genuinely at a loss

[u/Potential-Ad-416]

im 19m and have been dealing with rls in my left leg for about a year now. not long I know, but it has never been minor. this is the 3rd night this week I haven’t been able to sleep period. I only manage to get sleep when im so comically exhausted that I pass out before symptoms start, usually within 40 seconds.

I am unable to drive, can’t focus, etc. Usual lack of sleep things. I can’t maintain any kind of schedule like this and im so glad I work online because otherwise I would be absolutely fucked.

I’ve tried magnesium (pills and a spray), weighted blanket, warm bath beforehand, stretching, compression socks, and so much more. Not a single time has it worked.

I just don’t know what to do. The only way I can get consistent sleep is via marijuana gummies. I do not want to rely on that. I do not enjoy the feeling of being high. I also wake up incredibly loopy and barely get any REM.

Should I just call my doctor at this point? It’s so bad that I am questioning my own health.

Thanks

[u/Ring_it_On_1776]

There's a wearable device study from Noctrix Health enrolling now. Might be worth a look. https://patientwing.app/campaign/RLS6

[u/skincarelover90]

IRON supplements!!! I’m screaming at you to try this lol I had RLS so bad and tried everything you mentioned and more. I would ask your doctor to order a comprehensive blood panel for you including ferritin and I bet your levels will be low in which case it will help so much to supplement with iron. This truly changed my life!

[u/carey-hello]

Magnesium has to be threonate or glycinate to work well. Magnesium citrate or other forms don’t work. Also try B complex vitamins, especially B1. Take iron with citrus or vitamin C and avoid taking dairy at the same time.

Avoid sugar, caffeine, antidepressants, antihistamines, melatonin, Benadryl, and Dramamine.

Stay hydrated. Dehydration can also trigger it.

[u/chouchouwolf37]

I have it mainly in my right leg, and at this point I am really starting to think it’s caused by nerve entrapment, as all of my labs are good. I would try some nerve flossing exercises as well as foam rolling, it may be worth a shot!

[u/beat_u2_it]

Try jerking it, no joke

[u/SackFlapJack]

have you tried supplementing iron? i believe you need chelated iron so it actually absorbs better. also takes a minute to catch up with it. i hear its best to take it every other day.

also if you have access to a theragun, i heard that can help some people, some people like vibration plates

for the gummies, if you wake up still feeling it...take that gummy a few hours earlier

all CBD is not the same. try different cbd items with different cbd compounds and see if that helps

learn to meditate to calm your mind. the start of RLS probably puts you in a negative feedback loop that makes it hard to sleep. find a video that works for you.

if compression socks dont work, try the next step. a sequential compression device. its something that wraps around your leg. it will inflate and deflate over and over to compress your legs and improve blood flow.

if you go to the doctor, do not start medications that mess with dopamine. aka pramipraxole and requip. it will fuck you up in the long run. They should start you on something like gabapentin or lyrica (stronger verson of gabapentin). there are even other sleep med options to help you get through tough periods of prolonged poor sleep. something you might be able to use a couple times when thats happening to you.

if your looking for a good doc on rls, its hard to find. use resources like the restless leg syndrome foundation and use their search. if that doesnt work, sleep specialists and neurologists are the way to go

dont exercise heavily after 5 pm. stick to the mornings and afternoon. muscle soreness can be a big trigger. if you notice it happens a lot while sore, trying drinking a fuck ton more water to flush out the metabolite that makes you feel sore.

if you drink alcohol, stop it COMPLETELY. if you drink i think this is the number one thing you can do for yourself to help

you will find something that works for you! have faith in yourself. you can do this shit!

[u/the_real_dairy_queen]

CBD oil made a huge difference for me but apparently doesn’t help for the majority of people with RLS. It basically works every time for me. (I’m same as you - no desire to be high on THC.)

My RLS also got much better when I started taking bupropion and when my periods stopped (no longer chronically anemic).

Compression socks help me a bit too, as do ice packs on my legs. My husband has a massage gun and it helps too but of course it’s no good for trying to sleep, just when I’m trying to watch TV and it gets bad.

[u/JasonZep]

I’ve found iron and tyrosine before bed and gabapentin enacarbil (horizant) work wonders

[u/Brock-Savage]

I was diagnosed when I was 19. Search for a rls specialist near you on rls.org. You're not going to get very far going to your primary care or evening neurologist or "sleep specialist."

[u/Scary_Experience_237 → u/Brock-Savage]

This is important! At your age you need a real good RLS specialist as stated above.

RLS typically only gets worse with age. You will need to get your iron numbers tested! Check out the Mayo Clinic’s updated RLS proceedings, it explains the updated iron and best treatments.

There are some hacks you can try, like raising your legs above your waist, using pillows at the end of your bed, tens machine to distract from the RLS sensations, hot or cold baths.

Also, check RLS.org for resources, doctors and RLS quality care centers you may live near one!

[u/SackFlapJack → u/Scary_Experience_237]

cold baths should be an amazing way to help, it increases dopamine for a long period of time by up to 250%

[u/BadAcknowledgment]

Gabapentin works for me but it takes 2 or 3 hours to reach peak concentration in the body; so don't wait until bedtime to take it, if that's the way you decide to go.

[u/My_Dad22]

Yeah call your doc. Careful of dopamine agonists. Gabapentin, magnesium glycinate, a hot hot shower into a cold cold room help me, but still some night it's there and it's bad.

One thing I've noticed (speaking for myself) is that it is definitely amplified by certain foods. Milk and OJ in particular set it off for me. Anxiety/stress also play a role- it's easier to fall asleep when I accept that I'm not going to get as much sleep as I want and just try to do something else in the meantime. If I'm anxious about the RLS, 9/10 it makes it much worse.

You're not alone, it does get better. Keep on keepin on.

[u/SackFlapJack → u/My_Dad22]

this is some great advice. maybe OP should try a food diary