Rls symptoms?

[Boristucke]

hello. my doctor has recently diagnosed me with rls. I have 3 main symptoms and wanted to check with you to see if they fit the profile. 1. I cannot get comfortable my legs feel stiff and I have the constant urge to stretch. 2. I get sensation's on my legs and torso ranging from an annoying tickle to a stabbing sensation which really hurts. 3. worse of all when I am really relaxed I get violent electric shocks which shoot down my spine causing me to cry out loud and jump out of bed. it's like having cold water run down your back. I have read that the first 2 symptoms could be rls but I cannot see the later symptom in online descriptions. can you tell me if this is common. thanks. Stephen tucker.

[LotteM]

Dontou have the urge to move and does this movement - somewhat - relieve tour symptoms? And are these symptoms more present in the evening / at night than during the day?

See rls-uk.org/diagnosis for full diagnostic criteria.

[Boristucke in reply to LotteM]

I cannot get comfortable in bed. I move from side to side constantly. I have the back spasms if I try to sleep during the day but mainly it's nocturnal.

[Madlegs1]

Unusual rls, apart from the "urge to move"

But some people complain of the shooting pains etc.

2 questions

1 does paracetamol or ibuprofen have any effect? If so then not rls

2 does Mirapex give relief almost instantly? If so-- then highly likely to be rls.

Peripheral neuropathy is something to look at.

[Boristucke in reply to Madlegs1]

Hello. I have been on gabapentin 100mg 3/day for a few months now which helps greatly. Ibuprofen etc does not work for me.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Boristucke]

Sorted!🤣

[Hidden]

Hi Stephen

The symptoms of RLS compared to your symptoms

RLS creeply crawly sensation and the urge to move

YOU stiff, tickling, stabbing, really hurts constant urge to stretch

RLS symptoms disappear or are relieved by moving

YOU you don't say.

RLS symptoms start to occur when relaxing, staying still or falling asleep

YOU Violent electric shocks when lying down

RLS symptoms occur at night

YOU jump out of bed

Those are the 4 main symptoms.

It doesn't seem to me as if they correspond 100% and some of what you say isn't really clear.

Do the symptoms only occur at night, or do they occur at ANY time you lie down. That is, it's not the time that's the issue, it's your position

Do they get better when you move.

Also stretching is one thing, but, small difference I know, moving is another.

A fifth criteria for the diagnosis for RLS is that all other possible explanations for the symptoms have been eliminated.

As someone who suffers nerve pain/ neuropathy as well as RLS, your symptoms sound more like a compressed nerve than RLS.

If you also get any tingling or numbness or muscle spasms this would further suggest a nerve problem.

Additionally, if it is a particular nerve, then where the pain occurs will indicate which nerve it is.

One treatment for nerve pain is Gabapentin, say 900mg a day plus a strong NSAID say Naproxen not Ibuprofen in the acute phase.

I suggest you see your doctor and ask for a neurological examination. He/she might order an MRI to eliminate a possible spinal problem.

Do you have any other medical conditions?

[Boristucke in reply to Hidden]

I also have copd, anxiety and depression.plus a possible vestibular problem. All of my symptoms occur only when in bed. The problems with my legs itching and staying still are only at night but the back spasms occur anytime I lay down for a rest. I am on gabapentin which does stop the spasms but I am worried there may be more than one problem here. I have booked a phone call from my Dr Monday so I shall let him know my thoughts. Thanks for the reply.

[Hidden in reply to Boristucke]

Good that you're speaking to your doctor, it doesn't sound like RLS.

You might mention that you been on this site and that people who DO have RLS don't think the back spasms are RLS. I'm also not convinced your other symptoms are either.

If you take antidepressants, this may be a factor. If so which antidepressant are you taking?

[Allyp69]

For me it's just the urge to move my legs, get up and walk etc in the late evening...but not every evening. It feels as if every nerve in my lower leg is twitching and forcing me to move. Worse after alcohol...hardly drink now...tiredness and boredom ....sitting watching TV, on a plane etc..Trying folic acid, slow release iron capsules and tonic water. Listening to music helps...Hope you get some help.

[Mattbutler14]

The last symptom doesn't sound like an Rls symptom from what I know but I have read that Rls can sometimes be caused by spine problems and you said that you had an electric shock feeling in your spine so I think it would be worth talking to your doctor about the last symptom. I keep thinking I have Rls but I'm not too sure becuase I don't have it in my legs at all but only on my left arm I get a funny feeling where I want to stretch it sometimes as well. Sometimes I don't notice it at all but when I think about it, I want to move it or something. I don't know if I'm imagining it or not but do you think I might have Rls in one arm or do you think that it's just some random feelings in my arms?. I've had the feeling in my arm for about a week now but it's gotten more and more less noticeable so I'm not sure but do you know what I have?

Many thanks

Matthew

[Hidden in reply to Mattbutler14]

Hi Mathew you've asked about your own symptoms in your own thread and I've tried to answer you, but need more information. If you can respond to that perhaps we can help.

If Stephen has RLS, which isn't certain, you may be right. It could be secondary to a spinal problem. If that's the case, the spine problem is more worrying than the RLS.

[Mattly]

Doesn't sound like RLS to me. Sounds like a neurological problem in your back/sciatic nerve which should be seen by a neurologist.

[Trisshy12]

How it helps you better?. I have RLS but get worse increase one my. Still pain. You said that you also have problems with the spine. What's wrong ?. Mine L2 has a benign tumor? Keep check my back.

[Sara_2611]

It only happens to my feet

[Boristucke]

The spasms started a few years ago. At first it felt like whilst dropping off into sleep something was running down my back, like a spider or someone running a finger down my spine. It would make me jump. Nowadays if I do not take gabapentin the sensations are really violent. A small tingling starting either at the top or the base of my spine followed by all my back muscles spasming. It really feels like ice cold water running down my back. Not pleasent.

[Jane190]

Hi I don’t know about your third symptom it’s something I have not experienced myself or heard of in rls. I get this awful sensation in my legs and arms. It’s a sort of crawling sensation I do not self harm or have any mental health problems but it can get me in such a state I feel like cutting my legs and ripping the flesh out.