Does anyone find temperature makes a ... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Does anyone find temperature makes a difference? My RLS is definitely worse if I get too hot.

Scarlett profile image
17 Replies

Also, does anyone else get the same weird feelings in their hands too as I do.

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Scarlett profile image
Scarlett
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17 Replies

yes, i get worse if im to hot, but whats the feeling like in your hands??, i get burning and pulling sensations in my feet,and pain, but not my hands

Scarlett profile image
Scarlett in reply to

Exactly the same as the feeling in my feet really.

I dont like getting hot either, it makes mine worse....as regarding your hands, i know that many people get weird sensations in other parts of the body, can be arms, back, and torso. which relate to RLS...havent heard of hands, but that doesnt mean it isnt RLS. .its just i havent heard of it in hands...

BobM profile image
BobM

Interesting, never made any connection between temperature and my RLS, I will monitor and see. On sensations around my body, most defiantly all over but mainly in extremities and joints??? At least that's what it feels like.

Kindest

Bob

Rish profile image
Rish

My legs go crazy more when I get to warm but if my legs don't settle then I have a very hot bath and it helps !! Strange but true :-)

in reply toRish

not strange at all Rish, hot baths work for me also, even though i dont like to get to warm, as that can set my legs of, i like my bedroom cool and quiet, that seems to help, but if my legs start and wont settle, i just go and lay in a hot bath ;) so your not so strange really, un less we both are :)

jean

Rish profile image
Rish

:-) thanks jean

Tiredparent profile image
TiredparentRestless Leg Syndrome

Absolutely! I've also found that it

Temperature makes a huge difference to me both in terms of the room temperature and things touching my skin such as clothes and bedding. I have the bedroom cool and only use bedding made from natural fibres eg, cotton and wool so I'm a sheets and blankets girl! Duvets are a nightmare for my RLS!

Likewise pyjama trousers and in fact trousers in general make my legs hot in the evening so I wear either very thin cotton leisure trousers (Boden does some good ones) or a nightshirt as much as possible in the evening at home. For me, it's the combination of the heat and inactivity which sets off my RLS so sitting in a restaurant or theatre is almost guaranteed to be less enjoyable than it sounds!

A

SusieL profile image
SusieL

Oh my goodness I cant bear it when my feet get hot... in the summer I cant cool down but in the winter i have the choice of warm, cosy feet and rls or cold, blue feet but no rls. I generally prefer being cold. I am sat here as I type with no heating one as I daren't get too warm, strangely enough it doesnt bother me in bed though....for now!

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator

This is interesting question. On the Southern California RLS Support Group site it says that some patients have found that there is a seasonal variation in their RLS. They do fairly well for most of the year, then start to have worsening of their RLS symptoms in the late spring or early summer.

Some female RLS sufferers who find that their RLS symptoms wax and wane with their menstrual cycles. Generally the RLS will worsen before menstrual flow and abate several days after. This seems to follow the pattern of PMS.

Some female RLS sufferers also notice changes during the onset of menopause and after menopause. Some RLS sufferers will have their RLS complaints get better with menopause, and some have even noted worsening if placed on estrogen replacement therapy.

Kaarina :)

Scarlett profile image
Scarlett

Thank you all for your replies. Re Kaarina's comments, I've been through the menopause now and can't say I've noticed much change but at one time the RLS was definitely worse a couple of days before my period was due.

Feeboo profile image
Feeboo

Yes - being hot definitely makes it worse and inactivity. Oddly though - I find if I go to bed and can stretch out on the cool sheets it stops and I get to sleep fine.

I've had RLS since I was about 2 years old and I'm now 47!!

palomino profile image
palomino

I find duvets uncomfortable when having attack, have to hang legs out of bed, or go outside to get them cold, or stand on a cold floor. Had to give up wearing trousers and tights because cannot stand any contact on lower leg. Have to wear shorts indoors a lot of the time. Sometimes have to cope with freezing feet because cannot bear anything near legs or feet. This is a dreadful afflication, and for me medication does not work. Anyone know of any herbal remedies? Have tried magnesium spray, but to no avail. Have not tried oral magnasium.

garys profile image
garys

Hi Scarlett

Yes my legs are better in the winter, if it's hot in the summer mine are worse. My hands are fine.

Yes, I have full body "restless legs" and I find when I get too warm it's triggering. I have to stick my feet out of bed to cool down and in summer I have to remove most of the blankets as well. I also wear thin cotton pyjamas, have only started doing this since summer this year so I'm yet to determine how this will work in winter because I can't stand being too cold either. I think it also causes me to move restlessly when I'm asleep because I recorded myself sleeping to see if I snored (have sleep issues as well) and I move a lot. Also, I'm pretty sure that's the reason the cat stopped sleeping on the bed. I miss her but she made it worse because she'd always sleep on my legs and the combination of pressure and heat meant I'd get so restless that I'd have to flail my arms and legs because the sensation got so bad. I also can't wear anything tight so tights, tight jeans, long sleeved t-shirts are all out. Another reason I can't wear long sleeved t-shirts is because then I get too hot, I seem to have a very touchy sensitivity to heat and cold, and have to wear layers that I can take off or put on to regulate it.

SemipreciousCom profile image
SemipreciousCom

I had to google 'RLS and temperature' praying that there is some connection out there as my wife thinks I just don't want to sleep with her upstairs where I claim that the radiation from the attic triggers my minor RLS, and she won't bring the temperature down below 79F...it is too cold for her below that. She thinks I am making excuses and do not desire her, aargh women, and yelling on top of that. Thank God for the internet! So, even if temperature is ok, radiation from attic will hit your legs, such radiation does not show up in room temperature. So, some of you may find that they sleep better downstairs (in case you have a two story house).

Duke1318 profile image
Duke1318

The summer really sets my legs off, same with inactivity. In the winter the even weight of a blanket helps, but I hate hot feet!

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