Heat or MSG or both ?

[Summer194]

I'm quite lucky as my symptoms are generally not severe. However, I recently spent 2 months in Thailand where I suffered every night with RLS. The only differences I can think of between Thailand and the UK which could affect RLS are their use of MSG in foods, and the daily heat. Upon returning to the UK my RLS was almost zero for most nights. My bet is on MSG as it has nowhere to go in the body and they use it a lot out there to make the food even more tasty. Any thoughts folks ?

[Madlegs1]

Definitely msg.

[SueJohnson]

MSG is definitely known to exacerbate symptoms in many people as you discovered. Have you had your ferritin checked?

[Seaux in reply to SueJohnson]

MSG for sure. My neurologist says that both heat and dehydration can worsen RLS.

[SueJohnson in reply to Seaux]

And have you had your ferritin checked?

[Marlayna]

Msg is an excitotoxin so my guess is you’re in to something!

[BoldMove]

MSG is an excitotoxin and makes RLS much worse in many people. I'm clearly one. Aspartame is another. I recently took my granddaughter for fajitas which were so delicious, but that night I had the worst RLS I ever had. I researched and found that MSG is commonly used in many Mexican foods. Guess I'll have to stick to the salad bar when out.

[RCHD]

For sure my husband’s RLS is magnified by MSG… always has been.

[Embroiderer]

Yes I had a nightmare night - dreadful RLS- after eating my first (and last) Chinese meal for over 20 years, and that was in Oxford. Definitely the MSG.

[Hidden in reply to Embroiderer]

Oh crap. I just had Chinese

[landdebbie]

I find the heat kicks my legs off even here in the UK.

[Hidden]

Both. MSG will trigger RLS, but being too warm is also a factor for me

[Summer194]

Many thanks to all for your replies. I am due a check up at the Doctors so will ask for Ferritin levels to be checked. I was once told that Salt can contribute to RLS - though whether this is basic table salt or Himalayan etc salts I don't know, but the latter is always preferable to the former. I went for an Indian last night with my son and experienced RLS overnight, so there is definitely a link between certain spicy foods / MSG / Salt ? and RLS. It therefore may bring some relief to sufferers if they can reduce / cut out these types of foods. Better to make them at home as you can control what goes in the meal ! Good luck everyone.

[restlessstoz in reply to Summer194]

Hi Summer194, all salts are salt. Some have more minerals in but they are still salt. Same as all sugars are still sugar, just different levels of refinement. Both are found to be triggers for RLs by a lot of sufferers.

In RLS it has been found that we are already prone to high levels of glutamate in our brains which is one reason our nervous systems are 'excitable'. If we eat some foods high in glutamate (which is what MSG is) like cheese for instance, it can exacerbate our RLS. If you research glutamate it will give you an idea what other foods contain it in case you find you react to other foods in the future.

I find that my legs prefer cooler conditions if they are restless but otherwise it doesn't really bother them. I don't think, for me, the temperature triggers the symptoms but can aggravate them once they start.

[Summer194]

Yes pretty much here in the UK - but Thailand was a different story. I went to bed ok and sometimes to sleep, but awoke an hour later with RLS for around 2-3 hours when over there. I speak enough Thai to ask them not to add MSG but I guess they do anyway ! ... and of course it can be baking hot over there ! (I lived there for 4 years).

[SueJohnson]

Is your RLS under control?

[SueJohnson]

Are you taking any medicines for your RLS?

[Summer194 in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue, No I take none - it is usually not too bad - I am relatively lucky.

[SueJohnson in reply to Summer194]

Great.

[CookiePooki]

If you go back to Thailand don't eat their food. And I will check my foods to see if MSG is in the mix. Thanks for the experience.

[Boldgirl45]

Another possibility could be sweating minerals out (like magnesium etc). however, MSG definitely sounds quite likely!

[Hedgehob_Bob]

Funny - just by reading the title of your post ("Heat or MSG or both"), I was pretty sure that your post was about a trip to Asia, and I can relate so much to your post.

I usually have my symptoms quite under control using some meds, but I had three occasions where my symptoms went through the roof, and I barely coulnd't get any sleep for a couple of nights. Once was after my Pfizer shot (the two previous Moderna shots were no problem), and twice during my two trips to Thailand.

I'm still not sure why my body reacted so strongly in Thailand. I have several assumptions: the heat, the spicy food, the above-average alcohol consumption, and MSG. My biggest suspicion really is MSG.

Interestingly, a change in the diet typically has no significant effect on my RLS. I once did a 1-month anti-inflammatory diet with no meat, no caffeine, no alcohol, no dairy, and (almost) no processed food. It was an interesting month, but it didn't have any significant effect on my RLS.

[DogBella]

I have severe RLS. I recently traveled from a hot climate - 95 degrees - to a cool climate - 25 degrees. For one week in the cold climate, I did not have RLS. Once I returned to the hot climate, my RLS returned. I believe temperature has a great effect on my RLS.

[SueJohnson in reply to DogBella]

Are you taking any medicines for your RLS?

[DogBella in reply to SueJohnson]

Yes, I started taking Horizant a month ago, weaning off ropinirole (down to 2 mg a day) and 1200 MG of Gabapentin.

[SueJohnson in reply to DogBella]

Are you taking both Horizant and gabapentin?

[DogBella in reply to SueJohnson]

yes, at this time. I will try to get off the gabapentin later.

[SueJohnson in reply to DogBella]

The reason I asked is they are both pretty much the same medicine. When you start weaning off gabapentin, do it very slowly or you will have withdrawal effects. If you do it slowly you won't have any.

[DogBella in reply to SueJohnson]

Are you taking Horizant? The doctor wants me off the ropinirole first and then the gabapentin.

[SueJohnson in reply to DogBella]

No. I take gabapentin which completely controls my symptoms. Horizant is a 24 hour medicine and I only need it at night. Plus it is very expensive in the US.

[Hidden]

Interesting! I love all the little nuggets of info that folks share. Thank you

[Hidden]

Hi Summer194, Avoiding MSG is so hard. In the USA, MSG doesn't have to be listed as a specific ingredient and is disguised in the ingredient list as "natural flavors".