Vibration or electro therapy

[Scubaholic]

I've had intermittent restless legs for years now and has been tolerable without treatment but is now becoming a constant with multiple episodes pretty much every night. It's not painful, just uncomfortable and I often get be hot legs as well as being unable to keep still and needing to get up and stretch and move.I'm hesitant to go the the GP because of the side effects of medical treatments ...has anyone had good results with either vibrating pads or electrostimulating devices?? I'm thinking of trying and not sure which to go for..

Thanks everyone

[SueJohnson]

Welcome to the forum. You will find lots of help, support and understanding here.

Have you had your ferritin checked? If so what was it? If not this is the first thing that should be done for RLS. When you see your doctor 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. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. 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 your ferritin is less than 100 or your transferrin saturation is not between 20 and 45 post back here and we can give you some advice.

Meanwhile 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 - this is what you want, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga. Keep a food diary to see if any food make your RLS worse.

After all of the above is tried you might find you need medicine after all. Most of us have found this to be the case. Above all don't let your doctor prescribe a dopamine agonist like ropinirole (requip) or pramipexole (mirapex). They used to be the first line treatment for RLS, but no longer are because of the danger of augmentation. Instead ask your doctor to prescribe gabapentin or pregabalin. If you find you need medicine we can give you some advice on how to take it.

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...

[Scubaholic in reply to SueJohnson]

That's very helpful thank you. I had read about the augmentation risk of those meds on the RLS charity website but there is no mention there of devices like therapulse and it warns of misleading advertising with many products promising too much!I will try and see my Dr re blood tests. I've had iron tests in the past but none for several years now. I am on HRT but that is definitely a necessary evil atm!!

[Elisse3 in reply to Scubaholic]

The therapulse is approved to use by NICE so it’s not one of those fast making bucks that are on the internet by those who just want our money. It doesnt work for everyone but seems to be a success for all a lot of people, i use it.

[Joolsg]

As Sue advises, raising brain iron by taking supplements or an iron infusion resolves the majority of RLS. Your GP has to arrange full iron panel blood tests, and if he/she doesn't, there is now expert legal opinion that failure to do so, as a first step, is breach of duty.

Also, many meds trigger or worsen RLS. Sedating anti histamines, anti depressants, statins, beta blockers, PPI meds and HRT.

[ChrisColumbus]

Your first step is to follow the good advice from Sue and Jools about iron tests, diet and medication triggers etc.

But if after that you really want to try a device there have been some successes (and some "it didn't help" reports) with Therapulse, and it comes with a 14 day free trial guarantee:

therapulse.co.uk/

[50568789]

I'm a big advocate of Therapulse, it's helped me keep my sanity many times (some people might question that!)

[Birdland]

Did you notice an increase in your RLS when you started HRT? My RLS went from occasional to chronic when I started HRT. Also, I tried Therapulse but it made my RLS worse.

[Scubaholic in reply to Birdland]

I have been on HRT a long time and it is only recently that things have worsened. ...although my oestrogen was tweaked more recently... So I'm hoping that's not a big factor as my anxiety spikes off the HRT...

[Birdland in reply to Scubaholic]

One of the most annoying things for me about RSL is the things I have had to give up due to worsening of symptoms. HRT, alcohol, anything that raises serotonin, anything containing caffeine or an artificial sweetener or sugar. Makes for a boring and more difficult life. I’m hoping your raise in estrogen is not the culprit.