Restless Legs Syndrome – Living With RLS

So you have Restless Leg Syndrome and you’re wondering if there is any thing that you can do which will help to stop the tingling, twitching, crawling jumpy legs that you have. You need to know that there are certain things that you can do to help you manage your symptoms and get back to normal life.

First of all, you need to know that RLS is a neurological disorder, so there really is no cure. There are certain prescription medications which are thought to be helpful in dealing with this, but you should only take it in severe cases. In the mean time, however, you need to do a little bit of research and work to learn to manage your symptoms.

Keep an RLS Journal

Each day, when you sit down to rest, record the way your legs are feeling. Are they tingly, jumpy or jerky? Most people with RLS can tell when it will be a bad RLS night or not, so get to know your legs. You may feel the need to stretch your leg or toes and if you cover up with a blanket, it may feel cumbersome to you. These are signs for some that your RLS is going to act up.

Record the foods you eat, activity you get and what generally triggers a “bad” RLS night. If you do something that seems to work well, record that as well. You will need this information in the long run.

Watch What You Consume

The things you eat and drink can play a major role in how bad your Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms are, so start today to make sure that you don’t have a bad night. Drink plenty of water throughout the day so that you can stay hydrated and to help you avoid the sugary caffeinated drinks that so many of us love. You should also be working to cut down on the amount of caffeine you consume. For many people, too much caffeine is a major trigger to RLS symptoms.

Start watching how much sugar you eat, too. This is especially true before bedtime because sugar can cause spikes and dips in the blood that might be affecting your RLS symptoms. Also, work on eating an overall healthier diet which gives you as many of the essential nutrients your body needs without a supplement. Often, RLS symptoms become worse when you don’t have enough of certain vitamins and minerals in your body, so work to maintain a good balance and start with your diet.

Exercise For RLS Symptoms

Exercise improves circulation and cardiovascular health and this has an overall good effect for the whole body, but in the case of RLS, exercise can actually work wonders for many people. Since it is thought that many people who have varicose veins in their legs suffer from RLS symptoms, one of the best things you can do is allow the leg muscles to work, which support the veins in the legs and keep them strong and healthy. This can prevent damage to veins and nerve endings as a result of varicose veins.

Consider massaging and stretching your legs if you begin to feel excessive tingling or twitching. Sometimes, stretching can help to ease the nerve endings by giving them more “room” and stretching out the muscles. This relief can often last for hours. You may also want to consider using products that help to ease the symptoms by “cooling” the affected area. Sometimes, when products such as peppermint lotions penetrate the skin, they have a therapeutic effect on the nerve endings.

You may also want to consider folk remedies such as a bar of Ivory soap under your sheets at the foot of your bed to relive your RLS symptoms and changing your sleeping positions often helps, too. There are Natural Supplements for RLS too. You don’t have to let RLS symptoms control your life when you know how to properly deal with them.