RLS When Driving a Car

[davidadill]

When I sit on a couch I sometimes have problems with my legs within 30 minutes. When I am driving my car, sometimes for two hours or more, my legs never bother me. I often use cruise control so my legs are doing nothing. Does anyone have a theory on why this is true?

[rls-insomniac]

I don't know the reason for this. But if I'm a passenger in a car my RLS kicks off terribly within about 15/20 mins and I'm clawing at the car door to get out BUT if I'm driving, then it usually calms right down. Odd isn't it?!

[davidadill in reply to rls-insomniac]

I came up with a theory last night that I hope to test. That is that when I am driving my arms are lifted and active, but as a passenger they usually sit on my knees. I am going to try sitting on my couch with my arms lifted.

[rls-insomniac in reply to davidadill]

I hope that works for you. When I'm a passenger in a car, I usually have my arms folded/crossed so they are elevated. Sadly it doesn't make any difference to me.

[wilabozo in reply to davidadill]

I've had a bit of success doing upper body exercises everyday. I use this workout which is challenging but I think helps balance the body...

youtube.com/watch?v=5qCjyzb...(Not working as expected?)

Apart from walking I try to avoid lower body exercises because I think we get enough already from finding relief.

[Sampsie]

Perhaps it's because you're concentrating on driving? Mental tasks can stop episodes.

[John_naylor]

The brain, our control room, is being exercised and it seems too occupied to harass the limbs? Whatever, I’m fine driving and when up during the night I can often sit and do a sudoku.

[moonhunt18]

I get it when driving. Sometimes horribly.

[davidadill in reply to moonhunt18]

How do you hold the steering wheel? I hold it at 10 and 2 o'clock instead of holding it down low. I also find that when I am using my computer at a desk that RLS is never a problem.

[RLSofManyYears]

I often have the same problem: as a passenger my legs can often jerk badly but when driving then it is less (but not totally zero). My worst scenario is as a passenger in an aircraft - nightmare! When it comes to driving then my wife and I will share the driving a lot more than we used to do, mainly because of the lack of sleep due to RLS.

I think the reason for the difference between passenger/driver is that RLS affects us mainly when resting and our brain activity is different between being a passenger and being a driver. However as you can read from the experiences of others, we are not all the same and RLS affects us differently. So what we can glean are only indications and not firm rules.