# How do you deal with Restless Leg Syndrome?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 18, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457 "2011-07-18T15:57:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/1 "2011-07-18T15:57:04Z")
Is there anything you take for it? Do you fidget? Sit or lie in a different position?
I’ve been getting it a lot lately, but just in the mornings at work.
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### Author:  [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/2 "2011-07-18T16:03:26Z")
I only know about it from the perspective of having a formerly pregnant spouse. We found out that one of the causes of RLS in pregnant women is iron deficiency (and blood tests confirmed she was leaning anemic) . Focusing on her iron intake helped her a lot with that issue.
But talk to a doctor. It’s a real thing and can be a symptom of other issues.
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/3 "2011-07-18T16:10:05Z")
I talked to a doctor about it many years ago, and he prescribed pills that didn’t really do anything. At the time the thinking was that the cause was unknown and that there was no effective treatment.
Having said that, I’m sure that the cause in my case is not enough quality sleep. I was just wondering if anyone had any in-the-moment strategies to deal with it.
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### Author:  [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/4 "2011-07-18T16:19:37Z")
Well, I second the MD part, I ended up discovering significant medical problems that way. That said, I have them mostly at night, and find that stretching my calves really helps (I stand on the ball of my feet on the edge of a stair, and lower my heels). That generally brings some instant relief.
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/5 "2011-07-18T16:21:10Z")
A marked reduction in stress will help.
A friend has his medical marijuana card for RLS. Not that I am suggesting you smoke weed, but it does apparently help.
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### Author:  [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/6 "2011-07-18T16:33:19Z")
Drinking milk in the evening seems to help me. No idea why. Stretching also helps.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/7 "2011-07-18T16:49:05Z")
I was reading something a while ago, and they said that the only thing that really seems to help restless legs is vitamin C. When I feel my legs start to get that, “Can’t stay still - have to keep changing position” feeling, I take a vitamin C pill, and it disappears in minutes. Give it a try - the worst that can happen is you get a little more vitamin C in your diet. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/8 "2011-07-18T16:53:46Z")
If you are able, take a walk. If not, stretch out your legs and flex your feet forward rotating your ankles. I find this helps but not as much as taking a 10 minute walk does.
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/9 "2011-07-18T16:57:15Z")
I do the stretch with ankle rotation, but it’s temporary relief at best. For some reason, it goes away after I eat lunch, which I’m going to do shortly. Maybe I’ll wash it down with some OJ.
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### Author:  [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/10 "2011-07-18T17:01:18Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#):
>
> Drinking milk in the evening seems to help me. No idea why. Stretching also helps.
Should add that I drink it in the evening because I only have that problem at night.
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/11 "2011-07-18T17:16:44Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#):
>
> Should add that I drink it in the evening because I only have that problem at night.
I used to just get it at night, then it went away for a long time, now I get it in the morning. Weird.
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/12 "2011-07-18T17:21:36Z")
I usually get it after too much sugar or exercise right before bed, and what I’ve been doing lately is to imagine myself walking, as in, pretend to do so yet do not move my legs. I think the minimal amount of electro-muscular activity that happens in my legs even when just _thinking_ about an action might be enough to satiate the feeling.
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/13 "2011-07-18T17:41:10Z")
Interesting, I might need to try that!
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### Author:  [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/14 "2011-07-18T18:26:20Z")
Ibuprofen is the only thing that works for me. Three before I go to bed.
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### Author:  [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/15 "2011-07-18T19:26:50Z")
I was prescribed ropinirole and it works like a charm.
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### Author:  [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/16 "2011-07-18T21:21:28Z")
> [@nate](#):
>
> I was prescribed ropinirole and it works like a charm.
Ditto for my wife. She found that a small dose was best.
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### Author:  [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/17 "2011-07-18T21:21:42Z")
It’s one of those things that has been the subject of many guesses. I have had RLS to the point of leg cramps at night. It’s very painful and can get one up to straighten the leg out. I believe it’s more common with heavy athletic output. I used to take 1.5 grams of magnesium that stopped the cramps. I came to the conclusion that mineral imbalance was the cause and a more complete diet has solved the problem long term.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/18 "2011-07-18T21:44:55Z")
Lots of good ideas at [rlsrebel.com](http://rlsrebel.com) (the author has a lot of hints for dealing with it without drugs).
You’re unusual in that you’re manifesting in the mornings - that’s pretty rare. The majority of people have the most trouble in the evenings / nighttimes - there’s a very strong circadian component. That said, if I’ve slept badly and am therefore groggy in the mornings, my legs will be dancing :(.
I stubborned through it for many years, helped by a combination of heat (hot baths), leg massage from my long-suffering spouse, and sometimes a handheld percussion-style massager (big heavy thing that looks like ET’s head, with two hemispheres that would pound the leg muscles into numbness).
Finally broke down and started on Requip (ropinirole). It’s not perfect - if I take it early enough that my legs are totally quiet by the time I’m ready for bed, I feel like hell before I finally pass out - achy, groggy, “flu-ish”. If I don’t take it early enough, my legs will be twitching and making me miserable.
And… it doesn’t make me feel any better the next day (I’ve got several other things going on, sleep-wise). But it does make it easier to lose consciousness.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/19 "2011-07-18T21:47:38Z")
> [@tdn](#):
>
> I talked to a doctor about it many years ago, and he prescribed pills that didn’t really do anything. At the time the thinking was that the cause was unknown and that there was no effective treatment.
>
> Having said that, I’m sure that the cause in my case is not enough quality sleep. I was just wondering if anyone had any in-the-moment strategies to deal with it.
Out of curiosity, do you recall what the pills were?
Certainly, insufficient sleep will make everything worse (hence my awful mornings if my sleep quantity / quality is too low). Kind of a nasty positive feedback cycle!
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-restless-leg-syndrome/589457/20 "2011-07-19T04:11:03Z")
I don’t really have RLS, but every once in a blue moon, my legs\* will bother me like that. I’ve found that putting a little Ben Gay behind my knees usually does the trick.
\*Sometimes my arms bother me too. Weird. Both are too rare though for RLS.
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