RLS in middle of night

[Allyp69]

I'm still using the garlic/ ginger paste during the afternoon and evening and had no RLS till the early hours when I had to use my Therapulse on my left leg...not both legs. Had a bad night sleeping anyway....we know that stress etc is bad for RLS...will continue with my paste but disappointed that it came back....🤔

[Madlegs1]

That is disappointing.

Hopefully you will get through this episode.

Have you gone through all the protocols for tackling RLS?

Checking ferritin, keeping a diary for triggers?

Good luck.

[Allyp69 in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks.Blood tests always show everything normal....but had iron injections 50 years ago when I was pregnant and anaemic! Will watch my diet more..,but I do not want to take any medication for RLS as the side effects are probably worse than the condition itself. I can live with it but we all need to know the cause.,,

[Madlegs1 in reply to Allyp69]

What is " normal"?

You need to get an actual number.

Causes for RLS are endless.

But-- they can be narrowed down to 2 main areas.

1--Lack of iron in the brain. --Get ferritin checked - see any of Sue Johnson's answers in many posts.

2 Triggers. See my answers in many posts. Can be medications, drink or food. Keeping a diary is essential to pinpoint triggers.

[SueJohnson in reply to Allyp69]

I agree with Madlegs1. You may not have even had your ferritin tested as normal blood tests do not test for it. And what is normal for others is not normal for those of us who have RLS. So do ask for your ferritin and Transferrin saturation (TSAT). And did you stop taking any iron supplements or iron in a multivitamin 48 hours before the test, not eat a heavy meat meal the night before, fast after midnight and had your test in the morning before 9 am if possible? If not then it is not an accurate indicator of your ferritin. You want your ferritin to be over 100 as improving it to that helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their RLS and you want your transferrin saturation to be between 20 and 45. If they are not, post them here and we can give you some advice. If your ferritin wasn't tested ask for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements 48 hours before the test, don't eat a heavy meat meal the night before and fast after midnight. Have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible.

I may have mentioned this before. Some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, carbs, foods high in sodium(salt), foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, eating late at night, estrogen including HRT, dehydration, MSG, collagen supplements, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, eating late at night, stress and vigorous exercise.

Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, masturbation, magnesium glycinate, fennel, 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, CBD, 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, vibration devices like therapulse, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga. Keep a food diary to see if any food make your RLS worse.

[m1946 in reply to Allyp69]

HiYou surely cannot have experienced RLS in its most serious form. There is no way that with the RLS condition I have, I could ever suggest that the side effects are worse than the condition itself!. It naturally depends on the intensity of your condition which I would expect is quite mild and of course the medication which can affect people in different ways

[Boldgirl45]

Sorry to hear this Allyp69 - hope you find the cause!. Did you manage to use the ready minced shop jars of garlic and ginger in the end?

[Allyp69 in reply to Boldgirl45]

Yes I've got a couple of jars of minced garlic and ginger....had good night last night and used another third of a spoonful of my paste. I'll keep the jars as reserve..but the fresh paste taste more spicy, pungent! Still think anti I inflammatory could be the way to go and diet.

[Boldgirl45 in reply to Allyp69]

Thank you!