RESTLESS LEGS =
Restless Legs
This Fact Sheet was devised by Anne Mathon of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the UK. It consists of responses from members who wrote offering suggestions (following a reader’s letter in their newsletter) and is reprinted with their permission.
Suggestion 1
I too suffer from ‘Fidgety Legs’ at night. It feels as though a cord running from my heels up the backs of my legs, to the top of my thighs, is being twisted tighter and tighter until eventually I am forced to pull my legs up into a curled position. This results in continuous movements like cycling. It is extremely uncomfortable (and nearly sends my husband mad). I have found that if I go downstairs, have a glass of milk and a Madopar, I can then go back to bed and settle down. This does not happen every night. I think it is usually when I am overtired or when I have had more physical exercise than normal.
Suggestion 2
I endured ‘Fidgety Legs” for years, but have now discovered what is, for me so far, an interesting remedy. Get out of bed, sit on the side of the bath and hold the offending foot, or feet, under the cold tap for 3 or 4 minutes. There comes a moment when you feel the whole leg relax. Then dry the foot carefully, and be sure to have a hot water bottle, electric blanket or nice warm partner to go back to bed with and you’ll be asleep in two minutes. Maybe, you should check this idea with your doctor, especially if you are elderly. I am 73, and it works every time for me.
Suggestion 3
I have experienced this restless feeling, in the evening when reading or watching TV and also when I am in bed. I sought advice from my GP and he prescribed ‘Amatriptyline’ tablets: one to be taken at night when going to bed. I have had no more trouble.
Suggestion 4
I wonder if your correspondent might find some measure of comfort in the following hints which I find helpful, suffering from the same problem:
1. Tubigrip elastic stockings worn up to the thighs.
2. Hot water bottle placed between the knees or below buttocks (make sure there is a good thick cover on it).
3. If the person can, lie on the tummy, head to one side but not on pillow; this position seems to aid relaxation.
4. Feet as far up from the level as possible. A wedge of foam pushed under the mattress helps (cover the foam with slippery material for ease of insertion and removal).
5. Put on the wireless; listen to World - Services, Radio 2 (obviously from the UK) or Classic FM if you get it — it’s surprising how often this works.
Suggestion 5
I understand that this condition is known as ‘Restless Leg Syndrome’ (RLS). Suffering from it myself, I made enquiries looking for help and was very fortunate to find a complete ‘cure’. The answer that was given to me was to either ‘spread out’ the taking of the same number of tablets, or perhaps better still to take an extra one at night when going to bed or earlier if — as in my case — the problem occurred [earlier]. RLS disappeared completely. Curiously, this idea had another benefit for me. I was suffering very badly from sleeplessness and found that the extra tablet solved this difficulty. Also, on some occasions I woke during the night and again — with my GP’s approval — I took another one (or half) tablet, which again mostly enables me to go straight back to sleep. My doctor had previously prescribed a sedative for this with no success at all.
Suggestion 6
I suffer from similar discomfort on going to bed but, having discussed this problem with my GP, we decided to increase the intervals of the dosage of medication so that the last tablets are taken just before going to bed. This adjustment has released the distressing symptoms without the need for [extra] medication.
Suggestion 7
Fidgety Legs — absolutely! The description and details are 100% accurate. I am awake most mornings by 3.30am and have to get out of my cosy, comfortable, warm bed just to walk about. Activity certainly obliterates the discomfort, but the lack of sleep resulting from these nightly
forays means that by midday I need to go back to sleep and thereby ‘lose’ my afternoons. Suggestion: A move to a Mediterranean country where a ‘siesta’ is normal and where people rise early anyway!!
Suggestion 8
My wife saw in a book where someone gains relief by lifting the foot of the bed 4-6 inches higher, on wooden blocks.
Suggestion 9
I found it is being overtired. Perhaps this person could take an afternoon rest or go to bed earlier? Also it helps to change position, to lie on one’s side with a small pillow between the knees, or on one’s stomach, which can relieve the restless feeling. It helps to have the bed made open ended, or a duvet, ideally a bottom satin sheet, and to rest your heels over the end of the bed.
Suggestion 10
My husband, who has had PD for some years, suffered from severe attacks of cramp in his legs (during daytime) a little time ago. We were given a tip: ‘eat a banana every day’. After a week the number of attacks had considerably reduced, and in 2-3 weeks they stopped completely, and have not returned.
Suggestion 11
My neurologist put me onto a drug called Dixarit, which he said might help. It has, inasmuch as my legs do not thrash so much, but my feet and toes fidget during the day and my whole legs and feet at night. I find that if I also take Nitrazepam (a mild sleeping-pill) every night, I sleep pretty well, and sometimes all through the night. But I dream a lot (another symptom of PD I think) and if this wakes me I find it difficult to get off to sleep again as my legs will not stay still.
Suggestion 12
I can sympathise, as I have had many hours walking around our bungalow. It has been a very distressing time. PD was diagnosed in 1987 and [I] have coped very well until these ‘sensations’ started. Discussing this with my GP, he said ‘I will leave you to experiment with the medication and try to find the best way of dosage’. My daily medication is as follows:
• 6 Sinemet 110
• 2 Madopar CR Caps 125
• 2 Selegeline Tabs 5mg
• 1 Quinine Sulphate Tabs 200mg
It took me some little while to sort myself out. I had been taking 1 Sinemet and 1 Madopar before going to bed, but eventually found that I had more relief by taking the Madopar at 4-5pm. I do have restless nights but this seems to be when I try to do too much during the day. Apart from the above, I take Co-Proxamol tablets.
Suggestion 13
I also got ‘Fidgety Legs’ until my specialist advised me to take my tablets early in the day. I am on Madopar and Selegiline, which is a slow release agent, and two Tremonil, so I take the two Selegiline at breakfast, with doses of the others through the day. I say ‘doses’, as sometimes I have to take more or less, depending on other reactions. My specialist said to run down the Tremonil, but I find that if I do not take any for a few days my trembling right arm gets so bad that I cannot get to sleep at night. One of the doctors suggested homeopathic sleeping tablets, but I find a drop of whisky for my heart condition works just as well.
Suggestion 14
A person asked about what to do against ‘Fidgety Legs’. I had the same problem and I can tell this person that it is a lack of magnesium and that he/she should suck some magnesium pills a day slowly and the ‘Fidgety’ feeling of the legs will probably disappear.
Suggestion 15
I used to get similar symptoms in bed at about 2.00am. They included uncontrollable twitching, becoming strong kicks with one leg and a continuous ache behind both knees. Applying Arnica ointment behind the knees helped me to get to sleep again. I then started a course of lessons in the Alexander Technique. This technique teaches you to guide your method of moving consciously so that, with reduced tension, you gain increased muscular control and better balance. This has greatly improved my walking technique and the ‘Fidgety Legs’ have not recurred. Parkinson’s Disease was diagnosed in me in 1988, but I had evidently had it for several years previously. My age is 81.
Suggestion 16
I suffered dreadfully from ‘Fidgety Legs’ which disturbed me during the night, often not being able to sleep. I do not have Parkinson’s Disease but read your newsletter, as my husband has it. I was given a cure by a German woman and I found it worked. Cut sheeting, preferably cotton, into 4-inch strips immerse in cold water. Wring out (I put them into the spinner of my washing machine), wrap round legs from top of thigh to ankle or foot. Get into bed but make sure you keep warm with a hot water bottle. Do not use a blanket. Go to sleep with the bandages on. Do this every night. I found this cured my ‘Fidgety Legs’. I hope it helps the person who wrote to your newsletter.
Suggestion 17
I just want to thank you for publishing the information on curing leg cramps by pinching the upper lip (“Fitness Today”, June 1984). It’s changed my life! I used to wake up several nights a week — every week — to run around my apartment trying to get rid of excruciating leg cramps. In fact, during a recent camping trip, I found myself dashing out of the tent at 3.00am, stumbling around in the dark and rain to get relief from the pain. Since I’ve started using the acupinch technique, I’ve been able to stop leg cramps quickly 100 percent of the time. During my last camping trip, I awoke once again in pain, applied the technique and soon returned to sleep. No more braving the bears at midnight!
Suggestion 18
Take Vitamin E 400 IU tablet at bedtime. Works for shaking internally also.
IMPORTANT Please remember to consult your Neurologist before altering the dosage of your medication!
Restless Legs
This Fact Sheet was devised by Anne Mathon of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the UK. It consists of responses from members who wrote offering suggestions (following a reader’s letter in their newsletter) and is reprinted with their permission.
Suggestion 1
I too suffer from ‘Fidgety Legs’ at night. It feels as though a cord running from my heels up the backs of my legs, to the top of my thighs, is being twisted tighter and tighter until eventually I am forced to pull my legs up into a curled position. This results in continuous movements like cycling. It is extremely uncomfortable (and nearly sends my husband mad). I have found that if I go downstairs, have a glass of milk and a Madopar, I can then go back to bed and settle down. This does not happen every night. I think it is usually when I am overtired or when I have had more physical exercise than normal.
Suggestion 2
I endured ‘Fidgety Legs” for years, but have now discovered what is, for me so far, an interesting remedy. Get out of bed, sit on the side of the bath and hold the offending foot, or feet, under the cold tap for 3 or 4 minutes. There comes a moment when you feel the whole leg relax. Then dry the foot carefully, and be sure to have a hot water bottle, electric blanket or nice warm partner to go back to bed with and you’ll be asleep in two minutes. Maybe, you should check this idea with your doctor, especially if you are elderly. I am 73, and it works every time for me.
Suggestion 3
I have experienced this restless feeling, in the evening when reading or watching TV and also when I am in bed. I sought advice from my GP and he prescribed ‘Amatriptyline’ tablets: one to be taken at night when going to bed. I have had no more trouble.
Suggestion 4
I wonder if your correspondent might find some measure of comfort in the following hints which I find helpful, suffering from the same problem:
1. Tubigrip elastic stockings worn up to the thighs.
2. Hot water bottle placed between the knees or below buttocks (make sure there is a good thick cover on it).
3. If the person can, lie on the tummy, head to one side but not on pillow; this position seems to aid relaxation.
4. Feet as far up from the level as possible. A wedge of foam pushed under the mattress helps (cover the foam with slippery material for ease of insertion and removal).
5. Put on the wireless; listen to World - Services, Radio 2 (obviously from the UK) or Classic FM if you get it — it’s surprising how often this works.
Suggestion 5
I understand that this condition is known as ‘Restless Leg Syndrome’ (RLS). Suffering from it myself, I made enquiries looking for help and was very fortunate to find a complete ‘cure’. The answer that was given to me was to either ‘spread out’ the taking of the same number of tablets, or perhaps better still to take an extra one at night when going to bed or earlier if — as in my case — the problem occurred [earlier]. RLS disappeared completely. Curiously, this idea had another benefit for me. I was suffering very badly from sleeplessness and found that the extra tablet solved this difficulty. Also, on some occasions I woke during the night and again — with my GP’s approval — I took another one (or half) tablet, which again mostly enables me to go straight back to sleep. My doctor had previously prescribed a sedative for this with no success at all.
Suggestion 6
I suffer from similar discomfort on going to bed but, having discussed this problem with my GP, we decided to increase the intervals of the dosage of medication so that the last tablets are taken just before going to bed. This adjustment has released the distressing symptoms without the need for [extra] medication.
Suggestion 7
Fidgety Legs — absolutely! The description and details are 100% accurate. I am awake most mornings by 3.30am and have to get out of my cosy, comfortable, warm bed just to walk about. Activity certainly obliterates the discomfort, but the lack of sleep resulting from these nightly
forays means that by midday I need to go back to sleep and thereby ‘lose’ my afternoons. Suggestion: A move to a Mediterranean country where a ‘siesta’ is normal and where people rise early anyway!!
Suggestion 8
My wife saw in a book where someone gains relief by lifting the foot of the bed 4-6 inches higher, on wooden blocks.
Suggestion 9
I found it is being overtired. Perhaps this person could take an afternoon rest or go to bed earlier? Also it helps to change position, to lie on one’s side with a small pillow between the knees, or on one’s stomach, which can relieve the restless feeling. It helps to have the bed made open ended, or a duvet, ideally a bottom satin sheet, and to rest your heels over the end of the bed.
Suggestion 10
My husband, who has had PD for some years, suffered from severe attacks of cramp in his legs (during daytime) a little time ago. We were given a tip: ‘eat a banana every day’. After a week the number of attacks had considerably reduced, and in 2-3 weeks they stopped completely, and have not returned.
Suggestion 11
My neurologist put me onto a drug called Dixarit, which he said might help. It has, inasmuch as my legs do not thrash so much, but my feet and toes fidget during the day and my whole legs and feet at night. I find that if I also take Nitrazepam (a mild sleeping-pill) every night, I sleep pretty well, and sometimes all through the night. But I dream a lot (another symptom of PD I think) and if this wakes me I find it difficult to get off to sleep again as my legs will not stay still.
Suggestion 12
I can sympathise, as I have had many hours walking around our bungalow. It has been a very distressing time. PD was diagnosed in 1987 and [I] have coped very well until these ‘sensations’ started. Discussing this with my GP, he said ‘I will leave you to experiment with the medication and try to find the best way of dosage’. My daily medication is as follows:
• 6 Sinemet 110
• 2 Madopar CR Caps 125
• 2 Selegeline Tabs 5mg
• 1 Quinine Sulphate Tabs 200mg
It took me some little while to sort myself out. I had been taking 1 Sinemet and 1 Madopar before going to bed, but eventually found that I had more relief by taking the Madopar at 4-5pm. I do have restless nights but this seems to be when I try to do too much during the day. Apart from the above, I take Co-Proxamol tablets.
Suggestion 13
I also got ‘Fidgety Legs’ until my specialist advised me to take my tablets early in the day. I am on Madopar and Selegiline, which is a slow release agent, and two Tremonil, so I take the two Selegiline at breakfast, with doses of the others through the day. I say ‘doses’, as sometimes I have to take more or less, depending on other reactions. My specialist said to run down the Tremonil, but I find that if I do not take any for a few days my trembling right arm gets so bad that I cannot get to sleep at night. One of the doctors suggested homeopathic sleeping tablets, but I find a drop of whisky for my heart condition works just as well.
Suggestion 14
A person asked about what to do against ‘Fidgety Legs’. I had the same problem and I can tell this person that it is a lack of magnesium and that he/she should suck some magnesium pills a day slowly and the ‘Fidgety’ feeling of the legs will probably disappear.
Suggestion 15
I used to get similar symptoms in bed at about 2.00am. They included uncontrollable twitching, becoming strong kicks with one leg and a continuous ache behind both knees. Applying Arnica ointment behind the knees helped me to get to sleep again. I then started a course of lessons in the Alexander Technique. This technique teaches you to guide your method of moving consciously so that, with reduced tension, you gain increased muscular control and better balance. This has greatly improved my walking technique and the ‘Fidgety Legs’ have not recurred. Parkinson’s Disease was diagnosed in me in 1988, but I had evidently had it for several years previously. My age is 81.
Suggestion 16
I suffered dreadfully from ‘Fidgety Legs’ which disturbed me during the night, often not being able to sleep. I do not have Parkinson’s Disease but read your newsletter, as my husband has it. I was given a cure by a German woman and I found it worked. Cut sheeting, preferably cotton, into 4-inch strips immerse in cold water. Wring out (I put them into the spinner of my washing machine), wrap round legs from top of thigh to ankle or foot. Get into bed but make sure you keep warm with a hot water bottle. Do not use a blanket. Go to sleep with the bandages on. Do this every night. I found this cured my ‘Fidgety Legs’. I hope it helps the person who wrote to your newsletter.
Suggestion 17
I just want to thank you for publishing the information on curing leg cramps by pinching the upper lip (“Fitness Today”, June 1984). It’s changed my life! I used to wake up several nights a week — every week — to run around my apartment trying to get rid of excruciating leg cramps. In fact, during a recent camping trip, I found myself dashing out of the tent at 3.00am, stumbling around in the dark and rain to get relief from the pain. Since I’ve started using the acupinch technique, I’ve been able to stop leg cramps quickly 100 percent of the time. During my last camping trip, I awoke once again in pain, applied the technique and soon returned to sleep. No more braving the bears at midnight!
Suggestion 18
Take Vitamin E 400 IU tablet at bedtime. Works for shaking internally also.
IMPORTANT Please remember to consult your Neurologist before altering the dosage of your medication!