I had restless legs as a symptom during Covid

[cimorene]

I had covid once, in April 2022 I think, and I had restless leg syndrome for the first time in my life during that infection. It was EXTREMELY uncomfortable - I couldn't sleep properly, and I mostly couldn't feel comfortable at all sitting up, but I also could not stop moving my legs almost constantly. I think I settled on weakly bicycling them. But since the rest of my symptoms approximated a severe flu, it also sort of blended into the background nightmare and I don't remember it very clearly.

That was the first time I ever had RLS, and I only know the name because I was googling the symptom at the time. Apparently it was a known symptom of that variant, or that's what the net told me at the time.

Well, I just had it for the SECOND time ever last night!

I fell asleep at midnight, and I guess I was awake with physical discomfort, verging on actual pain, from about 2 am to 7 am when I got up to give the cats their breakfast. It was a bit like the discomfort of a limb that's going to cramp or go to sleep in a bad position, but moving only eased it for a moment, so I was tossing and turning and only managed to sleep fitfully once during that, dreaming that I had RLS. After I fed the cats at 7 I microwaved a wheat pillow and when I went back to bed I put it on my thighs, which enabled me to fall asleep finally. Then, of course, I overslept.

Wax says that she gets RLS sometimes, but a mild version that doesn't bother her as much, and that it's apparently a known symptom of menopause?! Wow, I hate that.

And like so many problems, unfortunately, the most effective recommendations for managing it are all stuff like regular good sleep hygiene and good exercise habits, and it's like yeah I know, I'm TRYING! That, and maybe iron might help.

Comments

[lilysea]

There's definitely an iron connection,

since iron is needed for the body to make dopamine

and low dopamine = restless legs

[lilysea]

The other thing I've heard a lot of Drs recommend for Restless Legs is magnesium tablets,

since magnesium = muscle relaxant

and restless legs can be a product of low magnesium

[lilysea]

Lastly, if your restless legs ever get truly truly desperate

when my restless legs were apocalyptic back in 2011

my Dr prescribed me an ultra low dose of a Parkinson's medication which promotes more dopamine (a tiny, tiny fraction of the medication dose that people with Parkinson's take)

It worked, but I also felt so groggy and crappy the next day that I abandoned it

It's possible that I would have adjusted to it eventually if I'd stuck with it,

so I figured it was worth knowing that that was an option if iron and magnesium fail.

[princessofgeeks]

Yikes! Glad you have some advice here.

[cimorene]

I guess I need to ask a GP so they can tell me if it's safe with my medications and what kind of dose in both of those cases. But it's good to know they might help, even if I might have to wait.

[cimorene]

Yeah, at least there's some stuff to try!

[lilysea]

The other thing to know about magnesium if you do take it is

a) it can make you sleepy, so if you do take it, best to take it an hour before bedtime

b) there are lots of different types of magnesium tablets available over the counter, and some are more easily absorbed by your body than others.

Avoid magnesium oxide, it's poorly absorbed and therefore more likely to cause diarrhea.

Good choices are:

Magnesium L threonate;

Magnesium Glycinate;

Magnesium Citrate;

Magnesium Taurate.

[james]

I don't know what you have where you are, but I use Hyland's restless legs tablets which dissolve under the tongue, and they have always worked for me. Their leg cramps one also works when I get a charly horse in the middle of the night.

[torachan]

RLS is awful! I've had it a lot over the years and it usually comes in a combo with my RSD induced arm pain, so it's just nerve pain all around! Nerve pain party! So much fun.

[cimorene]

Oh no, that sounds terrible! I think I've only had like warning blips from my nerves in the past, but I guess I have to start worrying about them now...

[cimorene]

Wow, my internet search did not turn that up at all, and I don't even use google. I guess search is REALLY broken! I will try looking that up and see what I can find out about this region. Thanks for the tip!

[isilya]

You definitely don’t need to start worrying about it.

2 episodes in a lifetime is completely fine and normal, it’s like waking up with a sore neck, it just happens occasionally.

Compare it to headaches, if you’d had two headaches in your life it wouldn’t be a sign to start worrying about headaches.

If and when you get RL symptoms in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, paracetamol, electrolytes and water are often very helpful.

It’s not restless legs “syndrome” until it’s three months of three nights or more.

[james]

Oh, I'm glad I mentioned it then!

[cimorene]

Oh, thank you! I feel much better and slightly silly for feeling so scared.

I have tried a couple of Justin Agustin's videos and I really like them, so thanks for the rec! I found your long comment very helpful and motivating. I also have gone for short walks twice, but I haven't managed consecutive days. So far I'm feeling pretty proud of myself, although I know it will take much longer to form a habit. I've gotten this far and then lost my grip several times in the past.

[isilya]

Glad I could help ease your mind! You had a great idea with the heat pack too. I actually had RLS/periodic limb movement disorder as a teenager and had a neurologist, took L-Dopa etc, nobody would share a bedroom with me on trips because my legs would kick kick kick all night. Grew out of it but there are still nights when I feel a funny feeling in my legs at bedtime so I take preemptive Tylenol.

So happy to hear you like Justin! I think his content is fantastic.

One of my physical therapists back in the day taught me that it’s not necessarily about consistency if you have an underlying disability, but about “paying into your bank” when you have the ability so that you’ve got reserves to draw on when your disability flares. I think “consistency” is really valorised in society but as I get older and with more understanding of my disabilities I have completely embraced and accepted just doing what I can when I can and releasing as much guilt as possible.

So congrats on the walks!!! Enjoying autumn with some sunshine and fresh air sounds like just about the best of all worlds ❤️

[cimorene]

It is very pretty right now! And I love the migratory bird seasons. The other day I saw geese shoving each other in the park and it was great.

I have a history of struggling and rarely succeeding in building habits so I suppose that's why I'm worried about this one, and I have no idea what will work. I can't figure out how pin it to my existing routines because they're at the wrong times.

But I have felt a lot less anxious this entire week that I've been doing workout videos and/or walks daily, even without beta blockers, and clearly without the long term health effects! I think it's the accomplishment/hope, and the fact that I'm trying to keep myself to a schedule as if I were a toddler I'm babysitting (because I've never put a pet down for a nap). Easy to shift focus from catastrophizing to my schedule if necessary.

[isilya]

Migratory birds! That's so cool! Do you get a lot of autumn colour in Finland? The trees have started flaming red over here and it's lovely. My walk this morning was just perfect weather--bright but crisp!

I know that one of the keystones of ADHD is that time is more like "Now" and "Not Now" and I experience it myself (especially when I have my period!). So routines/habit building is tough-to-futile and it's better to find external aids--like triggers and body-doubling. I wonder if releasing yourself from the burden of "I have to create a routine of going for walks!" and instead just being like "I am going on a walk now" is helpful?

Absolutely awesome to hear that your anxiety is less this week and I love your idea of parenting your inner toddler. I've definitely said "I need a responsible adult to tell me to eat broccoli and go to bed" before and it sucks that the responsible adult has to be me! I'm lucky that I can often rope my husband in to make me drink water and he's like a metronome when it comes to bedtime but I definitely have to carry the entire load of getting us to eat greens.

There's an entire field of therapy called "Internal Family Systems" where you build support systems for the (often recalcitrant!) inner child.

This entire exchange of messages has been super helpful for me as well because I've been having an arthritis flare/been extremely low since a change in medication, and I'm now moving and eating better because of our chats (and subsequently feeling tons better)!

[cimorene]

1. Fall color
Yes, it's very lovely here, not so much in the quantity of reds and orange like in New England (and maybe the NW? I haven't been closer than San Francisco), but in the variety. We have tons of birch which only goes yellow and provides a nice contrast. I have been taking pictures on my walks but I delete the ones I don't like, so I've only saved four in one walk once (yesterday). 😂 But it would be nice to share in a group, if you still want to?

2. I probably do need to give up on it, if I don't want to attach it to mealtime or bedtime, which are my only good habit anchors. They are good for dishwasher and self care, but I can't go and walk right before or after eating.

3. Part of it is I'm trying to get 14 days of bp readings at the same time every day and trying to eat at similar times to hopefully keep my body synchronized. The discipline of thinking I have to finish eating a half hour before the measurement makes me less apt to just put it off.

Oh good! I mean, sucks about arthritis, but I'm so pleased that it's helping you too!