Creativity as therapy?

[Ouchagain]

This is a question from a forum newbie, I wonder if any others have found arts and crafts can help with RLS. I've had RLS for many years, Ropinirole lets me sleep (been taking for years; lucky, no augmentation yet) but is no help during the day. I find if I do painting, drawing, mosaic, sewing... even design on a computer..., so long as it requires focus and creativity, I don't get RLS. It's bliss to get to midnight without tying my legs in knots!

I can only guess that these art/craft activities help boost dopamine levels. My legs go bonkers when I try to enjoy more passive activities such as reading, watching TV, films, theatre, even dining and chatting with friends... unless I have something like embroidery or weaving to do at the same time.

Has there been any research into the kinds of brain-stimulating activities that can help reduce RLS symptoms? It's clearly much more than just distraction going on.

Any non-pharmaceutical therapy is so welcome, I wonder if others might benefit from getting creative.

[Madlegs1]

Interesting! I haven't heard of any research, but it is well known that distraction is a major help in relieving RLS.

Keep digging.

Have you tried a search on Cochrane review?

[Ouchagain in reply to Madlegs1]

Thank you for that tip, I've checked Cochrane but not found anything there. See my note to Sue Johnson below.

[SueJohnson]

Yes as Madlegs1 said, anything that distracts you can help with RLS.

[Ouchagain in reply to SueJohnson]

Hmm, distraction is good but needs something to be distracted from, i.e. at least some RLS symptoms. The curious thing about crafting is I get no symptoms, which is why I think it is something more than distraction going on.

[SueJohnson in reply to Ouchagain]

If you are engaged in something you enjoy, your brain will produce dopamine.

[Desperate100]

I'm not really a creative person, but I have found doing difficult sudoku puzzles keeps my mind off my RLS.

[involuntarydancer]

I have found this. 10 minutes of a very absorbing activity can provide 30 mins of relief. For me computer games (chess) work but paper puzzles do not - not sufficiently diverting.

[Ouchagain in reply to involuntarydancer]

I love Sudokus but they don't work for my legs. I wonder if they tickle up dopamine levels in you and others? I'm just wondering if that is what is going on.

[puzzler1]

I've found that knitting helps and remember seeing an article on the TV with Dr Phil Hammond (NHS) saying that knitting and the coordination between brain and hands can be therapeutic for a lot of conditions. I have taken wooden knitting needles on flights before but check with the airline.

[Ouchagain in reply to puzzler1]

Thank you, puzzler1, that sounds just the sort of thing. I'm not sure whether any knitting needles are allowed on planes these days, but I haven't flown for a while.

[Guitarpickin]

Thanks so much for this post. It’s inspiring and is a great reminder there are other things to try before just upping our meds when they no longer cover our symptoms.

[Kakally]

I am totally in creative . I’m unable to read or write (when my RLS is very bad) which I love. I either walk at high speed through our village even at 2am if my partner comes with me. Or I walk back and forth through the house. Both those help. Intimacy (!) is helpful. Crying when RLS is sooo bad really helps…🤣. Singing loudly to my RLS playlist helps but I can only do it when my partner is away😬😬😬.

[Kakally in reply to Kakally]

Uncreative…. (Spelling)

[restlessstoz]

I've just read your post and am a bit confused. You say you're on Ropinirole and sleep well but then seem to imply that you're bothered by RLS during the day? ' but is no help during the day. ' ... to me that suggests that you possibly are augmenting and it may be a good idea to look at an option for your medication. I used to be fine on Pramipexole but then started getting symptoms in the daytime which I'd never had before, only evening and night. I didn't know anything about augmentation and the doctor just increased the meds I was on, finally adding more and more. Then I found HU!

I just wonder if you are in the beginning of augmentation and perhaps could consider an alternative before it gets too bad?

[Ouchagain in reply to restlessstoz]

Hello restlesstoz, that's so kind to be alerting me to augmentation although I think I'm ok at the moment. My RLS kicks in through the afternoon and evening (with an occasional morning twitch) much the same as it was before nights got so bad that I was put on Ropinirole several years ago. I've kept the dose steady, have no intention of upping it. It feels risky to switch meds while things are steady.

[restlessstoz]

In answer to you craft question, yes absolutely I used to be up all night working on modelling miniature houses when I was fighting to get off pramipexole. It was the only thing that stopped the endless symptoms. But that was the only thing that did. I couldn't read or do crosswords or work on the computer. Not engaging enough. Problem solving was the thing that kept my legs at bay.

[Ouchagain in reply to restlessstoz]

Ah yes, that sounds so like my experience. 'Engaging' is a good word. I sometimes think these is an interesting chicken and egg situation, seems that if I think about RLS, the symptoms follow quickly. Our brains are very curious chemical melting pots, so much still to understand.

[restlessstoz in reply to Ouchagain]

That's what I wonder, do I think RL and then feel the symptoms or do I subconsciously feel the beginnings and think RL! ??? I think it's not something that we can 'make happen' by thinking about it. I believe we get used to the feelings and pick up on them beginning before we even realise.

[Ouchagain in reply to restlessstoz]

I think you are right, and that is where distraction does help no end!

[Hidden in reply to restlessstoz]

I tat or crochet. During the night hours while attempting to sleep I listen to audiobooks and I think there is some research somewhere about auditory signals distracting RLS discomfort.

[MumofSam]

It’s like Madlegs says, distraction is a well known technique for dealing with RLS. That’s probably half the reason it’s so awful when you’re in bed, as there’s nothing to distract you.