Restless Leg When I'm Tired

[glutenfreejenny]

I get really bad restless leg when I try to go to sleep, and sometimes my hands get tingly when I don't sleep a certain way. It definitely gets in the way of sleeping because I have to try to move my leg so it stops a little.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've always had trouble sleeping, but never knew why but I think this is the problem. Does anyone know anything to help?

[GottaSki]

I've had the restless leg thing...but not consistently. I do have problems with my hands when I sleep with them in certain positions. I've also had a great deal sleep troubles over the past 20 years.

[tarnalberry]

restless leg usually does occur later at night, particularly near bed time, and particularly when the legs are still and elevated. it is related to low iron levels in the blood *AND* low iron stores in the body. (so have *BOTH* checked.) I developed RLS long after going gluten free, but supplementing with iron seems to have significantly helped my RLS - I suspect my iron stores were depleted due to chronic stress.

[Traveller]

Funny that you should mention RLS-like symptoms. I developed those symptoms several months before I was diagnosed. They went away after I went on the gluten-free diet, and now only return for only a couple nights shortly after I've been glutened.

It's good to hear about the part that low iron plays. I'll have to check that out. Thanks!

[debmidge]

  glutenfreejenny said:

I get really bad restless leg when I try to go to sleep, and sometimes my hands get tingly when I don't sleep a certain way. It definitely gets in the way of sleeping because I have to try to move my leg so it stops a little.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've always had trouble sleeping, but never knew why but I think this is the problem. Does anyone know anything to help?

Yes, my husband has this and he now takes generic Requip at night and it helps him

[tarnalberry]

I should have added, RLS SEVERELY impacted my sleep. Like total brain fog, tired all the time, major contributor to my fibromyalgia impact to my life because I could not get good quality sleep *ever*. And I didn't have the worst case either. A very low dose prescription Mirapex worked fabulously (as long as I took it on time ), until I needed to get off it (we may look into having kids later this year), and discovered the low ferritin and iron supps have been helping.

[chatycady]

  glutenfreejenny said:

I get really bad restless leg when I try to go to sleep, and sometimes my hands get tingly when I don't sleep a certain way. It definitely gets in the way of sleeping because I have to try to move my leg so it stops a little.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've always had trouble sleeping, but never knew why but I think this is the problem. Does anyone know anything to help?

I would suggest you have your B-12 levels checked and vitamin D levels. Both can cause tingeling - or that feeling your leg or arm has fallen asleep. At night seems to be the worst.

[beanpot]

  glutenfreejenny said:

I get really bad restless leg when I try to go to sleep, and sometimes my hands get tingly when I don't sleep a certain way. It definitely gets in the way of sleeping because I have to try to move my leg so it stops a little.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've always had trouble sleeping, but never knew why but I think this is the problem. Does anyone know anything to help?

[Yellow Rose]

Quote: major contributor to my fibromyalgia

Have you looked into the Guaifensen protocol for your fibro. It (fibro) is a major contributor to restless legs. In the meantime until you can get it under control try this it does help mainly because it distracts your mind and helps relax your legs. Get a cotton sock and fill it with rice. Tie a knot at the top and microwave 2 minutes (don't go more than 2 minutes). Set it under your legs. The heat really gets into the muscles.

Open Original Shared Link

[nasalady]

I've just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and RLS. The doctor wants me to take Requip and use a CPAP machine.

[GF avenger]

gluten-free Jenny,

Though I've never been tested for it, I suspected that I had some mineral deficiencies, and started taking a Magnesium Calcium supplement that seems to help the restless leg thing a bit. It's a reverse of the usual ratio - 800 mg mag, 400 mg cal, and a bit of zinc. I take it just as I get into bed. Magnesium apparently relaxes muscle tissue, and I think both minerals are things we don't absorb well as celiacs...

Hope this helps!

[tarnalberry]

  Yellow Rose said:

Quote: major contributor to my fibromyalgia

Have you looked into the Guaifensen protocol for your fibro. It (fibro) is a major contributor to restless legs. In the meantime until you can get it under control try this it does help mainly because it distracts your mind and helps relax your legs. Get a cotton sock and fill it with rice. Tie a knot at the top and microwave 2 minutes (don't go more than 2 minutes). Set it under your legs. The heat really gets into the muscles.

Open Original Shared Link

Based on my research, I'm not particularly interested in trying guiafenesen. There's plenty of peer-reviewed research to suggest it's equivocal or not effective. And, based on my reading of research looking for the cause of fibromyalgia, I suspect that the same symptoms are caused by a couple of different things, and salicylates are almost certainly not mine. This manifests quite clearly as a central nervous system disorder - increased touch/pain sensitivity (not just muscular), increased sensitivity to light and sound, and fatigue as the main issues. I strongly suspect that the dopamine depletion theory - where high levels of chronic stress have caused me to overproduce dopamine for a long period of time, depleting stores of precursor chemicals and causing abnormalities in nerve transmission that relies on dopamine (and the related chemical cascade that occurs when chronic stress continues in the face of these conditions). Dopamine depletion has been linked to both fibro and RLS. And dealing with it in that fashion - stress management/pacing myself, improved sleep (thanks to the meds for RLS at first, and the iron now that I'm off the mirapex), and removing myself from the most significant chronic stress, has helped keep it manageable.

(My long winded way of saying "guai might work for some people, but I don't think it fits for my case, and what I've been doing is working". )

[Raynee]

  glutenfreejenny said:

I get really bad restless leg when I try to go to sleep, and sometimes my hands get tingly when I don't sleep a certain way. It definitely gets in the way of sleeping because I have to try to move my leg so it stops a little.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've always had trouble sleeping, but never knew why but I think this is the problem. Does anyone know anything to help?

I just registered for this site because I have a suspision I may have a gluten allergy. I also have noticed restless leg syndrome and my hands fall asleep constantly when I lay a certain way. They wake me up all night.

[glutenfreejenny]

I am anemic and I think that is what is causing it. I have tried taking iron before going gluten free and it didn't help...but now that I am gluten free when I take some iron when I get restless leg it helps a lot.

[hermitgirl]

So here is the oddball in the group. I had never had an issue with restless leg until after my diagnosis. It is the worst on days that I work out and focus on my legs. I have been tested, no deficiencies, and here is the wierdest part, it is mainly just one leg. I constantly have to move it, or pop my knee or hip. It keeps me from relaxing which is obviously affecting my sleep now. It makes it almost impossible to fall asleep, and wakes me up during the night. Yes, I do stretch before, during and after workouts. I have even resorted to a melatonin that contains hopps and valerian root, and that doesn't help either. Some suggestions would be nice... anyone?

[tarnalberry]

  hermitgirl said:

So here is the oddball in the group. I had never had an issue with restless leg until after my diagnosis. It is the worst on days that I work out and focus on my legs. I have been tested, no deficiencies, and here is the wierdest part, it is mainly just one leg. I constantly have to move it, or pop my knee or hip. It keeps me from relaxing which is obviously affecting my sleep now. It makes it almost impossible to fall asleep, and wakes me up during the night. Yes, I do stretch before, during and after workouts. I have even resorted to a melatonin that contains hopps and valerian root, and that doesn't help either. Some suggestions would be nice... anyone?

Since you describe primarily one leg, and after significant use of it, have you tried seeing a orthopaedist or chiropractor? It could actually be stemming from an issue in the low spine.

[hermitgirl]

  tarnalberry said:

Since you describe primarily one leg, and after significant use of it, have you tried seeing a orthopaedist or chiropractor? It could actually be stemming from an issue in the low spine.

No I have not, nor did I even think that. I will have to look into that. Thank you! As I said, it seemed odd in every way. Not really liking the whole waking up with a leg flailing around bit, or waking from it hitting the wall. (bed is rather close to a wall, and it isn't quite flailing flailing, but enough that it wakes me up, not just a simple twitch.)

[AliB]

I had chronic RLS before going gluten-free and afterwards it stopped. Now I only get it if I get glutened. What I did realise is that it was to do with my digestion, and particularly my colon.

I do wonder if the colon bulges (diverticuli?) at certain points and impacts on the nerves in the spinal column here and there. It may be that it is exacerbated when we lay down somehow.

It may not always be just gluten that affects it - it could be other foods, like corn or soy for instance. Although we eat during the day, it is during the evening and the night that foods work their way into the colon and may be affecting the nerves as the food reaches certain points in the colon.

We have a friend who has ataxia. She constantly 'dips' when she is standing and will sometimes go into a whole body tremor that lasts for five minutes or so. The doctors and specialists have been unable to find a cause, or give her any treatment.

There is a condition that has now come to be known as 'gluten ataxia' where gluten affects the spinal nerves and causes involuntary spasms and movements. I am sure that may well be her problem and intend having a chat with her to see if a change of diet is worth trying.

As RLS is basically a form of ataxia then it is not unfeasible that diet would make a difference.

If there is a possibility that other foods may be triggers, sometimes an elimination diet may be useful to try. Certainly a reduction of carbohydrates and sugar may well be worth trying too.

[TotalKnowledge]

Right after going gluten free my restless leg got immediately better. Then has started to creep back in from time to time (although not to the levels pre gluten free)

I am wondering if mine isn't tied to some form of mineral deficiency. I am making a concerted effort to make sure I get a wider range of minerals throughout the day.

[tarnalberry]

  TotalKnowledge said:

Right after going gluten free my restless leg got immediately better. Then has started to creep back in from time to time (although not to the levels pre gluten free)

I am wondering if mine isn't tied to some form of mineral deficiency. I am making a concerted effort to make sure I get a wider range of minerals throughout the day.

RLS is known to be related to low iron levels or iron stores.