Pins and needles

[Dazzyt]

Hi all does anyone suffer with pins and needles below knee level ... Not had this before with rls ...

[Madlegs1]

What's changed in your life? Medication, food, drink? Environment?

[Dazzyt in reply to Madlegs1]

There's nothing that I can think of if I'm honest other than im off work this week on leave

[Hidden in reply to Dazzyt]

Can you give more detail?

Where exactly do. you get the sensations? Which of the following places do you get it - inside of leg, outside, front, back. Is it all the way down the leg and does it go into your feet? If so which parts of your feet?

Do you have any numbness anywhere? Do ypu feel like you have socks on, even when you haven't?

Does anything make it worse or better.

[bookish in reply to Dazzyt]

Could you be sitting for longer than normal on a chair that cuts off circulation - seat too high perhaps? Just a thought

[Stdorn]

After over a decade of treatment for RLS And insomnia I Occasionally started to have this happen now my doctor says my RLS is a symptom of neuropathy.

[Munroist in reply to Stdorn]

I've read in many places including RLS-UK.org that there are links between neuropathy and RLS. While I haven't seen anything explaining the precise relationship, I guess that if your nerves are sensitised because of damage or trauma e.g. spine issues then they may be more susceptible to RLS in their excited state. Personally I found my RLS became significantly worse after a back problem which left me with permanent altered sensations (tingling, hot/cold etc) although fairly mild luckily. However I get the feeling that neuropathy can trigger or exacerbate RLS and I haven't seen anything which suggests the reverse, namely that RLS can cause or trigger neuropathy or sensations. I suppose the question might be whether you've experienced anything which might cause neuropathy?

[Guitarpickin in reply to Munroist]

Munroist, like you, I am unsure of the correlation but also have spinal nerve issues which present, in part, like RLS. I have no idea if I have a separate RLS or if all the problems stem from my spine. I too have permanent altered sensations (constant tingling with various other intermittent sensations/symptoms), but the most debilitating symptoms by far are the ones that disrupt/prevent sleep. They looked into other potential causes (pre-diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, vitamin/mineral toxicity, MS, ALS, etc), but at this point the primary culprit seems to be the spine. My neurologist recommended an inversion table (to help decompress the spine) and while it hasn’t solved all my problems, it is very helpful and often seems to assist with the RLS-like symptoms. When things are consistently bad for a few nights I take gabapentin, which works like a dream. On those nights I sleep like I don’t even have legs. I love it but try not to take it often for fear of it losing efficacy. Anyway, I am sorry to hear of your problems, which sound similar to mine, and will hope there is a solution out there. Best of luck.

[bookish]

How is your blood sugar? Quite small imbalances (pre pre-diabetes level even, in those particularly susceptible) can contribute (even cause) various neuropathies. B12 deficiency is also commonly overlooked and not always easily diagnosed, as well as issues with the folate cycle.

[BoldMove]

Try sublingual B12. Start with a high dose (5000 IUs) and see if it works for you. If so see how long it takes for symptoms to return and repeat with the 5K. Wait a couple of days and take 1000 to 2000 daily. It works for me on the tingling. There is no upper level limit, B12 is not dangerous, and as we age it becomes more difficult to absorb in the stomach. That's why sublingual is recommended. It will also increase your energy level throughout the day.

[Hidden]

It does sound as if you might possibly have a neuropathy, not RLS. If you were to answer my questions I might be able to say more about it.

I can't suggest any remedy unless I know what the problem is.