How I stopped it when i had it, and how I got rid of it

[never_pharma]

I used to get it pretty bad. It wasn't painful but It was almost unbearably uncomfortable, and it was on one night, while round a friends i just got so fed up with having to continually move my legs that I just decided to do extreme movements and did some squats until my muscles were too fatigued to do any more. THE REST OF THAT NIGHT I WAS TOTALLY RLS FREE. Ever since then whenever I got the symptoms (usually in my legs and arms when it was severe) I'd just do my squats and press-ups and be good to go. Having since done other things, i'm now know that it's directly related to blood flow in the limbs (people with poor circulation notice that its their legs that are coldest on those winter nights, and, surprise surprise it's called restless LEG syndrome, because that's where it hits hardest). More specifically, and here's the money shot (or part of it), the main purpose of blood flow is to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body, SO LACK OF OXYGEN IN THE LIMBS IS A FACTOR. I noticed that a few others have mentioned that working out has cured it for them which is great, if you don't normally work out, because over time that will definitely increase your cardio-vascular health, along with the blood flow to your limbs, and your lung capacity, and may cure it for you (as long as you don't revert back to your old lifestyle). But for people that do workout (and I used to be religious about my work outs) if you still suffer from poor circulation/oxygenation, like I did, especially late in the evening when the tiredness kicks in (which is normally when my symptoms started) that's typically when the heart has dropped down a gear or two. So, putting your ticker in turbo mode with some muscle flexing (even though you may feel tired) is your best option (doing it where your gulping in fresh air is even better).

Anyhow, this site is new to me, and I'm only here because I caught the end of the RLS program that just aired on Channel 5, but wanted to see if they actually lived up to the title "The new cure". So I went to the mentioned link and then ended up on the RLS-UK .org site where they pointed out the program makers were making false claims (as usual, no doubt to get viewers). The thing is though that the RLS-UK.org site also claim there is no cure, which is also wrong, at least for a lot of people, and I'm living proof of that. I'm guessing (maybe hoping) that what they really mean on the site is that there's currently, no magic bullet/quick fix, which is true (so sorry to disappoint anyone who was looking for that, but seriously, this is a condition that typically progresses over a long period of time, so it ain't gonna disappear over night, unless Big Pharma decides to produce a new potion...er...pill that will temporarily relieve symptoms, but slowly kill you with the usual side-effects). Getting cured is not difficult, you just need to make the necessary corrections to your life-style that will suit you.

I've re-written this paragraph a couple of times because there was too much information (I've been doing this stuff for 20 years now,.... researching, trying out, modifying to suit,.... so I've found out a lot of things that would surprise most people) and I really just want to give pointers without putting people to sleep while reading 'em. Also, time's moving on and I don't want to mess up my wake-sleep cycle, which is an important factor (doing what's necessary to get a good few hours of a deep nights sleep), so if there's enough interest, I'll come back and add some more.

[Hidden]

Sorry to say, you are misinformed. Despite last night's TV programme, there is no cure for RLS. There are remedies that control it to relative degrees or give symptomatic relief. None of these remedies can cure what is essentially a constitutional condition.

This is really nothing to do with circulation at all. Exercise does help for some people and for some of the time. Especially if the RLS is only mild.

Of course, having exercise does relieve the symptoms, but it would be quite exhausting to keep moving all night. In any event not everyone's up to "extreme" exercise.

You might wish to consider that either you have only mild RLS or not RLS at all, but something else.

Happy to hear that you've found something that works for your problem, that's great.

[Hidden]

There is NO cure, only treatments, you found what works for you, but you are not cured, a cure means that whatever you have has gone for good never to come back, you are still doing your thing to get relief for yours, you stop doing it and the RLS will be back, RLS is always in the back ground waiting to raise its ugly head and drive us nuts.! that is if you do have RLS, and as has been said circulation has nothing to do with having RLS. Maybe you have been researching in the wrong places and come up with wrong information on what RLS is .

[LotteM]

I am glad you finally found something that worked - for you and hopefully for many others. Well done and thanks for posting.

The thing is, there is idiopathic RLS and there is RLS as a side effect of something else. E.g. kidney failure, anemia, antidepressants, Parkinson’s, etc etc. Including poor blood circulation. For some, not for all with these diseases, medicines or afflictions.

[nightdancer]

We do not use the word "cure". We use the word treatment, no matter if it is exercise, medications, meditation, and so on. You have been researching a long time, and I have been managing groups and doing my own research since 1996. We may find out that oxygen is a "factor". But, there is no one cure, and there are many reasons why this series of programs was a big disappointment. And, they should not have used the word 'cure", they offered nothing. You have your opinion, but most RLS IS genetic, 70%. The genes have been named and RLS affects the dopamine receptors in our brains- D1 and D3. So there si a lot to look at, Out over 30 yrs, the only thing we do know for sure, is that different things work for different people and it would be easier if one thing worked for all, simply not the truth.

[nightdancer]

And, to add, we have been dealing with that production company for years, they edited out all the good information. Plus, a LOT of people, even without RLS, if they do Too much exercise too close to bed time, it will have the opposite effect that you are having. it raises your core temperature and makes it harder to sleep, RLS or not. One size does NOT fit all. The dopamine transport system is the spinal canal.

[Peanut17 in reply to nightdancer]

Hi sorry to bother you but have you heard of the use of canaboids medically prescribed to treat rls .

[Hidden]

Hi! Thanks for posting your theories; what you write about is interesting food for thought. Can I just make one suggestion, though? The last sentence of your second paragraph seems a little demeaning,, so you might want to think about changing that. Lots of us (including me) have attempted to change lifestyle habits with a wide range of results (no improvement to vast improvement and all without totally elininating the syndrome). Can you tell us where you did your research? I’m always up for being surprised; what is one surprising thing you have learned about RLS?

[silvia10]

Thank you. Can you update how you are doing now?