RLS Breakthrough Number 7

[davidadill]

When I sit on a couch I usually get restless legs within 30-45 minutes. The couch is 15 inches off the floor. When I sit on my office chair my legs never get restless. The chair is 18 inches of the floor. I have no explanation for this.

[Madlegs1]

It's not the height off the ground that is affecting the RLS.It is the composition of the seats. One is firm and affects a different set of muscles and sensory organs than the other (couch) which presumably is soft.

Your brain picks up on this difference and messages your body to react accordingly.

It may also be a factor that , depending on what you are wearing, your body absorbs the different atoms that are transferred between the sedentary object and your corpus. If you were to be naked, then the changes might be instantaneous. If clothed, there may well be a slight delay.

I hope that helps you understand the simple atomic theory involved in the transferability of materials in the universe.

If you don't, be not afeared. Very few people do! Myself and the late Stephen (RIP) only barely comprehended the full intricacies involved.

🤔🤓

[davidadill in reply to Madlegs1]

I only wear one set of clothes each day. My desk chair has a soft cushion on top.

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

I can understand that at the quantum level, but the rest just fell into a black hole

[Hidden]

RLS is just odd full stop! Your office chair might still be harder ( I saw your reply to Madlegs ). It may be to do with what you are doing on each chair. Are you working/concentrating more on your office chair. There’s this odd thing where engaging your brain by doing puzzles can stop RLS at the time. That is a well known phenomenon which I use every night several times though to work best I have to be standing though it means I can often stand still rather than walk about, occasionally I have to jiggle about as well.But if I sit & play the piano that works too - firm stool but with soft cushion on top.

Sitting on a hard concert seat ( when concerts were allowed ) is guaranteed to set my RLS off after the interval so enjoying music doesn’t stimulate my brain well enough or in the right place, nor does watching tv or reading. Lying down or lolling about is as nightmare as is being in the car as a passenger on a long journey but driving is no problem.

It’s all so odd.

I’d like someone to investigate all this using these fancy dynamic brain scanners you see on tv which show which parts of the brain light up when.

[TobyTobias1 in reply to Hidden]

Oh how good to read that it’s not just meI could relate to every word !

[Shewie in reply to TobyTobias1]

I can also relate every time I sit on my daughter couch my legs start every time, I thought it might have something to do with the material it’s made of weather I have long pants on or shorts.

[Rwall in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I too have found playing my musical instruments and reading will put my symptoms in a holding pattern. Sadly we can't sleep and read at the same time!!!!!

[RestlessRR]

It maybe because when you sit on a couch, you're resting and have nothing engaging in your mind, that's conducive for RLS. While when you sit on your office chair, you're working and your mind is busy with something, RLS don't thrive on that condition.

[Boldgirl45]

I’ve just seen how many breakthroughs you’ve written davidadill. I will make a note of all ! Keep them coming 😊

[Awkward_fellow]

Sadly for me it makes no difference what chair. By 4pm onwards any relaxation can lead to RLS. I like to nap late in the afternoon but I cannot. Glad some things work for you Madlegs1.

[gaula75]

I can sympathize with you. I truly believe that it is because when you sit in different chairs, you are compressing different muscles in your legs. I cannot sit on folding chairs at all due to the pressure nor can I sit more than an hour on a church pew. The composition of the chair does make a difference, but I think the angle of the chair does also. Driving and sitting as a passenger for more than an hour makes my RLS goes crazy. I have to get out and walk around as the muscles and nerves spasm and twitch. I have had to stop on the side of the road and stretch and rub down my legs. Medication does ease this some, but not much.

[Bruxelles in reply to gaula75]

Hello, I think you might have something here. I have noticed that certain chairs start my legs off. Thought it was just me! If I sit on a hard chair where there is pressure at the middle back of upper legs it becomes increasingly uncomfortable and I have to move around.

[Reb0013]

Just a thought in the process of logic and reduction; roll your office chair into your sitting room beside the couch. Watch TV same time of day only this time sit in your office chair while watching and see what happens.

[Josana13 in reply to Reb0013]

I believe that it is the upright position that helps, for me anyway. When I lean back on a couch it, triggers my RLS. Sitting upright doesn't

[keelstep]

I tried only standing, no sitting, during the day: made a platform for my computer and played the piano sanding up. After about four days I noticed my lower legs were swelling which I thought resulted from gabapentin that I had started recently. My RLS/PLMS did not change. After about two weeks I went back to sitting having concluded that standing was not effective. My legs returned to normal.

However I believe giving a good stretch to the muscles in the back of my legs has always helped. I stand with the front of my feet on a stair then lower down my heels so I can feel some pain. I do this before I go to bed and at times during the night.

I have found relief from an aggressive walk for at least 30 minutes that involves steep hills during the day. Doing physical work during the day also helps.

[Josana13 in reply to keelstep]

For me, pressure on the bottom of the feet is helpful. Like standing on gravel.

[TobyTobias1 in reply to keelstep]

Yes a good stretch feels great but still only seems to give a few seconds relief. Seem to spend all my waking hours pottering about these days apart from sitting for a cuppa that’s about as good as it gets!

[Bruxelles in reply to keelstep]

I find the contrary, if I walk more my legs are worse at night

[dklohrey]

I have found that a sofa, due to its height, will bring pressure to the back of my thighs. This pressure, with me, can trigger rls. Also, as some have suggested, a harder seat will usually aggravate rls less than one that is soft.

[davidadill in reply to dklohrey]

Maybe the mind is a big part of the issue. My legs never get restless while driving a car, but they can easily get restless when I am a passenger.

[ziggypiggy in reply to davidadill]

For me it's a control issue. I know as the driver I can stop whenever I need to to walk and stretch. As a passenger you don't feel that same control, you have the added barrier of having to ask the driver to stop which can feel embarrassing and stuff. Even though it may not be a big deal to the driver. I still get RLS as a passenger far more than as a driver for this reason.

[Josana13]

I have found that if I sit back on a couch, my legs will start kicking. When I sit upright on a chair, couch or bed, much better

[Irmajs]

If you are like me, as long as my mind is busy in my office chair there is no problem. It’s only when I try to relax on couch or recliner. I personally don’t think firmness or softness has anything to do with it. It’s a brain thing.

Another thing that may effect when and where you experience RLS is what medications you are taking. When I was experiencing augmentation from Ropinirole, I had it every time I sat it laid down.