Comments on: Restless legs and arms syndrome

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:00:10 +0000

Thank goodness for internet blogs! I had heard of RLS before but was under the impression that it was involuntary movements of the legs while asleep. I only started getting this in my arm about two years ago. It has been fortunately infrequent and has only happened a few times. But if you have ever had it happen, you will never forget. What I feel is not an involuntary movement but an overwhelming need to move the arm. It is never comfortable in any position so I have to keep readjusting it, desperately TRYING to get it comfortable enough to allow me to fall asleep. Impossible!
The last time I had it happen was a few weeks ago. It really scares me because it usually occurs in my left arm and shoulder. So, always in the back of my mind, was the thought that I was having a heart attack. I truly believe that stress makes it worse but when it happens you cannot help but be stressed. I worry about keeping my boyfriend awake with it and I think that he was wondering if it was heart related also. It makes you feel like you are going crazy, anxious, restless and for me I am on the verge of tears because I cannot make it go away, cannot sleep and worry about some unknown heart issue. Maybe knowing that it is a condition that others are afflicted with also and knowing I am NOT having a heart attack will take some of the fear out of it.
I wonder about the iron deficiency as I was borderline anemic most of my life (never experienced it) and my doctor recently told me that I had too much iron in my blood now and not to take suppliments anymore. She put me on Magnesium for sleep, but I had stopped taking it a week or two before I had my last episode.
It is the middle of the afternoon and my arm feels crawly now. I took some Magnesium and hopefully it will subside soon. It is much worse when trying to fall asleep. I think the blogger that called it “Creepy Crawly” was the best description. It can be a little painful and very uncomfortable. Unsettling is a decent description because of the fear it instills, not knowing what you are experiencing.
Question: Does anyone else have muscle pain in joint areas when this happens? Could it be not only stress induced but activity related? Possibly overdoing it the day before it happens? Thank you to all the bloggers as now I know I am not the only “crazy” one.

By: echo

echo — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:47:16 +0000

i stretch my arms constantly under the pillows and under my partners head. i move all over the bed and have even woken up under the mattress. what the hell is wrong with me? any ideas, please help. ive been doing this all my life when im awake or asleep.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:34:27 +0000

I recently got off 9 years of Paxil, and that’s when mine started. Legs, arms (mostly left one), and in my shoulder blade area on the left. Definitely worse with more caffeine. I had 2 cups instead of 1 this morning and I feel it today. Definitely seems worse with stress, too. There is something in vitamin stores called GABA that helps me. Tylenol also helps, but I think that’s cuz it always makes me drowsy. Potassium has helped at times, when I was at my worst. Magnesium is good for relaxing before bed, too. Interesting about the iron cuz I just had Aunt Flo and I am feeling worse. Thanks. I’ll try some!

By: Becky

Becky — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 14:27:09 +0000

I had surgery on my ankle a month ago, and I was positioned on my left side for 3 hours under anesthesia. Since then, my ankle is fine, but my left arm (which I was lying on during anesthesia) becomes restless at night to the point that I want to cut it off- just like so many of the other posts say! I thought I was alone with this arm thing, but I guess not. It’s effecting my sleep now, and I’m not sure how to talk to my doctor about it.

By: che

che — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:19:00 +0000

i am only 16 and i think i have restless arm syndrome. is that normal? it keeps me up at night and i want to cut off my left arm! i tried ice packs but that doesnt help.

By: tim

tim — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:26:10 +0000

this really SUCKS i cannot sleap my right arm is driving me nuts this started a few months ago off and on but lately its almost every night i thought this was only in the legs but after reading yalls comments i gots the rls in my arm and thats why im up at 3:15 am writing this i want to break my arm but that will prolly make it worse cause then forsure i wont be able to move it ima see a doc about this cause its BS i am tired but my arm isnt and i feel wierd during the day cause i didnt sleap and in the morning ill take this diet pill to get energy and get me through the day then i feel paranoid like people can tell i not been asleap and i must be on drugs cause i feel like i look like a zombie lol from all the lack of sleap and when i tell someone about this rls crap in my arm they look at me like i am nutts

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 06:29:25 +0000

Omgosh I am so glad I am not alone, I have been to the doctors every month for a year. They have sent me to nuro. surgeons(sorry for the misspell, I am exhausted from no sleep 2:30 am), and more. I do have nerve damage and torn disk in my back but this arm crap only started a year or so ago. My doctor finally put me on Zanaflex 8mg a night at bedtime, it seemed to help for a few months now I am right back where I started. I too like most of you want to just cut my arm off, I cant stand it. Tonight its only in my left arm, but most nights its in both arms, I sit and rock, throw my arms up and down, thrash them on the couch or bed, pinch my arms, rub them, you name it nothing makes it go away. The only relief I get is sitting up and getting on the computer for a few but as soon as I lay down it starts all over again. Its been so bad lately I have almost went to the hospital because I couldnt take it anymore. I think my doctor thinks I am nuts because he has never once mentioned RLS, now that I have read this, my next appointment on the 18th I am going tell him this. Why is it we can come on the internet and someone what figure out what we may have and we can go to a doctor and they have the first clue. Oh well, just glad to hear I am not alone and not crazy, cause when I tell people they look at me as if I am nuts. best of luck to all of you

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 05:29:14 +0000

This is a great site. I thought it was only me feeling this way. Thanks for the advice: ice pack, iron vitamins
and potassium. I picked them up today.But here I sit with an ice pack on my right shoulder trying to get some sleep.
I’ve taken another half ambient. Hopes it kicks in soon.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:55:52 +0000

My mother has RLS and has been keeping it under control with medicine. I have, on occasion, had symptoms but recently it has gotten worse and happens more frequently (it’s 2 in the morning, can you guess why I’m up??). For me it feels like my arm is about to go to sleep but it’s constant. I’ve taken some advil, will let everyone know how that fares! good luck to all of you, as well.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:37:05 +0000

Thank God for this site! I have been having this same problem for about 3 years. I am a 28 year old female. It’s crazy to hear everyone describing my symptoms. I too thought I was going crazy. My family and ER doctors thought the same thing. It’s so hard to explain the terrible feeling I get in my arms and legs. I try to take my mind off of it but to no avail. I too have felt like cutting my arms and legs off and wondered if I would be able to handle the pain if it happened again. During the pain I take whatever I can get my hands on to try to make it stop. Last night I think I took to much, but it feels like it’s coming back. I am on a fentnyl (strong opiod) pain patch for disc problems in back and neck. My doctor seems to think it may have something to do with that, but I’m not so sure. I just want it to stop. Whatever it takes. This is the worst feeling imaginable.