Restless Leg Syndrome During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
I have had Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) on and off for years. In my early twenties a doctor prescribed me a tranquilizer and I was able to sleep through the night. However, as I became aware of holistic living I cut out the drugs and realized I could control RLS with a Calcium-Magnesium supplement along with some liquid trace minerals. Apparently my RLS was triggered by a magnesium/trace mineral deficiency. By taking these supplements before bed I returned to long, restful nights of sleep. (Where have those been since I became a mom??? But that’s another can of worms . . .)
NOTE: Because taking too much magnesium can deplete calcium levels in the body, it’s best to take them together at a ratio of 2:1. In other words, take twice as much calcium as magnesium.Also, calcium citrate is more easily absorbed by the body than calcium carbonate.
Where was I? Oh yes, restful nights of sleep. Until pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Katie it got REALLY BAD. Cry my eyes out and bang my head on the floor bad. I used to exercise in the middle of the night just to calm the sensations down! It was an absolutely miserable experience. It continued after pregnancy until I found the third magical ingredient that solved the issue for me: iron.
The formula may be different for other RLS sufferers, but I strongly recommend that pregnant women with RLS symptoms give these three supplements a try. The body needs a lot calcium/magnesium, iron and trace minerals to grow a healthy baby and it’s easy to become deficient. B Vitamins are another possibility if you give those a try and still don’t find relief. Hope this helps someone!
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Melodie
This is fantastic information. I am curious though – do you know if you tested as anemic before you found out what helped? I have had RLS for my whole life (not as bad as yours mind you, but annoying enough to bother the people around me). I’m vegetarian but throughout the years have never tested as low in iron. So I’m wondering if anemia and RLS go hand in hand or would it be different for each person? Thanks for this post.
.-= Melodie´s last blog ..Nachos and Guacamole =-.
Heather
Melodie, I do tend to be borderline anemic, so as a nutritional deficiency it is one of my greatest vulnerabilities. What I’ve learned in talking this through with other wholistic-minded people is that RLS seems to result from SOME kind of deficiency.It is probably different for each person, but minerals do seem to resolve the problem in many cases. Vitamin D has also been mentioned as a possible culprit.
Marie
Hey Heather. Wondering, what kind of symptoms does RLS present with? Sometimes my legs ache at night and I have to get up and do stretches or jump up&down or walk around to get rid of the numbness in my feet & the tingling in my legs. I jokingly said I have RLS. I’m also a contstant leg mover during the day. I say it’s “my motor running” when I constantly move my legs during the day. It’s annoying to some people, but it’s an uncontrollable urge that I do unconsciously.
Heather
Marie – RLS is generally described as “an uncomfortable creeping, crawling, tingling, pulling, twitching, tearing, aching, throbbing, prickling or grabbing sensation.” It can occur in the calves (for me it is slightly higher in the knee area)and is most commonly experienced when sitting or lying down.The sensation causes an uncontrollable urge move the legs in order to find relief (momentarily, at least). Does that help?
Definition source: http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16440
Daniel (Daddypotamus)
It’s important to note that you had actual knee damage as well. You might not be the baseline for normal RLS. You tore your MCL or ACL, right?
.-= Daddypotamus´s last blog ..My Favorite Supernatural Testimony =-.
Heather
Actually, I don’t think the my partial ACL tear is significant in relation to my RLS symptoms. I’ve had RLS since I was about ten and it affects both legs. The ACL tear happened when I was 26 and didn’t affect my RLS symptoms either way. Thanks for reminding me about that, though. Since I have no residual pain I had totally forgotten about it. The body has an amazing capacity to heal and/or compensate for injuries!
tmgirl
This will sound bizarre, but what do you have to lose?
Put a bar of soap under your sheet. Or more than one. I put a few pieces of “soap scraps” (the almost used-up bars). I don’t know why it works, but it really does make the Restless Leg stuff go away!
Heather
Thanks, TM Girl. I’d forgotten about this idea. Tried it years ago and it didn’t work for me, but I’ve heard it has for many others.
My only concern about this remedy is that I think RLS usually comes from a deficiency of some kind. Sometimes just having a substance nearby is enough to help the body calm down, but ultimately that doesn’t resolve the possible deficiency issue.
Traditionally, Ivory soap and similar brands contained magnesium, which is a muscle relaxant. Check out more info here: http://earthclinic.com/CURES/restless_legs.html
Angela
I have a 3 week old and have been suffering from this especially badly at night when she is nursing. I am sending my husband out for supplements on his way home today! Thanks so much for the insight!
Angela
How do you spell relief? I’ll give you a hint; it’s not R-O-L-A-I-D-S. Wow. This totally worked in one dose. I am sooooooo grateful for the information! Your blog is fantastic. I’ve been clicking all over and totally agree with you on everything I’ve read so far. Yay for solid Christ-centered natural-health teaching!
Heather
Angela – I am SO GLAD the supplements helped. I can’t describe the feeling of relief I had when I realized I could control this without medication. Yay for sleep! You deserve all you can get. I know that’s not much when you have a 3 week-old so it’s even more important!
Elizabeth
Heather — thanks for this article and also for the link to earthclinic — lots of ideas on there. My doc tested me for anemia, but because I have to pay for all my tests, held off on tests for Vit D, folic acid and magnesium. She gave me a great handout from the Mayo clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/restless-legs-syndrome/DS00191
which to my surprise had sections on home remedies and alternative medicine.
The alternative medicine section listed possible deficiencies. (NUTRITION is ALTERNATIVE now?)
I read through it and thought that magnesium was the most likely deficiency in my diet — which is high in meats, dairy, eggs but not as good as it should be in fresh fruit, leafy green veggies etc., which are sources of calcium. She offered a $50/month prescription that I can’t pay for, along with a form to get it free from the drug company….but encouraged me to do my own research and try some of the other options. I’m going to call back and ask for the Mg test as well so I will know…
Rachel J.
Just wanted to clarify that magnesium does not deplete calcium, however high levels of calcium WILL deplete magnesium (as does stress). So you may find even better results by increasing your magnesium without additional calcium; I know that I do. Magnesium is flushed from the body (and thus can be used as a laxative) when too much is taken. Excess calcium, on the other hand, will be deposited throughout the body’s tissues (including the placenta, known as calcification). We don’t need nearly as much calcium as we think; it’s only one of the several important minerals and vitamins needed to make healthy bones. Too much will contribute to brittle bones.
I personally find that if I do not eat too much sugar, which depletes minerals including magnesium, and if I regularly drink nettle infusions which are high in magnesium, calcium and other beneficial vitamins and minerals, then I don’t have the aching calves and RLS at night. Epsom salt baths are helpful, too. If I do get achy legs and/or the restless feeling when trying to sleep, I’ll supplement with magnesium citrate or another easily absorbed form of magnesium to get my levels back up. Since I’ve started doing this I’ve also noticed less heart palpitations, a definite side benefit.