Restless Leg Syndrome

Yes, it is 4:35AM and I am posting this. I have tried stretches, avoiding caffeine prescription meds, and now I am turning to you. Do you have problems with RLS? If you do, what are you doing to help alleviate the symptoms?

Sometimes wrapping your legs with a nice heavier blanket works well!

I will have to try that. 

Mine is Secondary RLS...LOW FERRITIN is the cause along with Low Iron Sat %.

Low ferritin/low iron sat (and the neurologists and sleep doc's defines it as below 50 for low ferritin and below 30% for low iron sat REGARDLESS of hemoglobin can be the secondary cause to RLS and or migraines.

Here you go:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/restless_legs/detail_restless_legs.htm

What causes restless legs syndrome?

In most cases, the cause of RLS is unknown. However, it may have a genetic component; RLS is often found in families where the onset of symptoms is before age 40. Specific gene variants have been associated with RLS. Evidence indicates that low levels of iron in the brain also may be responsible for RLS.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.../healt.../topics/rls/causes.html
Faulty Use of Iron or Lack of Iron

Research suggests that the main cause of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a faulty use of iron or a lack of iron in the brain. The brain uses iron to make the chemical dopamine (DO-pah-meen) and to control other brain activities. Dopamine works in the parts of the brain that control movement.

Many conditions can affect how much iron is in the brain or how it's used. These conditions include kidney failure, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, and iron deficiency. All of these conditions increase your risk of RLS.

People whose family members have RLS also are more likely to develop the disorder. This suggests that genetics may contribute to the faulty use of iron or lack of iron in the brain that triggers RLS.

http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep.../restless-legs-syndrome
What Causes Restless Legs Syndrome?

The exact cause of RLS is unknown.

Primary RLS is the most common type of RLS. It is also referred to as familial (because it is hereditary) or idiopathic (because the causes are unknown) RLS.

Secondary RLS, on the other hand, is believed to be caused by a separate underlying medical condition or in association with the use of certain drugs. For example, some of these conditions include kidney failure, low levels of iron or anemia, pregnancy, and peripheral neuropathy (a problem with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord that produces pain, loss of sensation, and inability to control muscles). Stress, diet or other environmental factors can also play a role in developing secondary RLS.

  http://www.rls.org/document.doc?&id=1296 Page 4 under Laboratory Evaluation

http://www.irondisorders.org/iron-deficiency-anemia

Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency:

A person who is iron deficient may also be anemic and as a result may have one or more symptoms of anemia. These can include, chronic fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headaches, depression, sore tongue, sensitivity to cold (low body temp), shortness of breath doing simple tasks (climbing stairs, walking short distances, doing housework), restless legs syndrome, and loss of interest in work, recreation, relationships and intimacy.

For the complete list as noted by the http://www.irondisorders.org/:
http://www.irondisorders.org/symptoms/

The bolding is mine and it's a reminder that while those are TYPICAL symptoms, just because you do not have them (esp the fatigue) does NOT mean anything.

Thanks for the info. 

Could be a symptom of iron deficiency.

I have read that from multiple sources. I am contacting my pcp about all of this and hopefully will be able to see him before the end of the month. 

Hey , 

Now ....I'm not suggesting you do this by any means ! But I just wanted to say .....an old lady client of mine ( who has sadly passed away now ) used to suffer from RLS for many years . She would wake in the middle of the night with it too . She swore by her method to alleviate her symptoms . She would get up , sit on the edge of her bathtub , and stick her feet in the toilet bowl !!!! Lol ......She suffered for many years with it and her doc gave her all sorts , she said that her little 'trick' was the only thing that really helped !!! 

Again , I'm not suggesting you do this ! Just maybe a variation of it ...like run your legs under the tap of cool water in the bath or something ? She always said it just settled them down and she could get back to sleep . 

She was a wee firecracker , survived many cancers and had little ' tricks' for all sorts of things . She passed at the ripe old age of 92 . I'm sure some of her things worked ;) 

Good luck , I know it can be miserable . 

Jax xx

My granny is like that 82 years old, little bitty thing. Has tons and tons of tricks. Thanks.

I only get RLS intermittently, but that's what works for me - well cold that is :) I usually moisturize my feet and it helps