Holistic Remedies for Restless Legs and PLMD

I have PLMD and bad twitching sometimes for hours when falling asleep and I think Klonopin helps a lot- is it really a bad drug? I feel much more rested and clearer on klonopin and asv
I'm lowering my asv settings so the pressure max is 14... keep taking the stupid mask off and getting these low oxygen headaches

stage0 wrote:I have only heard the Quinine will help relieve RLS

http://www.progressivehealth.com/RLS-quinine.htm

never tried it

Quinine can help some, and will help with leg cramps. The only way to get a dr to prescribe quinine these days is for that dr to put in your chart that you have Malaria (sp?). I don't think many drs would be willing to do this. There is an OTC homeopatic remedy for leg cramps carried in some pharmacies. If you took several of this small, melt in the mouth pills, you could get a decent dose of quinine.

I personally would not take, since there is probably some reason the FDA is so strict in regulating the prescribing of quinine. Not sure why they regulate so tightly, it could be to preserve the effectiveness of this drug in case of a malaeria outbreak? Not sure, just kind of leary, but you could discuss w/your dr. I do have a friend who eats these pills & says since they are just quinine, what can they hurt. I don't know what they could hurt, but don't want to be a 'test dummy' for that one.
Jen

I take a calcium supplement at bedtime that very quickly ended my years-long struggle with RLS. I have tried two brands, both called Calcium Plus:
- Market America (a multi-level marketing company, but available from distributors on the web)
- Ionic Fizz, from Vitacost

They work equally well. I have two friends who have since enjoyed the same result. It may not work for everyone, but it worked for three of us.

Please don't bash me over this, but I have suffered from RLS for 40 years since I was 7 years old. Exercise makes it worse. Mirapex scares me. Hylands Restful Legs didn't work. I tried the bar of Ivory soap under my sheets at the foot of my bed, didn't work. But I am going to tell you what does work for me. Pickle Juice. When I get bad RLS and cannot sleep or even lay still I take a 3-4 good swigs of pickle juice and within 10 minutes the RLS is gone!!! I know pickle juice has a lot of salt and many people will be very much against this, so I am not saying its a healthy cure, I'm just sharing my experience. I don't have high blood pressure or edema so salt intake does not seem to be problem for me right now, and this really works. So next time your RLS is really bad, what will it hurt to try?? If it matters, I use the Market Pantry brand of Kosher Dill Pickles from Target.

P.S. If anyone wants to buy any pickles, I have 10 jars in my fridge because I drank all the juice and don't know what to do with the pickles!

Java wrote:Please don't bash me over this, but I have suffered from RLS for 40 years since I was 7 years old. Exercise makes it worse. Mirapex scares me. Hylands Restful Legs didn't work. I tried the bar of Ivory soap under my sheets at the foot of my bed, didn't work. But I am going to tell you what does work for me. Pickle Juice. When I get bad RLS and cannot sleep or even lay still I take a 3-4 good swigs of pickle juice and within 10 minutes the RLS is gone!!! I know pickle juice has a lot of salt and many people will be very much against this, so I am not saying its a healthy cure, I'm just sharing my experience. I don't have high blood pressure or edema so salt intake does not seem to be problem for me right now, and this really works. So next time your RLS is really bad, what will it hurt to try?? If it matters, I use the Market Pantry brand of Kosher Dill Pickles from Target.

P.S. If anyone wants to buy any pickles, I have 10 jars in my fridge because I drank all the juice and don't know what to do with the pickles!

I could not do pickle juice. The smell kills me

pickle juice

If it works for you - great!

After drinking the juice do you give your mouth a good rinsing with a neutral balance mouthwash?

My wife has told me for many, many years that my legs twitch almost every night, which really bothers her. But now the problem has been solved, in a most unexpected way. If you have the habit of walking rapidly, keep reading.

I have tried various remedies, such as rubbing my legs before bed. My wife had me taking magnesium twice a day. And other things. Some of these may have helped a little bit, but the problem just kept going. You can imagine how irritating this was. Incidently, my whole life I have walked very rapidly. My wife has had trouble keeping up with me. We have a busy schedule.

Well, at one point, my knees were bothering me, and I decided I had to do something about it. I resolved to force myself to walk slower and smoothly, as if gliding or floating over the sidewalk. [Not so much to be noticeable to other people, of course] Before long, my knees felt fine. After a month or so, I realized she had not said anything about the leg twitching recently. So I asked her if I had been doing it. She said, "No, why, what have you been doing?" We realized that my walking style was the whole problem. I would unconsciously tense up my legs as I rushed here and there in my busy schedule. Amazing. I have never have the leg twitching after that, unless I forget and start to walk fast again. So, if you are a fast walker, try this for a month and see what happens. Hope it helps.

I have peripheral neuropathy which was getting lots worse last summer. I have been using an opiate to manage the pain. In July in desperation I read "Wheat Belly". There were several references to peripheral neuropathy.

I figured I wouldn't die if I tried Dr. Davis' eating recommendations for 2 weeks. I not only didn't die but I am slowly healing. My walker has not come out of the car trunk; the fog in my brain has lifted; 15 pounds have evaporated along with several inches around my belly. The opiate use is at its minimum.My blood sugar which was going South is much better. My doc is quite pleased with my lab values and stopped the Metformin.

I don't know if this would help RLS. I promise to report if things turn around but I don't think they will. My sleeping time has extended to around 7 hours but it might have done that anyway. I hope your legs calm down.

Lynda

tqpannie wrote:As part of my diagnosis I have been put on Klonopine for restless legs and also to help me fall asleep. I've tried a product called Restful legs and it helps some what but last night I had a terrible night with my legs and leaks in my mask. I'm not sure if there is a comparison to make between the two.

So has anyone tried any natural treatments for restless leg and PLMD?

My experience is that once you start getting leaks the sleep anxiety sets in which opens the door for hypnic jerks and restless legs. Even the arms can join the parade at which point sleep is is hard to achieve. The natural root called Valerian is supposed to calm ones neurological system but it's hard to find a good source. There's valerian tea, which is completely natural but it tastes like the bottom of your garbage bin. The gel pills with the concentrate are a good way to go but they aren't cheap. Valerian does not seem to work the same for everyone.