Restless Legs--Suggestions for Relief? - Page 2

[Momsteader]

Okay.....you want the good news first? or the bad news?

Hmm....wellll bad news.....nothing much you can really do aside from what we've already been doing--with hot baths topping the list as well as a 20-30 min walk within 1-2 hrs of bedtime. Experiment with what helps the most. Don't get overtired as that will only aggravate it more.

The good news....it should go away with delivery. Eeeek LOL

He did say that I could take 1/2 to a whole of a Unisom sleeping pill which would also help with my insomnia. (Start w/ 1/2 and see if that helps first so it's a lesser dose.) So, I might pick up a pack in case I'm desperate!!! There have been several nights I would have taken one just to get some rest.

I already do yoga and am familiar with that position. It's also good for reducing swelling, backpain, and blood pressure. So, I do it frequently. It also feels reeeallly good!

[2tadpoles]

Not part of your DDC, but I'm a long-time sufferer of RLS (since childhood). I have a couple of other sleep disorders, too.

Valerian helps, but I don't know if you can take it while pregnant. I take Valerian sometimes, when I run out of my prescription stuff (the Valerian eventually stops working, which is why I don't use it permanently).

Weird about the hot baths. My RLS gets a million times worse when my feet are hot. Strangely enough, I hardly had any RLS during my pregnancies, and only one Charley Horse.

[dctexan]

Frickity frick frick! Sucks that there really isn't anything we can do about RLS. Thanks for sharing Holly, even if it wasn't the best news.
I guess I will go buy an emergency pack of Unisom for those nights when I absolutely just cannot take it anymore. Other than that I will just keep up with my routine. One positive - I haven't suffered ANY leg cramps since starting all of my vitamins. TG they are good for something.

[ohblueeyes]

try eating fresh blueberries......I think my midwife told me about this in my first pregnancy and I tried it last night when I was desperate and realized we had fresh blueberries - and I got to sleep - finally - try it and let me know if it works for anyone else....

[Momsteader]

Emily, how are yours?

I 'think' I figured out a system for mine. I've been pretty much 'free' for 2 weeks now. I don't normally have any caffiene, which is supposed to make restless legs worse...but I started drinking some iced tea when it got warm....and suddenly....my RL weren't as bad! Not tons of caffiene, but a little. And then my usual warm bath if it feels like they might be jumpy, or if I go to bed and they are even remotely restless. I just get right in the tub rather than sitting and thinking maybe I'll get through.

So, I've had some really good nights recently! Well....aside from getting up to pee 3 times....LOL

[bryannastreasure]

i'm not pregnant, but I do get RLS pretty bad. not sure if these are pg ok, do your research...

tonic water with quinine helps

Hylands remedies for Leg Cramps with quinine helps enormously!

I sleep alone now, but rocking sure helps. hook my feet over the edge of the mattress and flex my ankles. and helps you track down any squeeks in the bed frame.

stretch your achillies heel by standing on the edge of a step and slowly let your weight stretch your calf.

less caffiene, don't get exhausted, excersize a little bit every day.
love and light,
Bryanna

[dctexan]

Originally Posted by CrunchyClark

Emily, how are yours?

I 'think' I figured out a system for mine. I've been pretty much 'free' for 2 weeks now. I don't normally have any caffiene, which is supposed to make restless legs worse...but I started drinking some iced tea when it got warm....and suddenly....my RL weren't as bad! Not tons of caffiene, but a little. And then my usual warm bath if it feels like they might be jumpy, or if I go to bed and they are even remotely restless. I just get right in the tub rather than sitting and thinking maybe I'll get through.

So, I've had some really good nights recently! Well....aside from getting up to pee 3 times....LOL

Ugh. They seem to come and go. I'll have 2-3 bad night followed a couple of good nights. I've stopped trying to find rhyme or reason as to why. I keep up with the supplements, I continue to do yoga, and I try to take a bath 3 nights per week (more if I am feeling super restless before bed), I walk nightly before bed. I also keep the A/C a bit lower than normal because keeping my feet cool is more comfortable. I guess I've just started looking at the whole thing as yet another annoying pregnancy symptom. Besides, between the RLS and the peeing, I haven't slept more than 3 hours straight in weeks.

Glad to hear you are doing a bit better Holly!

[2sweetboysmom]

I seem to trade off nights. Some nights it's leg cramps, other nights RLS, but it's always something.
My midwife suggested specifically a bar of original Safegaurd near my legs under the sheets. It took me a while to go get that soap, but it seems to be working.
Hope you all rest well tonight.

[mama2walden&luna]

Wonderful, now I'm starting to develop this annoyance! I had it as a kid pretty bad, I remember it making me crazy around age 8 or 9.
I'm going to do legs up the wall tonight and see if dh will do a little massage. Taking a hot bath is a challenge because dd throws a walleyed fit if I'm in the tub without her and I'm too tired to stay up after she goes to bed. AND, I'm doing the soap thing too.

[zinniamars]

I was having the same problem - for some reason my leg hairs just seemed super duper sensitive and every time the blanket would brush against them I would jump and it was hell- especially when it got hot and the fan would blow on them.

My solution was to wax my legs (I'm a hairdresser so I'm lucky enough to have the stuff and the knowledge to DYI) I managed to do it just in time before my belly got too big to be in the way, and I've had no leg problems since!

Maybe this might work for someone else?

[MrsAngelic]

2-3 cups of red raspeberry leaf tea (1 tbs loose tea to a cup) a day has helped me. It's supposed to have a form a calcium that absorbs well and also a good dose of magnesium and potassium, all vitamin deficiencies that can cause RLS.