Causes of RLS in children - anxiety?

[Hammyham]

Hi. I've just joined this group. My 11 year old displays symptoms of restless leg - he's not really sure how to describe what happens but has a strong urge to kick his legs around which he finds upsetting. This is often in the evening and seems to have coincided with a growth spurt and general change in emotions and anxiety. Any thoughts? Is the GP the best first step? This happened a few years ago.

[Joolsg]

rls-uk.org/rls-in-children

Very briefly ( I'm visiting elderly parent in hospital), childhood RLS is mainly caused by low serum ferritin, so get full panel fasting blood tests from the GP.

As doctors aren't taught RLS in the UK and many refuse to believe children can experience it, do as much research as you can.

It's often mistaken for ADHD or growing pains. It isn't! It's very real.

Avoid exacerbating meds like sedating anti histamines and keep a food & drink diary to check for triggers.

Folate and iron supplements can make an enormous difference and if levels of iron and ferritin are low, an iv infusion may be needed.

Don't let GP tell you bloods are NORMAL. Ferritin has to be above 75 for children with RLS.

Post the results on here and someone will guide you on how to supplement most effectively.

[SueJohnson]

To elaborate on what Joolsg replied, when your son has the full iron panel, he should stop taking any iron supplements including multivitamins that have iron in them 48 hours before the test, fast after midnight and have his test in the morning. When you get the results, ask for his ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. and post them here as Joolsg said and we can give you advice. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a... There is a section on childhood under special circumstances. Above all don't let his doctor prescribe a dopamine agonist like ropinirole (requip) or pramipexole. (mirapex). Meanwhile some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are , caffeine, sugar, carbs, foods high in sodium, foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, dehydration, MSG, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, stress and vigorous exercise. Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, magnesium glycinate, low oxalate diet, selenium, 5 minute shower alternating 20 seconds cold water with 10 seconds hot water finishing with hot water for another couple of minutes, hot baths, distractions, applying a topical magnesium lotion or spray, doing a magnesium salts soak, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, D3, K2, if deficient, and potassium and copper if deficient, massage including using a massage gun, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga.

Many medicines and OTC supplements can make RLS worse. If he is taking any and you list them here, I can tell you if any make RLS symptoms worse and if so may be able to give you a safe substitute.

[Hammyham in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you. He's been taking multi vitamins the past few weeks. Maybe this hasn't helped. We had pancakes for tea tonight which we don't usually do - quite sugary. A food diary is a good idea. I will do proper research before going to the GP. I do feel I may be told its just his age / hormones....Occasionally he's had phases where he's had a slight tic too. Could that be related?

[SueJohnson in reply to Hammyham]

Multivitamins are fine except for the 48 hours before he has the full panel iron test. Be sure to ask for that exact wording not just an iron test. Don't know about the tic but doubt it is related.

[SueJohnson]

Anxiety can definitely make RLS worse.

[ChrisColumbus]

Just a thought: does he drink a lot of diet and/or caffeinated drinks? As well as sugar, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners were a big RLS trigger for me, even in some fruit flavoured waters; caffeine can do the same. As I say, just a thought - I know how many drinks I used to have as a kid!!

[Little_apple]

Does he eat gluten? Please seek info online on glutamate exitotoxicity. If he were my son, I would seek a functional medicine doctor and definitely not an MD. MD will prescribe pharmaceuticals whilst a functional medicine doctor will give lifestyle advice to start with.

I’m not implying that RLS has anything to do with autism but the issues with the gut are very similar. I would go on the diet frequently recommended for autoimmunity and autism. Paleo.

Step one really is no gluten. Then no flour of any kind.

[Amrob in reply to Little_apple]

Gluten sensitivity/intolerance may be implicated in RLS for some people (especially where there is iron absorption issues). However there is no firm evidence that a diet containing gluten causes RLS. There are many people on this forum who have tried/follow a gluten free diet and it has not resolved their RLS.

[Little_apple in reply to Amrob]

Going gluten free was likely not enough. Gluten is the worst lectin but high lectin foods in general should be reduced if not eliminated and it can take months.

Glutamate Excitotoxicity is about much more than just gluten.

drknews.com/why-isnt-my-bra...

[Amrob in reply to Little_apple]

Gluten and glutamate are not the same thing.

[Little_apple in reply to Amrob]

If you read more on this subject it will clarify. I promise this.

“Gliadin is broken down, upon digestion, into the amino acids proline and glutamine. 30 to 35% of the protein in wheat is glutamic acid. Glutamine in turn breaks down into glutamate (both are amino acids) and the highest rate of this breakdown occurs in the small intestine. So there is a cascade from gliadin to glutamine to glutamate as digestion occurs.Are Gluten & Glutamate Related?Interestingly, gluten and glutamate share a common thread in the area of creating neurological complaints. Could the ingestion of foods with high glutamate, though gluten-free, explain the onset of neurological symptoms feared to be the result of gluten cross-contamination when in fact due to food high in free glutamate?”

rootcausemedicalclinics.com...

[Little_apple in reply to Amrob]

In those with RLS, they found that the higher the glutamate level in the thalamus, the less sleep the subject got. They found no such association in the control group without RLS.

hopkinsmedicine.org/news/me...

[Amrob]

I haven't come across anything that suggests that anxiety causes RLS. Children can and do get it, independent of any other recognised condition. As others have said, check iron levels and develop an awareness of any dietary triggers. Exercise is good, but not too vigorous or too close to bedtime.

[NJB71]

hi.

I suffered restless legs from childhood, probably around 8 or 10yrs I remember my mother always telling me to sit still when we were out, but I I found it impossible. It was worse when I was tired or in a social sutuation in which I felt uncomfortable. In those days, ((I’m 72 now) no one especially my parents would have known anything about restless leg syndrome. It was only in my 40 s a dr actually listened to me and put me on some ,education which I now know was a dopamine angonist and made matters worse. Now in my 70 s I have found a very patient dr who has at last got me on an acceptable dose of Pregabalin and for the first time in my life I as enjoying restless free legs. I ashould also mention that iron supplements helped in the first instance since my ferritin levels were low.

Interestingly I was also always prone to anaemia throughout my life but no correlation was ever made until a few years ago .

Your son may well be low in iron. But I would advocate a healthy diet etc with maybe iron supplements before going down any other medication routes at his age as there are always side effects.

I wish you the best of luck.

[Munroist]

This section on the UK RLS site may also be useful. Most of it has been covered here already but it might help to clarify your thinking.

rls-uk.org/rls-in-children

[Eryl]

Inflammation of the general nervous system could explain both the RLS and the anxiety. Inflamed nerves become hypersensitive and send out strong signals to the slightest cause. I've eliminated my RLS by removing inflammatory foods from my diet and there is strong evidence that food can cause many mental conditions like anxiety, depression and schizophrenia as described by Dr Chris Palmer in his book 'Brain Energy'. It has beeen identified by others including Dr Georgia Ede and others. Check out videos of them on Youtube. Most common foods that cause systemic inflammation are refined sugars and starches as found in processed foods like fruit juices and white bread. Also refined seed oils cause inflammation. I only use cold pressed olive oil or coconut oil and avoid ready meals and other processed food.

[DicCarlson in reply to Eryl]

There are some great interviews with Dr. Palmer on You Tube.

[Little_apple in reply to Eryl]

Well said and 100% correct.

I strayed from my optimum diet. I developed RLS. I am back on my diet and my RLS is already receding. Anxiety and RLS are linked bc as you explained, the root causes of both overlap

[SueJohnson]

There is a handout on the RLS Foundation "Healthcare and Your Child with RLS". You have to join but it only costs $40 and is well worth it.

[SueJohnson]

There is also a patient brochure "RLS guide for Children" and one for your healthcare provider " RLS and PLMD in Children and Adolescents."

[MumofSam]

I’ve had RLS all my life, probably from birth but definitely since before I could walk. Stress is a definite trigger factor. You could take your son to a GP but I doubt they’d diagnose him with RLS. General ignorance, lots of other things it could be etc. At a similar age my son was saying the same thing so I thought he might have RLS. He’s 19 now and he doesn’t suffer from it, so it must have been growing pains or something else temporary.