Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: HannonNY on January 18, 2023, 06:56:08 PM
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Hello All,
I went to the neurologist to talk about the internal vibrations (and muscle twitching) that I've been experiencing and he diagnosed me with Restless Leg Syndrome. A lot of my symptoms do get worse at night and I do at times feel the need to move my legs to get relief. Ironically, after he diagnosed me I've had a few terrible nights with this so not sure if it's just my brain being cruel :) I'm wondering if anyone else was diagnosed during peri AND if the symptoms got better once you were through menopause. Of course, I googled the condition and it can be quite bad for some so that kicked my health anxiety back up. It's always something! Thank you!
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Hello HannonNY. I can't answer your question as such but just wanted to say I'll be watching this thread with interest. My husband suffers from RLS and sometimes it's just dreadful. I did read an article on the Mailonline recently and someone said Kratom can be very helpful. I did Google it and it is controversial so please don't think I'm endorsing using it. But a number of people have had success with low doses. I did contact a company that sells it online and it appears to be a reputable business. I've also read Amitriptyline can be helpful too.
I do hope you manage to find something to bring you relief, I'd like to get my husband help with his because I know it can be a horrid condition. Obviously his can't be treated the same as yours beung he isn't menopausal!!!
Sending you a virual hug.
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Thank you both! I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Has he had his Iron levels checked? My ferritin levels were within normal levels (37) but on the low end and my Dr. suggested taking Iron supplements which COULD reverse the effects. I started today but I'm not getting my hopes up. All the best to you!
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Eat bananas. EVERY DAY. It cured my RLS. I began eating them to stop that awful energy drop = nausea :'( and within 5 nights my legs had settled. I am aware of them 'pulling' in the day and now, if they are troublesome at bed time, I take 2 Nurofen.
My cause is lack of potassium. Years ago I would raise my legs up a wall which eased symptoms. I also slept with 2 double blankets under the mattress to keep legs elevated, OK until I rolled over in my sleep!
Some find magnesium spray on the legs helps.
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No HannonNY he hasn't had his levels checked. He's due for a health check at GP so we'll get them to test, thank you. Hope you sort yours, too.
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CLKD - thank you for the tip with the bananas. I'll give it a try along w/ my Iron supplements!
MrsMitch - let me know how it goes with your husband. Make sure they specifically test his ferritin levels. My Iron blood levels were perfectly fine but ferritin indicates the actual iron stores in the brain which can cause this issue. My level was on the low end at 37 and after reading up on this condition there are many who believe one should between 80-100. Fingers crossed this helps sort out the problem!
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Hi. I started with heavy legs that turned into big spasms in my legs and body with aching arms. They also twitches through the say. I had other symptoms that they ignored. GP diagnosed restless legs and i was put onto medication for it, neurologist agreed. Medication made me very depressed and suicidal because it wasn’t true restless legs. It is the menopause for me. HRT stopped it Loss of estrogen can cause these symptoms having done some Googling. Have many other symptoms going on now but that’s another story on another thread.
On restless legs Mrs Mitch when I was told that was what it was magnesium was mentioned as a possible relief for it Your husband could maybe try it
Hope you’re soon sorted
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Thank you Ali P - I'm hoping in my case it's the same. It just too coincidental that this also popped up at the same time I'm in the thick of peri. I will continue on the Iron supplements though as I figure that can't hurt at this point.
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My dad suffered dreadfully from restless legs syndrome (as did my mum putting up with endless, sleepless nights due to his legs kicking out all the time ;D) but menopause was definitely not to blame. He did get some treatment in the end but sadly I can't remember which it was. His iron levels were found to be low and this did improve things a bit and then the neurologist added in something else. Have you had a look at this link? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/. What treatment did your neurologist recommend.
Taz x
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Hi Taz2 - I'm sorry that your Dad had such a hard time! My Dr. didn't recommend anything at this point - we left it at trying the Iron supplements to see if that corrects the issue (that could take a month or so to notice the effects.) If I'm still having major issues then we start talking about some type of treatment. There are a few different drugs that they use to treat the symptoms. I honestly would like to avoid drugs if at all possible however, if I'm not sleeping well regularly then I'll need to look into it.
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Ali P : onto medication for it, neurologist agreed.. which medication has been suggested?
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Hi CLKD
just to be really clear it wasn’t true restless legs for me. It was the menopause. I’ve had tests less legs from some of the antidepressant I’ve tried and for me it was a totally different feeling
But the medications they tried me on were
Ropinirole Nupro patch and pramipexole. As soon as either of them were increased to a strength that would work I was on a high for a couple of days then crashed to depression. They increase dopamine. Don’t know the medical term for what they do
I think I read at the time that potassium can help, as well as magnesium, which it has done for you x
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Ali again I just came off the antidepressant when I developed restless legs from them. They were really painful I feel
So sorry for those of you have have it x
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But the medications they tried me on were
Ropinirole Nupro patch and pramipexole. As soon as either of them were increased to a strength that would work I was on a high for a couple of days then crashed to depression. They increase dopamine. Don’t know the medical term for what they do
They are dopamine agonists. Amitripyline is a dopamine antagonist.
pasting this ....
Agonists are substances that bind to synaptic receptors and increase the effect of the neurotransmitter. Antagonists also bind to synaptic receptors but they decrease the effect of the neurotransmitter.
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As far as I know there isn't a clinical test for restless legs syndrome. How was your condition diagnosed? I had RLS from a child: 9ish : looking back it could well have been hormonally related.
Let us know how you get on.
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Thank you all... I'm really hoping that the Iron supplements do the trick. I've been reading about it and IF this is truly RLS given my low Ferritin level I think I have a good shot of it relieving at least a lot of the symptoms. Some people it clears it up altogether. I'm not sure if I would then need to continue taking Iron for the rest of my life but I guess I worry about that down the road. Uggg!
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From minusminnie
“
“They are dopamine agonists. Amitripyline is a dopamine antagonist.
pasting this ....
Agonists are substances that bind to synaptic receptors and increase the effect of the neurotransmitter. Antagonists also bind to synaptic receptors but they decrease the effect of the neurotransmitter”
I remember now reading this I have a friend who is in a low dose of Ami for her restless legs
Just a thought anyone who takes aspirin regularly it is known to reduce iron levels another friend who suffered from a bad back was prescribed a medication to counter at this.
It’s all a bit if a mine field
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It is a mine field, too much biochemistry for my brain to keep up :o
Does elevating the legs at night help ease symptoms? Mine never draw in the day although I am aware of the sensations, the moment I hit the mattress >:(. Try 'nurofen' for a short time relefe, 30 mins B4 bed.
Iron can cause constipation ::)
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I get it but only rarely. The only thing I’ve found that helps if it does happen is to get out of bed and stand on tiptoes, lower, repeat.....say 20 times or until your muscles are so fatigued you can’t carry on. Sounds odd but I read it as a suggestion and it does help. It’s awful I agree. The pain if you don’t move your legs constantly is just unbearable isn’t it? Hope that helps!
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Thank you VanillaLover. I will try that! I've had it for the past 4 nights and it's been so hard to get to sleep. Once I'm asleep and if i do wake up again the sensation has gone. It's trying to get to sleep the first time that is the hardest. Such a strange condition! Hoping mine calms down or goes soon w/ the Iron!
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Have you seen this site https://www.rls-uk.org/
Gives a good insight into RLS and the different ways to help us cope and also medications which may help
Taz x
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Hi ladies. What helped me for RLS is magnesium supplements, and hard spike ball for feet massage.
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From minusminnie
“
“They are dopamine agonists. Amitripyline is a dopamine antagonist.
pasting this ....
Agonists are substances that bind to synaptic receptors and increase the effect of the neurotransmitter. Antagonists also bind to synaptic receptors but they decrease the effect of the neurotransmitter”
I remember now reading this I have a friend who is in a low dose of Ami for her restless legs
I think Amitriptyline is now considered a weaker option.
(I'm no bio chemist but have been trying to understand the action some of these drugs due to a family member being misprescribed).
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I'm going to try and stay away from drugs if at all possible. I'm sure I'm speaking too soon however, I've been taking Iron supplements for about 4 days and I have noticed a reduction in symptoms at night. Not sure if this is just my mind/placebo effect because it's supposed to take a few weeks to months to really work.
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How low is your iron?
Taz x
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My ferritin was 37 which is technically in the "normal" range but at the low end. I believe the recommendation from RLS foundation and some Dr's is that you should be at 80-100. My Dr. suggested trying the Iron supplements to see if that will improve or eliminate the symptoms. Again, early days so not getting my hopes up yet.
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HannonNY - does it matter if you R getting some relief? Try not to over think what might/not be working.
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CLKD - very true! I've had a rough perimenopause experience over the past 1.5 years and this is the icing on the cake! Hoping to get relief from all of it soon! Thank you!