I’m currently 30 weeks pregnant and for the past 8 weeks I have been suffering with a constant dull/heavy ache in my legs (mainly calves and ankles) sometimes the pain is unbearable.
It’s been affecting my sleep as I often wake up throughout the night with it or I can’t get to sleep with it.
I feel like I have to stretch and move them about as it’s too uncomfortable to keep them still.
I’ve never suffered with this before pregnancy and I can’t pin point if it’s restless legs or just general aches and pains of pregnancy.
I have tried so many things such as magnesium lotion, stretches, massaging, bananas, lots of water throughout the day, paracetamol (only drug I can take), cold compress, warm compress, currently on iron tablets (Ferrous Fumarate), daily walks and nothing is helping.
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megan1295
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It certainly sounds like RLS, which can occur for the first time during pregnancy. Especially the third trimester.My daughter used a magnesium lotion I made up ( half water ( not tap) and half magnesium flakes ( Epsom salts)) - that worked for her. It did sting a bit, so she washed it off after 20 mins. But it definitely helped.
You are certainly doing everything recommended, and may just have to endure it. 😪
It disappeared for my daughter. But does remain for some unfortunate few. But at that stage you have more options, depending on whether you are breastfeeding or not.Wendy Jones is a pharmacy nurse website which can tell you what medications are safe for BF.
Honestly I don’t think you have RLS. I think you have like those heavy leg cramps from circulation. What I think you need to do is drink some wine tonic water keep that quinine by your bed and just step on it when you get there see other than water of course and you’re going to feel so much better in no time life isn’t in the day I mean it didn’t happen that fast so I don’t think it sorry I’ll ask because RLS is more like it do you want to slam your leg up and down and you know you just can’t help it and if it happens in my ear As arms and legs and hands so anyway good luck to you. Just a suggestion
Sorry to hear the RLS has moved to other body parts. Are you on Ropinirole or Pramipexole or Rotigitone? They can cause augmentation - worsening of RLS, other body parts affected.
Hi Megan, I'm reluctant to contradict Madlegs, your symptoms have some similarities to RLS, but from what you write I'm not 100% convinced.
The reasons I write this is because there are accepted diagnostic criteria for RLS and what you write doesn't quite match these criteria.
I'd hate for you to be pursuing a diagnosis of RLS when in fact, it may be something else.
Some people with RLS do suffer pain as a consequence, but pain is not actually part of the diagnostic criteria.
Those that do expereince pain often describe it as dull and heavy so that doesn't in itself exclude you from having RLS. However, bear in mind that many other conditions can cause this.
The principle defining characteristic of RLS is the "urge to move". This can, and often does exist entirely on its own. Often it may also be accompanied by an unpleasant sensation. The sensation is typically described as creepy, crawling, electric, ants etc.
The urge to move is not the same as feeling you have to move to relieve discomfort or pain and can exist even when there is no pain.
I describe my experience of this as being like holding your breath. You try to not breath (move) and the longer you don't the greater the urge to do it, until it becomes irrestible.
The other criteria are these
This usually only occurs at night or is worst at night. Where it happens during the day too, or is as bad during the day as at night, it mnust FIRST have been worse at night.
The urge to move usually only occurs when you stay still, sit or lie down. It is usually relieved by moving.
The symptoms cannot be explained by any other condition.
I'm not sying you don't have RLS, I'm only saying it's not definite, from what you write your symptom could be explained by other things.
Obviously you need to consult a doctor to get a confirmed diagnosis.
RLS does run in families so if you have any close relatives who have RLS, then that increases the likelihood of you having it.
In addition, pregnancy often precipitates RLS, so that increases the likelihood of you having it.
Some people do say that paracetamol helps, but it's never helped me and it doesn't appear to be helping you.
I note you say you can only take paracetamol, I don't know why, but if you can take it, until you see a Dr, paracetamol with codeine CAN help. It's the codeine that helps.
You are quite right to start taking an oral iron supplement, if you don't have RLS this should do no harm and if you do, it may help.
You may find "Gentle" iron, ferrous bisglycinate better than fumarate, it causes less gut problems.
Some tips for making this more effective are
- take it 30 mins before or two hours after eating (empty stomach)
- take a glass of orange or vitamin C tablet at the same time
- take a double dose but only once every alternate day, not every day.
Whether or not it turns out you have RLS, it's a good idea to have some blood tests for iron deficiency. These may indicate if you're suffering iron deficiency anaemia, which cvan cause RLS but, if you do have RLS a ferritin level less than 200 may indicate you have Brain Iron Deficiency, which is the main casue of RLS.
Hopefully your B12/folate and vitamin D are being tested because deficiencies in these can make RLS worse.
Hi, I’ve never had it before pregnancy and don’t know any immediate family who have it. I just can’t pin point what it could be. I thought it was RLS at first because I need to move them to relieve the horrible aching discomfort which occurs day and night. I can also feel it standing and walking occasionally, however walking takes my mind off the ache. It could be sciatica but I’m not sure if a symptom of sciatica is aching.
I had a full blood count done and the only thing that was low was my haemoglobin hence why I have been prescribed iron tablets.
Unfortunately the doctor is reluctant to prescribe to codeine in pregnancy as it can cause the baby to have withdrawals once born if taken too often and also the addiction aspect of it.
Your doctor may not say your ferritin is low if it is more than 12 (twelve), they may not appreciate that for somebody with RLS it needs to be at least 200 (two hundred).
If your haemoglobin is low, it's likely that your serum iron and transferring would be low. In which case I wonder if you have had tests for serum iron, tranmsferrin and ferritin.
IF you have iron deficiency anaemia, as detected by the low haemoglobin then this could be causing RLS symptoms. Let's hope this is the case.
However, I still suspect that your symptom is not RLS. I doubt it's sciatica either, this pain is usually sharp and/or burning.
It may possibly be a circulatory problem, I'm not a doctor.
I’m not too sure what it could be to be honest. I’ve had scans for blood clots but they’ve all come back negative. I’m just hoping it goes after pregnancy because it really is unbearable. Don’t think the doctor can even pin point what it is.
I first developed RLS in my second pregnancy at 30 weeks. I was anaemuc but iron supplements made no difference. I couldn't explain/describe it to my doctor as the sensations were something I'd never experienced before. It stopped me sleeping though and I was exhausted. As I also had severe MS and a heart murmur, my consultant put me on temazapam. Complete disaster as it didn't stop the nighttime RLS and made me feel totally drugged and unstable. It never went away and I ended up on Dopamine agonists.However, it does disappear for the majority so fingers crossed.
It's important to get your sleep so do discuss with your doctor ( although I guarantee they won't know anything as it's not taught to doctors at any stage in UK training).
The best treatment options for pregnancy RLS are lifestyle modifications and iron supplements but if lack of sleep is affecting your and babies health then low dose opioids are sometimes considered.
I agree with those who say that it doesn’t sound like RLS. It sounds more like cramp, especially as you’re experiencing it in your calves and feet. Quinine is excellent for cramp so tonic water should help, plus magnesium but it might take weeks before you feel the benefit. You don’t say how long you tried it.
I hope you find something that helps you. Pregnancy can bring in so many horrible things. I had agonising pain from behind my rib cage on the LHS throughout the whole of the third trimester, as my son was pressing so much on my ribs. It felt red raw! Thankfully, after he was born, the pain eventually subsided. The joys of pregnancy, but it’s worth it!
I wouldn’t say cramp as such, it’s more of an ache. I haven’t had cramp yet unless that’s classed as aching? I know, I’m hoping it does go haha. Thank you.
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