Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitty
I'm wondering if what I'm thinking is spasticity in my legs is really restless leg syndrome. 
It happens every night. I get settled in bed and then it starts......that feeling that I have to move my leg(s). Sometimes it's just one but often it's both.
If I try not to move them they eventually move by themselves! It's not painful but it's incredibly annoying because they don't start this until I lay down and try to sleep. They get this tight feeling and my foot will flex and if I don't move them it's like the muscle goes into a sort of spasm and they move on their own.
I've been taking Baclofen every night before bed (10 mg) and just recently I've started taking 2 pills (making it 20 mg).
Does anyone else deal with this issue? What do you do for it? |
I don't have MS, but have RLS (in the process being renamed to WED - Willis-Ekbom Disease) severely. On the RLS forum I hang out in, we have several people with MS who have WED/RLS.
Do consider getting your serum ferritin and hemoglobin tested. Low results in either can be a cause. If it's low, taking iron may help long term. For people with WED/RLS, serum ferritin should be at least 50 and higher if you want to take certain medications for the disease.
Some medications can cause it to worsen. There is a good list at the Southern Ca. RLS Support group site, run by Dr. Buchfuhrer, an RLS/WED expert. The RLS Foundation has excellent resources you can print and read along with a great online support group.
If you can avoid meds, it's probably a good thing. If you can't, you'll likely need some more guidance. I strongly suggest the above resources in that case. To deal with out meds, try these:
1. Hot or cold water. Some like hot, some cold. Lay in a hot bath or spray your legs with icy water.
2. Heating pad - again, only works if you like hot.
3. Tight stockings - such as compression stockings or heavy control pantyhose. It's another you either hate or love. I hate it, but many find it works.
4. massage - if you can get someone to massage, symptoms often go away for awhile.
5. Low vitamin/mineral levels - many of us find that if our vitamin levels are low in an area, taking large amounts of vitamins may help. iron, D, B, magnesium are most common.
6. Supplements -these are hard to figure out, but small numbers of people swear certain supplements help them. D Ribose, L-Tyrosine, and others.
7. Regular exercise - may be harder if you have active MS. Walking gently for 30 minutes a day, over a week or two, might reduce symptoms overall.
8. Stretch/stress the muscles when the attack comes. If you can, do yoga, stretches, or leg exercises that tire the muscle.
Hope some of this helps.