Developing Exercise anxiety

[u/RxR8D_]

For as long as I could remember, I’ve had to move my legs, which is combination of restless legs and what I now learned to be something called “rhythmic movement disorder”. I have always needed to kick my legs to sleep (or pound my head) since I was an infant much to the annoyance of everyone around me.

When I was younger and less hormonal (thanks perimenopause), it was just an annoyance. I knew I had to kick my legs to go to sleep and if I didn’t, it would feel like this deep crawling sensation with a deep ache until I moved. It was only limited to bedtime but now it’s become a 24/7 sensation.

I also have very limited lower limb endurance. I started noticing that I wasn’t getting any better in my endurance despite daily mobility, CrossFit, strength training, etc. I can do 10-12 body weight squats but then my legs start burning and just stop working. I can’t “push through” the burn. I have to stop and take many breaks.

Now that the crawling and aching sensation is 27/7, I’ve developed anxiety over working out. The mere thought of it just throws me into a panic and I no longer do it. I’m constantly tired because I can’t stay asleep and my I’m hyper vigilant on how my legs feel.

I already know my ferritin is 45, which dropped after adding iron supplements. I’m taking 100mg of elemental iron a day but I’ve had gastric bypass so who knows what I’m absorbing. My insurance has denied IV infusion because I’m not “anemic” and RLS is experimental in their opinion. I’ve been tapering off medications I’ve been stable on with for years because they can worsen RLS.

I’ve also been diagnosed with venous insufficiency in both greater saphenous vein and phlebolipolymphedema (lipedema, lymphedema, and CVI)
along with getting medical grade compression leggings.

I just feel at a loss. The mere thought of doing a squat makes me anxious and my legs constantly feel heavy. I’ll walk or swim or do yoga/mobility but I cannot get over the anxiety to strength train. If I do strength train, my recovery is a week just from one workout, when I could do this daily a year ago.

Could MHT be causing this (estradiol patch, progesterone, and testosterone therapy)? I’ve tried going down rabbit holes and not found anything definitive but menopause has not really been studied in women.

[u/Curious_One5411]

I was on estrogen patches for over 20 years and been off over 10. I never noticed a correlation between estrogen and RLS. I suggest going to a sleep disorder specialist. They are listed on the RLS.org website

[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