Hi, I'm new to this site and joined to maybe find some answers

[Snappysmacky]

So IV always had restless leg syndrome. Maybe twice a week, but I could get up for about 10 mins a walk it off. That changed a few days ago

[Hidden]

Hello, welcome to this site. I hope you find it helpful.

RLS twice a week sounds relatively bearable and I'm assuming that you managed this without medication. If not, then that's a different matter.

Sorry for being over pedantic, but if you've only been experiencing RLS twice a week and it changed a few days ago, I guess you mean more than 2 days ago? Otherwise it might be just your 2 days for this week.

I also guess however, that "your" normal pattern is twice a week at random, i.e. not 2 days in succession and it's now every day. Possibly the symptoms are more intense?

If that's the case then this sounds quite a sudden change and typically, this means that something else has changed in your life recently that's "triggered" the RLS.

There are many things that can trigger RLS, some obvious and some more subtle.

The obvious ones are medications. If you recently started on a medication for some other reason, there are many medicines that can trigger RLS. When I say recent, this may have been weeks ago.

Rather than list all the possibilities, (it's a long list), if you identify what medicines you take and how long you've taken them, then it's possible to say whether they can trigger RLS or not.

The more subtle factors in RLS usually make it worse gradually rather than suddenly, although it may be that something has been happening slowly but only just fallen below, (or gone above) a significant value.

Age is a factor, RLS gets worse as you get older. However it doesn't suddenly get worse on a birthday!

Other factors include other medical conditions such as diabetes, overactive thyroid, anaemia and kidney failure. I assume that you'd know if you had any of them, but they can creep on you if you're not familiar with the signs.

Certain mineral and vitamin deficiencies can cause RLS or make it worse.

The main one is iron, specifically brain iron deficiency, which can occur in the absence of iron deficiency anaemia. This can be tested by a blood test for "ferritin". For someone with RLS, this should be at least 50mcg/L and better still above 100. Incidentally, these are NOT "normal" values, they are above what can be considered normal. "Normal" is not enough.

Deficiencies in vitamins B12 and D if corrected can improve RLS.

If, as I assumed, you aren't taking any RLS medication then I suggest you visit your doctor and discuss your case, they can carry out a few initial tests for the above.

It is best to consider what non-pharmacological things you can do to relieve your RLS before accepting any medication.

If your doctor does suggest medication, I suggest you find out a lot more detail about the options before starting on any medication.

On the other hand, if I am assuming wrongly and you are taking RLS medication and more so, if you have been taking it for some time, then the worsening of your symptoms may be due to that medication.

Again, if you give details of any medication, it will be possible to say if that's the case.

I hope you get other replies and if you have any more questions you'd be very welcome to come back and ask them.

[Snappysmacky in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I have been on a medication for about a year now that does increase RLS. Altho that is not what has giving me issues. I fell on our steps a coupel of weeks ago. I broke my leg, fractured my ankle dislocated everything. They had to do surgery on the spot were they put a plate and 4 pins into my ankle. Of course i have been off work in a cast and can not do much with this foot. Since then the leg I broke gets RLS in it every night all night. I can't sleep which concerns me because I will be going back to a day job.

[Hidden in reply to Snappysmacky]

I guess you realise that if you're taking something that makes RLS worse, depending on what it is, there may be alternatives.

If you've recently had trauma and surgery then you may have been given medicines forll pain, especially opiates, e.g. morphine.

Opiates can be used to treat RLS, but if they're used foracute pain, the downside is that withdrawal can worsen RLS symptoms.

If you were given an opiate and stopped it recently, it may be thst you have opiate withdrawal symptoms, basically RLS!

Withdrawal effects will wear off.

It may be, if you can persuade your doctor, your sleep and to some extent RLS symptoms can be helped by taking a short course ( 4 weeks) of a benzodiazepine. These help sleep but also have a muscle relaxant effect which can help reduce shaking. Clonazrpam is commonly used for RLS.

It may be that your doctor could be persuaded to prescribe an opiate, for pain! An opiate such as Tramadol can telieve RLS symptoms.. Some people take ONLY an opiate for RLS.

Failing that paracetamol and codeine may help. Unfortunately not really enough codeine in it and you can't increase the dose because of the paracetamol.

Another option, still assuming you don't currently take a RLS medication, you could ask your doctor to prescribe gabapentin.

Gabapentin is licensed for epilepsy and neuropathic pain, but can also be effective in helping sleep, anxiety and RLS. My RLS is entirely relieved with gabapentin.