A Long Time Sufferer

[Mollycat33]

Hi I’m new here, I’ve been suffering RLS since I was pregnant with my first child, he is now 42, in December 2017 I lost one of my children in a tragic accident. I had to see my doctor as I was unable to sleep etc, but at the same time I told them about my legs, I had been telling them for years, but for some reason it seemed to fall on deaf ears, I couldn’t believe my doctor actually gave me some medication to help, they are called Gabapentin, for the first time in 40 years I was free of RLS, it was like a miracle.

11 weeks ago I fell and broke my heel, for some strange reason, my RLS has come back again, it’s not all the time, just when I’m trying to get to sleep, but my goodness it’s so severe, I’ve had to double my medication along with very strong pain relief. I’m having to move my broken heel, which is excruciating at any rate. I also seem to get the same pain in my arms and occasionally throughout my body. Is this normal?

I think one of the worst things is my husband can’t really comprehend how bad this RLS really is, before I broke my heel and before the medication, I often got up in the night and went downstairs and put in my headphones and danced to distract myself, but obviously I’m unable to do that now.

I feel so desperate at times, I really think it’s a life changing illness, which isn’t recognised by physicians. Does anybody have any suggestions to help me, I am so depressed with it all.

Thank you .

[Madlegs1]

I wonder if any medications given to you at the time of the heel incident, are affecting the rls?

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear about your fracture and your RLS exacerbation.

I can't imagine that there's any direct causal relationship between RLS and a broken bone. Therefore, as Madlegs suggests, there's probably some other associated factor.

It may be because of the limitations on your mobility eirther due to a lack of activity or you didn't obviously notice how your activity helped you avoid symptoms.

If when you first had the injury you took stronger painkillers e.g. opiates, and have now stopped those, you are having opiate withdrawal effects.

Or it may be that there is, coincidentally some other triggering factor e,g, other medications you may have started taking.

[Allyp69]

So sorry to hear what you have been through. My RLS started when I was pregnant in 1973 but my Mum had it....so, inherited. I was never on any medication but just avoided situations where I had to sit in the evenings, got bored etc...Lying down used to help but now it is worse and I take Valerian occasionally to help me relax and sleep...wear copper bracelets in the evening, listen to music on headphones....I don't get it every day...alcohol and sugary drinks don't help..Every person on here who takes medication seems to have problems with increasing the dose etc. A cure is needed but it's an invisible illness and very few people understand it. Hope you get some help and support.

[Jameskbt]

Did the RLS start when you stopped taking or reduced the pain meds for your broken heel?.

When i shattered my heel during a fall from a 15ft window on to my feet i was given morphine liquid and tablets for months afterwards for the pain.

When i stopped taking them the worst sptom was restless legs.