Restless Legs - could sports help?

Symptoms & Treatments
1

Hello there,

I was diagnosed only a few weeks ago, so I'm not really on any treatment yet. Obviously there's many things on my mind I'm constantly wondering about.

One of them keeps getting me crazy. For months/years (does anyone else feel like time's just blurred when you don't get diagnosed for a looooooong time??) I have this strange feeling in my arms and legs whenever I have to sit still or lay down (like... for sleeping). I feel like, then, I absolutely have to move and jump around, or at least keep my arms and legs moving, but as soon as I get up and want to move, all of my body feels so heavy and I feel so tired that I don't feel able to move at all.

I hope that some of you might have had this feeling too. If so, what on earth can I do to ease that... crazy... nervousness...?!

It's really freaking me out, especially at nights (by the way I bet it's getting on my boyfriend's nerves too but he would never say a word) and I want to do something about it.

Now here's my question: Do you think it would help if I did sports (again) ? I was in a gym club, doing gymnastics twice a week for 2 hours, but I stopped 5 years ago because of the constant pain. I often ask myself if it would help to start doing sports again?

Hope you're not getting annoyed by this "basic" question that has probably come up like a million times :/

Thanks in advance

Hugs,

Epsi

2

I have spells like this. One day my husband got a cold cloth and wiped my arms legs and put it on my forehead. It really helped. Hope it will help you too. Doesn't take it away but did decrease symptoms for a spell

3

I definetely have to try this then :)
Thank you so much for answering :)

4

1st talk with your doctor. I have had restless leg syndrome for many years & there are meds out there to help w/that. If you haven't done any exercise in years, I suggest you go slowly & easy does it. Too much at one time will bring on the pain.

5

I was thinking about swimming and my doctors told me that I should start doing sports and 'get in shape' again because (probably) my muscles gradually degraded since I stopped doing sports on a regular basis.

And thank you for answering :)

6

This is one of the worst symptoms for me, but mine only happens when I don’t have my pain patch. My legs hurt, but it’s more like I need to stretch them. Like your right like you can’t keep them still. If you try to relax it just makes it worse. It’s like when you have an itch & you try really hard not to scratch it.
I’m sorry your having this. I think they have stuff over the counter at the pharmacy for restless leg syndrome.

7

Hi Epsi

I have to take meds for mine the doctor sent me for a sleep study and found rest less leg syndrome.

This drove me crazy for years. I do aqua therapy and it helps.

Start out slow. A lot of members find yoga very helpful

8

Hi Epsi,

Sorry that you are going through this. I too have restless legs and arms, so I know how uncomfortable and annoying it is!

It just seems to come and go and haven't really found anything that takes it away or prevents it. I do think that leg exercise

helps it a bit but am not 100% sure. It seems that when I've been walking out at the acerage, which is very hilly, my legs feel good.

Hope this has helped you, and you are not alone.

Rose

9

Thank you very much for replying :)

Yoga and aqua therapy both sound great. Especially Yoga since I feel that it could really help me relaxing. Besides fibro (or because of it) and due to A LOT of emotional stress I had a (light) depression right after christmas and had to do a psychotherapy. I guess yoga will help me not getting back to that emotional state as well :)

And I wish you a lot of patience to endure :)

I'm only 20 and as long as I don't absolutely have to I try to avoid meds because I do not want to damage my body and mind more as needed.

10

Thanks for your reply :)

Everything is just as you're writing above and it really drives me crazy :/

Still I wish you all the best and a lot of patience to bear your legs :)

11

Hello Rose,

thank you very much for sharing your experience :)

Sometimes I also get the impression that walking helps me, as if my legs just wait for movement during the day so that they "shut up" at night :/

I wish you all the best for the future :)