Restless legs

BananaRepublic

Thanks all.

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I have had Restless Legs Syndrome on and off for decades, much worse in my right side than my left side. I worked in and studied human healthcare for just as many decades, which has helped me understand RLS somewhat.

Everything that happens in the body is the result of a long series or cascade of tiny chemical reactions and/ or electrical impulses, including everyday repairing or rebuilding nerves and muscles, and nerves telling muscles what to do or not to do.

Exactly which step(s) in the series or cascade goes a little 'wrong' in RLS and exactly why is probably unique to each individual. But the overall outcome is similar: creeping/ crawling/ niggly/ uncomfortable feeling, uncontrollable urge to shake/ twitch/ shift position.

A balance of various minerals/ electrolytes/ salts are needed in the body for nerves and muscles to work 'normally'. Calcium balances magnesium, sodium balances potassium and so on. Although magnesium is very important in healthy nerves (inc. the brain) as your doctor says, magnesium is also important in muscle relaxation after contracting, in building strong bones and other stuff.

Very few people's diets are properly balanced and varied. Furthermore when we are very active, sweat or get dehydrated we lose or 'use up' more of these minerals/ electrolytes/ salts. Overconsuming table salt (NaCl) can dehydrate us, which potentially causes us to also lose other minerals/ electrolytes/ salts. So I can see why a high intake might worsen RLS for some individuals.

Triggers for me include certain prescription medications, getting overly tired physically, sitting with my legs crunched up too much, and any time my electrolyte/ body salts balance is off for a few days. The latter can be down to excessive sweating, drinking alcohol too often, or my diet being imbalanced (electrolytes).

Successful self treatments for me include eating more mineral-rich foods (ground flaxseeds, pumpkin or chia seeds, cocoa powder/ low sugar dark chocolate) or taking a magnesium citrate supplement (the ones I have now are MAHOOSIVE so I hate taking them).

But my back-up plan is getting up in the night to do a technique called SMR, which can relieve the RLS enough for me to get to sleep.

SMR is using using a foam roller or a tennis ball to apply pressure to 'knots' deep in the buttock muscle or outer thigh. The theory is that these 'knots' are pressing on a segment of a large nerve that serves the leg (sciatic). SMR only works somewhat because it is awkward to get into the right position to press on the relevant spots.

Hopefully my ramblings help rather than confuse you more! Your on-off-on-off testing of your hydration salt solution is very similar to methods used in scientific research and diagnosis of some health conditions. Consistent results over time it will be proof enough for you and likely your doctor too.

Excellent post. You’re surely right, we differ so much in lifestyle and genetics that this is a complex issue. I eat a low salt diet as I eat whole foods. Many don’t. When I had sciatica as a result of a fall on my backside, a friend recommended leg stetches, which cured it almost immediately. Clearly it would not work for everyone. I have discovered that our muscles, tendons and ligaments can get a wee bit out of whack, and stretching can do wonders. The body is complex, and physios and dieticians know a lot doctors don’t.

There is a chap on YouTube who is no about 80, and he does gym work. He looks 60 if that.

I will add in relation to hydration tablets that my appetite now is not so good, maybe due to drinking salt water making me less sensitive to salt, hence food tastes bland.