massaging your legs. taking a hot bath in the evening. applying a hot compress to your leg muscles. doing activities that distract your mind, such as reading or watching television.
No natural or over-the-counter (OTC) medications consistently improve RLS. OTC sleeping medicines such as Benadryl (an antihistamine) and melatonin may actually worsen symptoms.
First Aid for RLS
Cut back on caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Have hot baths. Apply heat pads or ice packs to your legs. Get leg massages.
Magnesium supplementation is often suggested for restless legs syndrome (RLS) or period limb movement disorder (PLMD) based on anecdotal evidence that it relieves symptoms and because it is also commonly recommended for leg cramps.
Considering these dopaminergic effects of vitamin D, our findings support the hypothesis that decreased vitamin D levels may lead to RLS symptoms.
The top three foods to avoid are chocolate, sugary sodas, and fried foods. Additionally, you will also want to avoid any foods or beverages that contain caffeine, since this can stimulate your nerves and make your symptoms more severe. These include coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate.
Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be helpful in somepeople with RLS. The medications most commonly prescribed for restless legs syndrome are dopaminergic agents and gabapentin.
It may subside after an hour or so, but it may be present for so long that sleep is disrupted. The discomfort of RLS can be described as an aching, creeping, tingling, crawling, pulling, searing, or bubbling sensation.
Drug treatments
Paracetamol: Although there is not a lot of research looking at the role of paracetamol in treating RLS, it is something people often try, and many find helpful.
Stretches for RLS
Slightly bend your right knee and step your left leg back a foot or two, positioning its heel and foot flat on the floor. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds. Now bend your left knee while still keeping its heel and foot flat on the floor. For a deeper stretch, move your foot back a bit farther.
This indicates that magnesium oxide is more beneficial than B6 for treating RLS/WED (Table 2).
Don't try melatonin
Melatonin also inhibits the secretion of dopamine, which makes it bad news for restless legs syndrome patients. It might increase RLS symptoms in the evening and night, according to researchers at Sacre-Coeur Hospital in Montreal.
If nerve cells become damaged, the amount of dopamine in the brain is reduced, which causes muscle spasms and involuntary movements. Dopamine levels naturally fall towards the end of the day, which may explain why the symptoms of restless legs syndrome are often worse in the evening and during the night.
Muscle Relaxants. While muscle relaxants are primarily used for muscle spasms and back pain, they are also prescribed for RLS. Low doses of muscle relaxants are sometimes used in conjunction with opioid analgesics and sleep medications to help combat RLS.
Many patients find the symptoms are worse when you're resting, such as sitting or lying down. Also, many patients find the symptoms are partially or temporarily relieved by activity, such as walking or stretching.
drinking more water. Dehydration may cause the urge to move the legs, so some people find drinking a glass of water stops the urges for a short while. soaking your feet in hot water just prior to going to sleep. wearing compression stockings or tights in bed.
Bananas contain potassium and magnesium, two nutrients that play a role in muscle contraction, which may help restless legs syndrome, but consuming one food cannot cure an ailment.
Restless Leg Syndrome is a common symptom of anxiety. We traced this symptom to the adverse effects of chronic stress. Specifically, apprehensive behavior stresses the body. A body that becomes chronically stressed can exhibit symptoms of stress.
That's because it balances the amount of calcium in our cells; too much calcium in the muscle cells can cause twitches and spasms similar to RLS symptoms. As a result, a proper level of magnesium acts as a barrier against an excess of calcium in the body, helping you relax and sleep.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It typically happens in the evening or nighttime hours when you're sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily.
The FDA has approved gabapentin enacarbil for use in RLS, preferring it over standard gabapentin because it has fewer side effects.
Magnesium deficiency is diagnosed via a blood test and sometimes a urine test. Your doctor may order the blood test if you have symptoms such as weakness, irritability, abnormal heart rhythm, nausea and/or diarrhoea, or if you have abnormal calcium or potassium levels.