit me as I try to get to sleep and then, when I am getting near rising they impel me out of bed. I am helped by the Neupro patch and whilst you were told it could help immediately perhaps you could have persevered a bit longer. A couple of times recently my patch has come off during the day- I change it late evening-and my leg movement tells me the patch has come off.

[dimpep in reply to martino]

Thanks for the reply Martino. So you believe I should stick to it longer? Well to be honest I feared that it was pointless to take a dopamine drug while it's not working, I preferred not to continuously take a substance, whichever substance that may be,without any effect. You could be right though, maybe I should stick to it a bit longer. Again thanks for your reply.

[DicCarlson]

You definitely have sleep disturbances, but remember RLS is the uncontrolled urge to move your legs - so much so you need to get up and walk around for relief. And it's pretty hard to sleep when you're walking around! Muscle twitches and cramps are somewhat related. As I've said before my RLS started with intense muscle cramps for a few weeks - then full blown RLS. They are related only in that they can occur at the same time - RLS is a neurological imbalance (iron and dopamine in the brain) and the leg cramps are electrolyte based. Perhaps both have some common source in the digestion/absorption of certain nutrients and minerals. Consider the adrenal cocktail (1/4 Tsp sea salt and 1/4 Tsp Cream of Tartar (for Potassium) mixed in juice), at least for cramps, twitches.

[dimpep in reply to DicCarlson]

Di Carlson,

Thanks for your reply.

Indeed you are correct muscle cramps have to do with electrolytes absorption and restless leg syndrome has as two possible causes dopamine communication channels and iron deficiency. I have checked my ferritin and it was not problematic. I will give yoor cocktail a try thanks for suggesting. ( Have to check blood pressure as well with all that salt 😎)

Thank again,

Cheers

[sarah19902]

Hi DImpep, do you think RLS is the correct diagnosis. You describe my symptoms to a tee, however I have no compulsion to every move my leg... and the little muscle twitches are not RLS. Maybe that is why the neuro patch won't work?

Can you let me know how you are getting along - it is really getting me down