Are we any closer to finding a cure for RLS that doesn't involve medication which could have harmful side effects??

[Allyp69]

I have never taken medication for RLS but I would really like to know what causes it? After reading posts here it seems that iron and other minerals may be part of the solution..but iron hasn't helped my RLS. Mine started when I was anaemic during pregnancy, was given iron injections but RLS never went away completely. It's worse after stress, tiredness, alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks. But I don't have it every day. Sitting in the evenings watching TV, at the cinema etc , or on a long flight really triggers it for me. Keeping active, reading and listening to music help.

Finally, copper bracelets and occasional CBD oil at bedtime do help as well as herbal sleep aids such as Valerian.

Thank you for all the useful posts...at least I know that I'm not alone.

[Sara_2611]

I still use my balneum cream & it still works for me

[Allyp69 in reply to Sara_2611]

I tried to order balneum cream but couldn't find it...could you give me the exact brand and where you buy it?? Presume you rub it in? Thanks

[Sara_2611 in reply to Allyp69]

Hi

I have to be careful here because I was recommending it on this site & the admins quite rightly told me that i shouldnt be recommending it (or something similar) because people who didnt really know anything about the cream might find themselves allergic to it if they bought it & tried it because everyones skin is different some peoples skin would be ok & some not -I only mentioned it cos this is what i use & its good for me -so what may be good for me may not be good for anyone else

[AmyMac5 in reply to Allyp69]

I've never heard of this but Balneum appears to be the brand name and it's available on Amazon. Looking at the active ingredients, E45 Itch Relief cream also contains these in the same strengths. You can also use medicines.org.uk to see an ingredients list and patient leaflets which will help you decide if it would be suitable for use on your skin or likely to cause you problems.

[Madlegs1]

Two basic things to do for RLS ,without using drugs, are checking for iron and checking for triggers.This will address the vast majority of rls issues.

1-get an iron blood panel, and if deficient - supplement. This must be done with medical oversight. Iron poisoning is very easy to achieve.

2- keep a food diary. After 3 weeks you should see a correlation between intake and fizzy legs.

Alternatively,one could try a Fodmap type diet and introduce foods slowly to see the effect.

Alcohol, sugar/ sweeteners, processed meats,ice cream, sulphates, rising agents ,msg in all its forms and so on -- all affect different people.

I guarantee both of these approaches will solve most RLS issues.

These approaches will not be as successful if medical methods have been tried. This is because people are not then suffering original rls, but rather withdrawal symptoms from coming off a medication, or augmentation.

Donations in brown paper bags dropped at my back door will be highly appreciated. No receipts will be issued.😜

[Rish]

I’m sure my Rls is all to do with my spine , the pain in my spine gets bad my Rls is terrible! I have rls a lot an no matter what I try nothing works, but as soon as my husband rubs my sore back I fall asleep and if he stoops I wake up my legs kicking off! I sleep on my stomach so I have tried a back machine but it doesn’t work that way ! I had an iron infusion it didn’t help . I really wish they could find a cure.

[Hidden]

In order to find the best cure for RLS, you'd have to find the "root" cause of it. That is the cause that isn't caused by anything else before it.

In which case the only root cause of RLS must be the "big bang" 15 billion years ago which caused the universe.

To cure it I guess you could rewind the universe, then let it run again, without RLS.

30 billion years later

A Min gets into bed, (men didn't evolve this time round.)

Oh no, the hairs in my left lower tentacle are shaking again. I think I have the Shaking Hairs In Tentacle Syndrome.

Damn!

Rewind the universe.

I wonder what caused the big bang?

[WideBody in reply to Hidden]

Me thinks Manerva might have been tipping a few last night. Hope the RLS held out.