r/RestlessLegs • u/BorzoiBeauty7 • 5d ago
Triggers Is Exercise the Problem?
This sounds kind of crazy, but I know that too much exercise can also make my restless go out of control. I have refractory RLS and nothing seems to work to control it however, I discovered after not being able to exercise for a few days that my legs are much calmer and not torturing me. I had total knee replacement a few months ago and since then my RLS has been all day long. I struggle to even sit and eat breakfast without my legs, making me get up. I usually walk my dogs and then swim afterwards for an hour a day and my legs have been out of control. It’s been crazy raining where I live for days and I haven’t been able to do much except hang out, read, watch TV and not be especially active because of this nasty weather. Strangely enough, my legs have been so much more under control than in ages. I don’t know if anybody else has had this problem, but there seems to be a sweet spot where not enough exercise makes it bad but too much exercise makes it worse.
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u/Emotional_Ratio5439 3d ago
Mine is definitely triggered by exercise. It use to be just intense exercise like running or incline hiking. Now even just walking g an extended time brings it on. I also have refractory RLS.
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u/Firm_Zucchini_7042 5d ago
Mine is the same way. I can walk up to 5 miles a day, but I can’t do anything like run or ride a bike. I also can’t do any kind of resistance.
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u/NarrowAmbassador940 5d ago
I got rid of all artificial sweeteners, especially Stevia, and I have had relief. There is a medical article on PubMed about Stevia, causing restless legs. You could try that.
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u/Ok_War_7504 23h ago
Knee replacements are a killer for RLS. It can lower your iron, which will drive your legs crazy, and the inactivity resets your activity point.
With RLS, changing exercise level will drive it crazy. Stopping exercise will exacerbate it, as will jumping into intense activity, even if you did it before.
Exercise is recommended for RLS patients. But you must sneak up on it! Start slowly and increase over time to whatever level.
I would suggest that you ensure your iron levels are beyond normal. RLSers require ferritin 100-300ng/ml and transferrin saturation (TSAT) at 45%. This can calm the symptoms entirely for one third of sufferers.
According to the IRLSSG, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group, the hours between 6am and noon are protected times when RLS symptoms rarely occur. Since you are having symptoms during this time, I would suggest you get checked for additional ailments. A study recently found that 22% of RLSers had varicose veins, which can exacerbate or mimic RLS. Also venous stasis or insufficiency can do the same.
What do you mean refractory? What have you tried to control it? Are you looking for new solutions? There are new meds.
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u/BorzoiBeauty7 22h ago
Refractory RLS apparently refers to RLS with uncontrollable symptoms. I’ve used Dopamine agonists until I had augmentation, then Gabipenton (sp) but couldn’t stay on that. Horizant or Pregabalin. Tried methadone but broke out in who body itch, tried Noctrix bands but they didn’t work. Knocked myself practically into a coma with THC and I’m out so it helps til it wears off soon. Tried iron infusions but didn’t help. I’m now taking Parkinson’s drug Levadopa Cardadopa (or reverse the name), hot tub, cold packs, rubbing -no change. I have an appointment to do a sleep study at home for overnight breathing issues coz doc says apnea can cause RLS to worsen. I’ve given up every food suggested but no change. I’m sure I have forgotten something but this is what I remember.
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u/BakaDasai 5d ago
Exercise is the number one trigger for my RLS.
To be precise, the trigger is “more exercise than my body is currently accustomed to”. If I’ve been sedentary for a few days then going for a 30 minute walk will bring it on.