Restless Leg Syndrome

[Bethers]

Several of you have posted about problems with this - came across this today:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/surpri ... drome.html

[Redetotry]

Good article, I always look for an alternative treatment for conditions. The prescription drug the doctors are handing out for Restless Leg sound really terrible.

[BarbaraRose]

Wow, those side effects sound horrible! I can't take St Johns Wart because I am on an anti-depressant and they can't be taken together.
However, about a month ago, I read a really weird thing to do for RLS. Put a bar of soap under the sheets at the foot of the bed. Well, having nothing to lose and an extra bar of soap on hand, I tried it. So far, I have not had any return of my RLS! And the only side effects are nice smelling feet and a nice smelling cat (she sleeps at the foot of the bed). It took a little getting used to having a bar of soap in bed with me but got used to moving my feet around it. We'll see if it continues to work or not, but so far so good! A gal at work told me it is probably just my imagination. I told her "whatever works!"

[CatLady]

Barbara Rose said, "Put a bar of soap under the sheets at the foot of the bed." Any particular name brand soap or will any brand do? I'm going to try this as my legs are giving me fits at night when I lay down...they just don't want to relax. Thanks for this timely tip.

Cat Lady

[Acadianmom]

Our local paper use to have a column by Dr Gott and this was discussed regularly. He retired but if you do a search for soap under the sheets you will find many posts. I just read a couple of posts and someone said they use Dove. I will have to try this the next time I have leg cramps. If I wear shoes with a different heel height from what I usually wear I will almost always have cramps in my feet and legs.

Martha

[MelissaD]

I use to get terrible leg cramps at night. Tried calcium. magnesium, drinking vinegar and all kinds of things to no avail. Then I noticed if I drank a diet dew I'd get cramps that night. I stopped drinking diet soda (and soda in general) and my leg cramps went away. Even one can of diet dew and I get leg cramps at night.

[BarbaraRose]

I also read that Dove works, but I just bought a cheapo brand and that seems to work too. I also occasionally get RLS in my arms and hands but haven't had that either for awhile.

Sometimes leg cramps can be caused by dehydration. I usually get cramps in my calves if I have worn shoes with high heels that day.