restless legs

So when I was pregnant with my son, in the last month I got restless legs really bad. Im only 23 weeks pregnant with my twins and the restless legs are back and very strong. Has anyone else had this problem? Are there are home remedies or tricks that might help? This is driving me up the wall!

 

I was on bedrest for 10wks and I just tried to stretch out real good when I went to the bathroom. I would do a few calf raises, hold onto the wall and pull my leg back, any type of stretch I could think of without toppling over. I also switched sides alot and kept a pillow between my legs.
I'm not much help.

Good luck!!!

 

About a month ago i was getting them really bad. I started having my husband massage my hips every night before i went to bed, it helped a lot, a trick a friend that's a massage therapist told me. She said generally when your legs are hurting its coming from your back and hips.

 

QUOTE(jroberts @ Oct 1 2008, 12:19 PM) [snapback]1006998[/snapback]
About a month ago i was getting them really bad. I started having my husband massage my hips every night before i went to bed, it helped a lot, a trick a friend that's a massage therapist told me. She said generally when your legs are hurting its coming from your back and hips.



Oo that does sound nice. He's out to sea right now.

 

QUOTE(mollyjm+2 @ Oct 1 2008, 06:39 PM) [snapback]1007701[/snapback]
Oo that does sound nice. He's out to sea right now.



hmm well that is definitely an issue. If your flexible enough you could try it yourself. I used this stuff called Tiger Balm, its great i love it, but i was warned that some of the ingredients can stimulate labor, i think if you breath it i'm not sure, but i was told as long as you keep it away from your face you should be ok, so i figure my hips are far enough away, so i would try applying a little bit and massaging it in if you can do it yourself.

 

Ahhh, Tiger Balm. Yes. BUT, I took an iron supplement (for an unrelated issue, which I cannot recall), and the restless legs went away almost over night. A few weeks later I was reading an article in a parenting magazine that suggested iron supplements for restless legs. That is when I put two and two together, that the restless legs went away right after I started taking the supplement. Talk to your doctor and see if that is a possibility.

 

I too have this - it has been a problem since about 25 weeks and I have not found a remedy. I have been told that my iron is a bit low and may be contributing to it. Go to bed really tired otherwise it will drive you nuts and sleep whenever you can. I have had nights where the restless legs keep me up for four to five hours in the middle of the night - and I don't believe it is all in preparation for the twins....just annoying and makes mornings really tough.
Good luck and sorry I don't have better advice. I've heard to try elevating them, no covers - but I found getting out of bed and distracting myself to be best. If anyone has not had the sensation, they cannot commiserate - it is a horrible creepy, crawly sensation that can extend up to your abdomen!

 

QUOTE(CarolRN @ Oct 26 2008, 06:01 PM) [snapback]1043097[/snapback]
I too have this - it has been a problem since about 25 weeks and I have not found a remedy. I have been told that my iron is a bit low and may be contributing to it. Go to bed really tired otherwise it will drive you nuts and sleep whenever you can. I have had nights where the restless legs keep me up for four to five hours in the middle of the night - and I don't believe it is all in preparation for the twins....just annoying and makes mornings really tough.
Good luck and sorry I don't have better advice. I've heard to try elevating them, no covers - but I found getting out of bed and distracting myself to be best. If anyone has not had the sensation, they cannot commiserate - it is a horrible creepy, crawly sensation that can extend up to your abdomen!



I just found out Friday that my iron dropped down again. even when not pregnant I deal with anemia (it runs in my family). Like you and a pp said, maybe it is the iron? I start the iron pills tomorrow, I just hate taking them. They make me so sick. I might take the sick over the restless legs though, we'll see! Good luck with yours.

 

hope the iron helps, in the meantime, try doing a little leg stretching before you go to sleep. that helps me a bit. I have restless legs all the time.

 

QUOTE(twoplustwo @ Oct 26 2008, 09:03 PM) [snapback]1043266[/snapback]
hope the iron helps, in the meantime, try doing a little leg stretching before you go to sleep. that helps me a bit. I have restless legs all the time.



Someone did suggest that and I have been trying it. I found out the hard way though the first night to not over stretch LOl. Oops. My legs were so sore the next day from overstretching them! Especially since I stopped working out about 3 mo into the pregnancy. I do find the stretching on some nights to be very helpful. And like someone else suggested, the warm showers were helpful too.
Thanks