Do you or someone you know, have RLS? If you have it, how do you cope with it? What strategies have you employed to get a good night's sleep? If you are in a relationship, how do you and your partner manage your intimacy?

Have ...

I use an essential oil based lotion and massage them when it kicks in ~ helps more than anything else I have tried ~ NOT into script meds so I would not know about that option

You know what helps a lot? Stretching - the quads especially. It hurts like hell, but getting those muscles to relax a bit is huge.

I also like using a foam roller...

[img:$uid]http://personalfitcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/foam-roller.jpg[/img:$uid]

Roll your quads for a few reps before bed and you won't have "crawly" legs. (Again, rolling the muscles is painful - but worth it.)

smoke weed before bed.

I dont' have RLS...just sayin'

[Edited 4/26/11 9:04am]

prince org just burped

[Edited 4/26/11 9:04am]

Shorty said:

prince org just burped

I have it and have had it since at least when I was a kid. As Shorty said, the weed before bed actually does help me but I smoke anyway so its incidental that it helps.

I have had RLS bouts so persistent at times it has kept me up hours. People do not think it is real.

I think my husband has it. His dad has it also. So far nothing has worked.

Genesia, where do you get the foam roller? Same place as yoga supplies I suppose?

PunkMistress said:

I think my husband has it. His dad has it also. So far nothing has worked.

Genesia, where do you get the foam roller? Same place as yoga supplies I suppose?

I bought mine at Target. And there are tons of videos on youtube to show you how to use one. Just search on "foam roller exercises."

Genesia said:

PunkMistress said:

I think my husband has it. His dad has it also. So far nothing has worked.

Genesia, where do you get the foam roller? Same place as yoga supplies I suppose?

I bought mine at Target. And there are tons of videos on youtube to show you how to use one. Just search on "foam roller exercises."

If Christopher actually does this, I will eat my hat. But I'll try.

Spinlight said:

I have it and have had it since at least when I was a kid. As Shorty said, the weed before bed actually does help me but I smoke anyway so its incidental that it helps.

I have had RLS bouts so persistent at times it has kept me up hours. People do not think it is real.

My dad had RLS...along with kidney failure but...at one point he was pretty sick, had no appitite, couldn't sleep, was dealing with RLS among other things and I just said to him one day...Dad, smoke some weed, it will help your appitite, and your sleep. At first he was like...no no....I can't do that. (he was a truck driver) but a week or so later he said....OK, since he was on disability and not driving truck anyway. All he took was one little hit and well..the next morning my dad was like WOW! that was the best nights sleep I've had in a long time, as he then made himself a big ol breakfast. He didn't become a big pot head or anything...just a hit a night or so to help him sleep.

works wonders.

PunkMistress said:

Genesia said:

I bought mine at Target. And there are tons of videos on youtube to show you how to use one. Just search on "foam roller exercises."

If Christopher actually does this, I will eat my hat. But I'll try.

If he tries it, prepare to hear a lot of, "Ow...ow...OWWWWWW!"

Genesia said:

PunkMistress said:

If Christopher actually does this, I will eat my hat. But I'll try.

If he tries it, prepare to hear a lot of, "Ow...ow...OWWWWWW!"

Shorty said:

Spinlight said:

I have it and have had it since at least when I was a kid. As Shorty said, the weed before bed actually does help me but I smoke anyway so its incidental that it helps.

I have had RLS bouts so persistent at times it has kept me up hours. People do not think it is real.

My dad had RLS...along with kidney failure but...at one point he was pretty sick, had no appitite, couldn't sleep, was dealing with RLS among other things and I just said to him one day...Dad, smoke some weed, it will help your appitite, and your sleep. At first he was like...no no....I can't do that. (he was a truck driver) but a week or so later he said....OK, since he was on disability and not driving truck anyway. All he took was one little hit and well..the next morning my dad was like WOW! that was the best nights sleep I've had in a long time, as he then made himself a big ol breakfast. He didn't become a big pot head or anything...just a hit a night or so to help him sleep.

works wonders.

That is awesome! A friend of mine has gotten his mother to get on a cannabis regimen. She has multiple sclerosis and it helps her with pain and appetite as well.

Spinlight said:

I have it and have had it since at least when I was a kid. As Shorty said, the weed before bed actually does help me but I smoke anyway so its incidental that it helps.

I have had RLS bouts so persistent at times it has kept me up hours. People do not think it is real.

well, my GP thinks it's real. My cousin has it and apparently his mother (my aunt) had it so intensely that she couldn't lie down at night. I'm thinking that learning how to meditate might be an option because sometimes I can actually "lull" my way through it for a few moments. I don't really know if the weed thing is an option. I smoked a fair bit of pot years ago, but I can't really see doing it now.

strmn said:

Spinlight said:

I have it and have had it since at least when I was a kid. As Shorty said, the weed before bed actually does help me but I smoke anyway so its incidental that it helps.

I have had RLS bouts so persistent at times it has kept me up hours. People do not think it is real.

well, my GP thinks it's real. My cousin has it and apparently his mother (my aunt) had it so intensely that she couldn't lie down at night. I'm thinking that learning how to meditate might be an option because sometimes I can actually "lull" my way through it for a few moments. I don't really know if the weed thing is an option. I smoked a fair bit of pot years ago, but I can't really see doing it now.

There have been nights I stayed awake for hours while my foot shook away. I am quite tall and often will be taller than any mattress I can lay on. Having my feet hang off the end of the bed makes it extremely difficult for me to sleep sometimes and my legs are too long to comfortably keep them bent all night. I can lull myself away from it for a few minutes, too, but I am typically back to it within 10 minutes.

Spinlight said:

strmn said:

well, my GP thinks it's real. My cousin has it and apparently his mother (my aunt) had it so intensely that she couldn't lie down at night. I'm thinking that learning how to meditate might be an option because sometimes I can actually "lull" my way through it for a few moments. I don't really know if the weed thing is an option. I smoked a fair bit of pot years ago, but I can't really see doing it now.

There have been nights I stayed awake for hours while my foot shook away. I am quite tall and often will be taller than any mattress I can lay on. Having my feet hang off the end of the bed makes it extremely difficult for me to sleep sometimes and my legs are too long to comfortably keep them bent all night. I can lull myself away from it for a few minutes, too, but I am typically back to it within 10 minutes.

Have you ever tried the drug Mirapex? That's the drug my cousin recommended. I tried it for a few months. I think the doage wasn't strong enough because it didn't really work; he swears by it. My GP says that you have to increase the dosage in stages. I'm thinking of trying it again. BTW, this is a drug that was prescribed to my father who has Parkinson's.

strmn said:

Spinlight said:

There have been nights I stayed awake for hours while my foot shook away. I am quite tall and often will be taller than any mattress I can lay on. Having my feet hang off the end of the bed makes it extremely difficult for me to sleep sometimes and my legs are too long to comfortably keep them bent all night. I can lull myself away from it for a few minutes, too, but I am typically back to it within 10 minutes.

Have you ever tried the drug Mirapex? That's the drug my cousin recommended. I tried it for a few months. I think the doage wasn't strong enough because it didn't really work; he swears by it. My GP says that you have to increase the dosage in stages. I'm thinking of trying it again. BTW, this is a drug that was prescribed to my father who has Parkinson's.

I haven't tried any prescriptions yet because typically the 420 makes me sleepy or loopy enough to forget it. Is Mirapex a drousy drug? What does it do, just stop the tremors and that's it?

Spinlight said:

strmn said:

Have you ever tried the drug Mirapex? That's the drug my cousin recommended. I tried it for a few months. I think the doage wasn't strong enough because it didn't really work; he swears by it. My GP says that you have to increase the dosage in stages. I'm thinking of trying it again. BTW, this is a drug that was prescribed to my father who has Parkinson's.

I haven't tried any prescriptions yet because typically the 420 makes me sleepy or loopy enough to forget it. Is Mirapex a drousy drug? What does it do, just stop the tremors and that's it?

Mirapex is a drug for the neurological symptoms, the tremors which is why it is prescribed to people with Parkinson's. But it's the drug commonly prescribed for RLS. I am at the library because my laptop is in for repairs. I have run out of time for today. Back tomorrow! ))-:

This can't be real.

Not never has anyone in my family or any of my friends complained about restless legs.

Who's pushing for this....perhaps the drug companies? Dunno....maybe a conspiracy theory for ya.

Also, there are no ADHD kids...that's a 90's invention.

Whatever happened to "Bad-ass kids" ?

2 cents.

Revolution said:

This can't be real.

Not never has anyone in my family or any of my friends complained about restless legs.

Who's pushing for this....perhaps the drug companies? Dunno....maybe a conspiracy theory for ya.

Also, there are no ADHD kids...that's a 90's invention.

Whatever happened to "Bad-ass kids" ?

2 cents.

Having experienced it, I can tell you that the sensation definitely exists. Whether it's an actual disorder is up for debate.

As I've noted above, all it takes for me to get rid of that creepy-crawly feeling is to do some serious stretching - both of the muscles and the fascia in the legs. I would never take drugs for it.

Revolution said:

This can't be real.

Not never has anyone in my family or any of my friends complained about restless legs.

Who's pushing for this....perhaps the drug companies? Dunno....maybe a conspiracy theory for ya.

Also, there are no ADHD kids...that's a 90's invention.

Whatever happened to "Bad-ass kids" ?

2 cents.

Who cares about your family?

Spinlight said:

Revolution said:

This can't be real.

Not never has anyone in my family or any of my friends complained about restless legs.

Who's pushing for this....perhaps the drug companies? Dunno....maybe a conspiracy theory for ya.

Also, there are no ADHD kids...that's a 90's invention.

Whatever happened to "Bad-ass kids" ?

2 cents.

Who cares about your family?

Not the drug companies, for sure.

Keep tokin' whatever....you'll find something that will cure that darn RLS, even if it's only in your mind.

Revolution said:

Spinlight said:

Who cares about your family?

Not the drug companies, for sure.

Keep tokin' whatever....you'll find something that will cure that darn RLS, even if it's only in your mind.

Not sure what the drug companies have to do with it. RLS isn't typically medicated.

Spinlight said:

I have had RLS bouts so persistent at times it has kept me up hours. People do not think it is real.

Same ~ massage is the pnly thing that takes the edge off mine

not real ~ trade them ONE eve of it and then ask them

Guess we're just pretending it

Spinlight said:

Revolution said:

Not the drug companies, for sure.

Keep tokin' whatever....you'll find something that will cure that darn RLS, even if it's only in your mind.

Not sure what the drug companies have to do with it. RLS isn't typically medicated.

I think in fact it is typically medicated. I checked out an online support community my cousin directed me to and most of the people on there were taking something like Mirapex. My GP suggested the drug, saying that it sometimes works, sometimes does not.

Physical exertion makes the sensation more intense which is a catch-22 situation for me: I walk several miles a day (today 8) to relieve stress and depression, but the walking leads inevitably to a sleepless night. Medication is my last option. I think I will try the meditation, stretches, and maybe the green stuff.

(back for an extra half hour!)

[Edited 4/26/11 16:42pm]

Mach said:

Have ...

I use an essential oil based lotion and massage them when it kicks in ~ helps more than anything else I have tried ~ NOT into script meds so I would not know about that option

Would you please tell me more about the oils you use? Is there a certain brand name? Would I get them at the organic food store? Sorry if this sounds particular, but I'm also wondering if you massage your entire legs, including your feet and toes.

I said yesterday that medication would be my last option, but I'll probably try that again before then.

I actually have this too, but it's quite mild for me. It's only kept me awake on a couple of occasions, mostly it's just very unpleasant. My mother has it as well.

I don't have any muscle spasms and my legs and feet don't move, I just have the horrible itchy tingly absolutely NEED to move my legs right NOW feeling. If I get up and move around a bit it evetntually goes away.

There's a recent study that show that orgasms are quite effective in treating it. I thought that's what this thread would be about.

http://blogs.discovermaga...turbation/

CarrieMpls said:

I actually have this too, but it's quite mild for me. It's only kept me awake on a couple of occasions, mostly it's just very unpleasant. My mother has it as well.

I don't have any muscle spasms and my legs and feet don't move, I just have the horrible itchy tingly absolutely NEED to move my legs right NOW feeling. If I get up and move around a bit it evetntually goes away.

There's a recent study that show that orgasms are quite effective in treating it. I thought that's what this thread would be about.

http://blogs.discovermaga...turbation/

A New, Effective Treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome: Orgasm

Spasms. Burning sensations. Sleep deprivation. To those suffering with restless leg syndrome (RLS), these are nightly afflictions. New research suggests that orgasm—by any means possible—may be a good way to alleviate the condition.

RLS is a neurological disorder that afflicts upwards of 10% of people in the U.S. and Europe: As RLS-sufferers try to sleep, their legs experience burning, tickling, aching, and itching sensations; these uncomfortable feelings build up until the leg spasms out of control. This cycle repeats throughout the night, writes news.com.au Techno...r Farquhar, and “it’s not unusual for people who suffer RLS … to describe it as torturous.”

So why do some people’s legs do this? According to the NIH, “in most cases, the cause of RLS is unknown,” though “it may have a genetic component.” Nevertheless, experts do have some inkling of the cause, as the NIH reports on their website:

Considerable evidence suggests that RLS is related to a dysfunction in the brain’s basal ganglia circuits that use the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is needed to produce smooth, purposeful muscle activity and movement. Disruption of these pathways frequently results in involuntary movements.

Capitalizing on this finding, pharmaceutical companies developed drugs affecting the dopamine system, which have grown into the primary treatment for RLS. By flooding the brain with dopamine before you go to bed, muscles relax and the burning-spasm cycle subsides.

Which brings us to orgasm and, more specifically, masturbation. Luis Marin and his team at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil, picked up on this dopamine-RLS link, making a logical extension: Masturbation can cause an orgasm and an orgasm releases dopamine and dopamine can calm RLS; therefore, masturbation may also calm RLS. And as he reports in April’s Sleep Medicine, that’s exactly what happened when a 41-year-old man with RLS masturbated.

Granted, Marin only found that the man’s legs calmed down after masturbation: The dopamine-mediated chain of events between masturbation and relief are (educated) speculations. He thinks that nature’s largest blast of dopamine acts in the same way as the dopamine drugs, and he points to a past study to make his case. In the previous study, scientists looked at brain scans of ejaculating men, discovering that the release of dopamine was so intense that orgasms actually have a s... as heroin. Our natural dopamine spurts act much like our most powerful drugs.

As for applications, Marin sees masturbation as a possible natural alternative to dopamine drugs in the treatment of RLS. This presumably makes way for some interesting excuses: “Hey, I’m just taking my medicine…”

This has actually fits with my experience. I do find that having an orgasm makes my legs settle down, but not always for an entire night. I guess the solution is: more orgasms per night!

I'm guessing Soma would work? I've 10 in the drawer but I don't take them.