Easy Treatments for Restless Leg Syndrome

If you suffer from severe Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), you are probably already on some type of drug to relieve the symptoms. A class of drugs, called dopamine agonists, including such drugs as ropinirole and pramipexole, has been found to be effective in relieving the symptoms of RLS.

But if you only suffer from occasional bouts of RLS, no matter how painful, you may be hesitant or unwilling to turn to drugs for relief. If that is the case, please consider three lifestyle changes which I have personally found to be very effective against RLS. Though I used to suffer from RLS several times a week, I now only occasionally have an episode and, when I do have such an episode, it's because there has been some "backsliding" on my part with regard to some of the lifestyle changes which I will discuss below.

Little understood and often misdiagnosed, Restless Leg Syndrome is characterized by a seemingly uncontrollable or involuntary urge (though doctors will tell you it is voluntary) to move the leg due to strange sensations sometimes described as "creepy-crawly", "needles and pins", itching, antsy, or even painful. Restless Leg Syndrome generally occurs while sitting or sleeping, and once it begins, it causes great discomfort and severely disrupts sleep. Here are the simple steps that I have used in my own life to drastically reduce the incidence of RLS symptoms.

Water!

In my own situation, I have been able to almost completely eliminate RLS by starting to drink more water. When I forget to do this, it will eventually end up with my experiencing an RLS episode in the middle of the night. I can get almost immediate relief by getting out of bed and drinking a couple of glasses of water and maybe also eating something salty, or drinking a sports drink like Gatorade. (Dehydration also leads to loss of sodium by the body). If you understand that muscles are 80% fluids, you can easily understand why dehydration could result in symptoms of RLS! Of course, we all know the motto about drinking 8 glasses of water a day, but few of us seem to be able to follow such a simple routine which would greatly improve our health in so many ways. But I do try to make it a habit to drink a large glass of water (16-24 oz.) every evening.

Daily Vitamin

Many of the electrolytes found in sports drinks are also found in daily vitamin supplements. These include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc. Electrolyte activity results in muscle activity, so you can understand why a deficiency could play a role in RLS. For example, without sufficient levels of calcium, potassium and sodium, muscle contraction cannot occur properly, and weakness or severe contractions (sound familiar?) occur instead. Taking a multivitamin could reduce the possibility of your body becoming depleted in these essential ingredients for our body's health.

Exercise

I have a "desk job", and find that I often spend too much time sitting at my desk during the day. On days when I have sat at my desk for 4-6 hours straight, I can sometimes feel the beginnings of an RLS episode once I am home and relaxing for the evening. Getting up at least once an hour during the day, even if it's only for a short walk to the restroom, makes a significant difference. If the day is nice, go outside on a break and walk for 5 to 10 minutes. Moderate exercise seems to be the key - excessive exercise can often make the situation worse.

A quick search on the Internet will turn up many other recommended lifestyle changes for the treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome, such as reducing intake of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, and weight loss. Other possible treatments can also be found, including massaging legs, taking analgesics, taking a hot bath, or using a heating pad. But I would like to challenge you to first try the three simple steps I outlined above - drink more water, take a multivitamin, and take several short 5-10 minute walks during the day. Do this for 30 days and see if your Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms don't decrease significantly. Keep a journal so you can see the results. If the results aren't there, you may have a more serious underlying cause for your RLS symptoms, and you should consult your physician.