A suggestion that is working well, for me at least. AT least for now.

[lauraflora]

I think RLS can have several triggers, as well as several things that help. Sometimes it changes and what worked often does not neccessarily work each time. It may work again, but in the meantime, you need something else. Certainly avoiding foods or substances that bother and trigger the RLS, is a good way to minimize the affect. But I think that other things - stress, overworking muscles, being ill, etc, can also make it worse.

I experienced this when having covid a few months ago. I had a few nights where the RLS was worse than I could just about imagine. I looked up if covid could affect RLS, and I found that, yes, it can. It does this by affecting the central nervous system, as well as the peripheral nervous system.

I got thru it, and my covid was not too bad. Only about 10 days until I was negative when testing, 2x. However, my RLS and the nerves involved seem to be still a bit too sensitive. Some of the things I have used quite successfully before were only somewhat helpful, or helpful for only a few hours. Gaba, which usually works very well for me, I had to take several times, starting in the evening and then 2 or 3 times thru the night. Taurine, magnesium, magnesium oil, progesterone cream , vitamin C, etc- all helped but only temporarily. Before I was sleeping quite well and only needing to take things before bed, and once during the night.

Well, I thought of something else, and looked it up. That is St. John's Wort. I had used it several years ago for nerve pain and inflammation in my lower back after falling on ice. Cortizone had not helped. I looked up other things drs might prescribe, and it was those ubigquitous anti-depressants that seem to get used for so many things. So, knowing that St.John's Wort is a mild antidepressant, with a sense of humor, I looked it up in relation to nerve pain and inflammation, and, yes, I found that it was used for that. So, I bought some, took it and was AMAZED at how much it helped the quite bad nerve pain in my lower back. I took it for about 10 days, until then I did not need it any more as the pain and inflammation was now gone.

So, fast forward to the present, and tho I have taken SJW during the day for a bit of SAD, during these bleak winter days, I thought "Let's take it at night and see what happens, since it was so affective, for me, with that nasty nerve pain a few years ago." So, I did, and was again AMAZED at how it just calmed down the RLS. I only woke once that night, took another dose, and slept till morning. Only a very small nerve acted up in one part of one leg. Not like it had been just before, with both legs involved, one after the other, with RLS in any part - thigh or calf, back or front, ankle, knee, even an arm or two.

I have, obviously, been continuing with the SJW. I have read that it has been used and tested on RLS patients, with mixed but impressive results. You can look it up. As with anything, it may not work for everyone, I would be surprised if it did. After all, it is the same with medicines. But, it has worked for me, so I wanted to pass on my experience, as it might help someone else. The only way you can find out is by trying it.

[ChrisColumbus]

I used to feel that I got some benefit from SJW, but had to give it up because of its interactions with some prescription meds. It's important to read the small print in all the patient info leaflets. Great that it works for you and doesn't inhibit other treatments that you're taking!

Covid, like many illnesses/diseases is inflammatory and will often lead to temporary or longer bouts of RLS.

[lauraflora in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Good info. I don't take any statins, but, yes, there could be other interactions.

[Amrob]

Thanks for sharing Lauraflora

Interestingly, in this paper from 2014, Brazilian researchers state that in their clinic

"we have been using it (St John's Wort) as our first choice for adults and children older than 1 year of age. The results have been good as more than 84% from already treated 36 adults and 11 children (unpublished data) responded positively to treatment."

scielo.br/j/medical/a/qhQ7n...

[lauraflora in reply to Amrob]

I had not seen that, but it seems that others have been investigating and using SJW for some time.

[Amrob]

How long have you been taking the SJW?

And are you taking any other medications/ supplements?

[lauraflora in reply to Amrob]

@ 3 weeks, and so far, it has been consistantly helpful. I will continue, unless something changes. And, yes, I take 500 mg of gaba, as it is very helpful for me, tho the combination with SJW seems to work better. I think gaba calms the nervous system and SJW calms the nerves themselves. But that's just what I think. I do take magnesium 400mg, and iron bisglycinate every other night. B complex 50 mg. Sometimes 1000 mg vitamin c. 5-htp for sleep, 200 mg.

And, no, I take no meds for RLS. I have not taken any, just used alternative remedies.

[Jumpey]

Long may it continue for you. How long did it take to work? And how much do you take?

[lauraflora in reply to Jumpey]

It worked the first night! I take 2 capsules which add up to 700 mg, the recommended dose, before sleep. If and when I wake up, I take either 2 or 1. Last night I slept from 10:15 to 5:45, so I only took one. Then dozed till 7:00am.

[Joolsg]

Thanks for sharing. That's very helpful for those who want to try drug free therapy.However, before starting St Johns Wort, everyone on medication should check the interactions.

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple...

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Joolsg]

I gave up SJW because of a possible interaction with atorvastatin which I read on the patient information leaflet: Mayo only warns about 'certain statins' and only names simvastatin, but the BNF names atorvastatin as well as simvastatin:

bnf.nice.org.uk/interaction...

(The BNF link may only be accessible to UK users)

[ChrisColumbus in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Of course, I subsequently gave up the intolerable RLS-triggering atorvastatin - so I could probably go back on SJW...

[lauraflora in reply to ChrisColumbus]

It's a toss up. I myself would not take any meds that cause RLS. There must be others out there that don't.

[lauraflora in reply to Joolsg]

Yes, you are right. One must check these things out.

[Birdland]

Interesting. Glad it’s working for you. St. John’s wart and 5htp both promote serotonin which is an RLS trigger for me. ☹️

[lauraflora in reply to Birdland]

It just goes to show that rls has different triggers and different remedies for different people. No 'one size fits all.' Which makes it hard to work with.At least you know what doesn't work and can avoid things that promote serotonin. Many people probably haven't been able to figure out that far.

[Birdland in reply to lauraflora]

So true. I truly envy RLS sufferers who can take serotonin enhancers like SSRI antidepressants or the supplements mentioned without worsening their symptoms.