Restless Leg Syndrome

That sounds just like me - only my hubby doesn't rub my legs and feet for me! Now I'm a little jealous!! LOL!!

Anyway, this is a fairly common Lyme and/or Bartonella symptom, although not everyone gets it like that. What I realized was that I was actually dealing with two things. One was the issues with my nerves in my legs and feet - that's where my restless leg symptoms were coming from. Second was that my skin was 'hyper-sensitive" in a way - also a symptom of tick-borne infections.

These things resolve with treatment, but until you reach that point there are some things that will help ease those things. Use the detox baths that are described in the "New to Lyme" thread. Also -believe it or not - the dry skin brushing helps a lot as well!

To start off, since your skin seems to be overly sensitive, use a dry washcloth that is soft. Just use it in the same manner as you would a brush - small circles over your entire body.

Next step can be - if you need to go only another small step - would be to wet the wash cloth and allow to hang dry so that it's rougher on the skin, then use it in the same manner.

Next find a small, very soft bristled brush to use, and then once you can tolerate that, you can finally get to the point of using the natural bristle brush like the one in the link about detoxing.

My skin was so overly sensitive that even the water from the shower was quite painful, and I frequently found clothes to be irritating and even painful - LOL! -lots of pajama time back then!!! The whole process probably took 2 to 2 1/2 months, but I could really do the dry skin brushing like I should by that time!

As far as the pain in your legs, have Hubby continue to rub them as long as you find this soothing! This helps to stimulate the nerves naturally. I have said many times to my hubby when I can get him to rub my leg, or my back/neck -"Ohhhhhh, that hurts soooooo gooood!!!" LOL!!

Your welcome! I do hope that it helps!!

If not, please post about it again!! There are other things that could be going on - I just went over the most common things that could be happening.

Restless Legs can be caused or made worse by iron deficiency - make sure you discuss this with your doctor.

Also, some medications can cause restless legs (actually restless joints anywhere) as a side-effect. I've gotten this from antihistamines and some other medications.

What helps me is homeopathic Causticum, 2 pellets melted under the tongue at the first sign of the restless legs...

Sleepless,
Getting the sleep you need is a top priority to healing, so right now do what you need to in order to sleep. Don't forget you should also be detoxing, as there are most likely toxins that have built up in your body - not only from Lyme, but from everyday living - chemicals in our foods, pollution in the air, chemicals in our water.

Have you read through the "New to Lyme?" thread? The second post down, about 1/2 way through that post is where detoxing is discussed. I would suggest that you start slowly with all of it. Be sure that if you use the detox bath (as apposed to the foot bath), that you only use good warm - not hot- water and that you only stay in the bath for 7 - 10 minutes the first time, as the bath will 'release' a lot of toxins and you don't know how your body will respond. It's possible that you could herx from a detox bath, so I like to suggest that everyone go slow at first until they know how their body will respond.

There are still many toxins in our bodies - even if we didn't have Lyme- as I explained in the previous post -just from living in this world. When a person also has tick-borne infections, they accumulate more toxins because during the life cycle of the bacteria, some will of course die. As they die, they release toxins. Many knowledgeable, Lyme literate docs now believe that a lot of our symptoms are caused by these toxins that are created during the die off.

If this still doesn't make much sense, just let me know and I'll explain it in a different way - or maybe someone else can explain it better?

I will do the bath! Exercising will help too. But I'm just curious how diet plays a role?

just wanted to chime in with another option about the restless legs syndrome...i had that so bad and my husband would rub them too my arms my legs and my skin felt like i had worms moving under my skin in my back...and there were several late nights that i actually leaned against the wall and placed pillows on floow where i thought i might hit in case i fell but thats how i would lightly sleep....and i was on the verge of insanity...started researching....starting taking iron supllements which in turn would cause constipation and i would still have it so bad i would cry constantly...and one night i told my husband i couldnt take it anymore and to have me commiteed where i could get some "knock me out" drugs...it was a slow and painful torture and he finally took me to the doctor...and it had been three days since i slept...told my doc what i had been experiencing....he prescribed me mirapex and i slept for two days....i was exhausted and almost crazy...i havnt looked up the side effects of mirapex...but i have never had a moments trouble with them....and now if i even get an inkling that its coming on me...i pop one and i have been on this now for three years...i will never forget what i went through.....but just wanted to suggest to u that mirapex is out there that could be an option until your treatment stops those little boogers from running u crazy

The need to keep moving my restless legs is so powerful
that it causes me to get up at night to walk around.
If I don't get up and walk around, I will search for a comfortable
spot to lay my legs. This means that generally I will not sleep
as I toss and turn because I am unable to find comfort.

The more tired I am, the worse my legs start in. I am
forced to fight daytime sleepiness as this takes place nearly
every night of my life.

Taking an antihistamine makes my condition worse, along
with it being too hot or cold in my bedroom. Drinking
caffeine, junk foods and foods that contain sugars
make my symptoms drive me nuts.

Some of the medicines that I tried were Horizont,
Opioids, Mirplex. Of those medicines listed, Opioids
are by far the best working medicines. I have been
on them for more than 2 yrs to treat RLS.. sadly,
I am needing bigger doses to get the same effects.
My doctor is not willing to comply with giving me
more or anything stronger.

For the past 5 months, I have taken off excess weight
and have improved my diet greatly by working with
a nutritionist. It's not really helping my legs to stay
still so I can sleep but it is helping me cope with
having less sleep.

I belong to at least one group of fellow RLS'ers..
it helps to talk with others who are experiencing
the same things as I am. We bounce ideas off
one another. rlshelp.org is one of the best websites
that I use to find out the most current treatments
and I keep updated with homeopathic remedies
according to that site. Another good site is the
RLS foundation... it will help you sort through
the approved and proven treatments so you won't
end up buying snake oil (bad treatments) from the
salesperson. =)

If you haven't tried magnesium supplements or -believe it or not - tonic water - I would highly recommend giving them a try!

The dose of magnesium will be different for each of us, so it's always suggested to use magnesium to 'bowel tolerance" - which just means that a person should start off with the lowest dose possible (250 mgs) once a day, then 250 mgs twice a day, then 500 mgs once a day and 250 mgs once a day, then 500 mgs twice a day and so on until they get diarrhea, then back down the dose until the diarrhea stops and that's the dose for them.

The tonic water is just a glass or two in the evening for me, but it usually works because of the quinine. So if you are already taking quinine, then don't use tonic water!!!

Zinc deficiency can also cause an inability to keep the feet/legs still.

I have to wonder if any mineral imbalance may lead to restless legs...