Boy do I know that feeling. I was up again a little after 4:00 this morning. Had to take DD to work at 7:00 so there was no sense trying to go back to sleep at that point. I'd just have felt even worse. Fellow insomniacs - Unight!

Hi jarret and all!

Just wanted to comment quickly.

My recent flare with neuropathy ("on fire"), especially in legs had turned into a severe RLS nightmare. Legs jumping rapidly up to 18-20 hours per 24 hours. Many nights, zero sleep.

On th 40 point scale for RLS severity, I'd scored a 40.
Dr. put me on Mirapex, starting at 0.25 mg., then increased to 0.50 mg.
I could not sleep for anything...and the amnesia, etc. was overwhelming. I was rapidly becoming increasingly disabled..cognitively , as well.
Tried dropping Mirapex to lowest does, as that had not been tried 0.125. Still no sleeping.

Stopped Mirapex, all together, after having a few days of Slow Mag (magnesium chloride) and making sure basic vitamins were being met.
Also excluding gluten.

For some reason, I have been without RLS for 4+ days/night now.

My body is exhausted and wants terribly to sleep. I think this is because it has missed so much sleep.

Mirapex has a side-effect of insomnia...for some. I am one of those.

I don't know if the severe RLS will come back soon... I certainly hope not.

I am trying all I can..dietarily, etc. to get a handle on anything posible. Still studying on this, implementing slowly.

Doctor had called in a prescription for Carbidopa/Levodopa, even though I had passed on the word that I have had zero restless legs for a few days. I guess he wanted to be sure I'd have some on hadn if needed? Yet, I am extremely reticent to take this..due to what I read about augmentation.

I know this is tough on all...my heart goes out to all.

THe many stressors..especially the stressors close to (or actually) traumatic cannot help the situation. I am sorry you have encounters these difficulties. These are major, major stressors. I hope you can heal.. on all levels...as soon as possible.

I hope all are having a good day!

Wow. Sounds like something other than RLS...called PLMD. PLMD is leg jerks and arousals at night that go on and on. Calls for a slightly different treatment modality than RLS does.

There's some good info here:

http://www.rlshelp.org/

I feel your pain though and it also sounds like it might have been a magnesium deficiency. Glad you found something that worked though. That's the goal for many of us, finding something that works.

Hi jarrett,

Actually you may have the more accurate description!
Thanks, I will look into that.

I have read some at that site, but will go back and read more!

Legs were bouncing like crazy, if seated and needed to move. Could press feet into the floor and hold feet from bouncing, then thighs and glutes would go into rapid tremors.

Other times, could suffice with wiggling feet as fast as possible, if foot resting on knee while seated. On occasion, leg woulfdjerk (wide jerk) and a (backless) shoe would fly across the room! (Dog would give me quite a look, as it had landed close to her!)

Have bruised heals from all of the leg bouncing, etc.

I do not know if magnesium has been the answer. It seems to play a part, for sure. Two days after using it, I could sit through a meeting for 40 minutes, for the first time in months! Unblievable!

Then..slowly..the episodes have stopped? (Yet, I understand there are many factors at work here and one could be ...a placebo effect..just as there can be a placebo effect from medications.)

All of my previously scheduled tests have been postponed until later this month..all rescheduled twice because I could not be still enough for testing!

I am so hoping this is a much needed break!

I will look into the PLMD you have mentioned!

I hope and pray we all get the breaks we need and also deserve.

Thanks again!