Restless Leg Syndrome: Triggers, Home Remedies and Treatment | Andy Berkowski, MD

Restless leg syndrome can sometimes feel like a baffling disorder. After all, it’s characterized by the strong urge to move your limbs while trying to sleep. In this episode, sleep expert Andy Berkowski, MD, discusses common triggers and what you can do when it strikes. He also explains what home remedies work and when it’s time to seek an expert’s help in managing this condition.

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[Irnbruever]

Plane journeys are a nightmare, I wore flight socks once and before the flight took off I already had them removed, I spent a four hour flight standing pacing at the exit door. Restless legs is a horrific syndrome which I have endured for 40yrs with no relief despite all the drugs and supplements. Sleep is a luxury for me so I am grateful for the 2 nights I do get. The endless tiredness and sleepiness is dragging me down and leaves me with no energy. I still hold hope for something new coming on the market to help me .... if not me then for others who suffer from this condition.

[stcabell]

This is the best way I can describe what it feels like. The feeling of "losing your stomach" when going down, forward on a ferris wheel. That sensation that may make some ppl quiver as they feel their stomach feel quivery on the ferris wheel, going down. THAT is the sensation in the legs. If anyone can relate to that "losing the stomach sensation" If anyone else can relate to this analogy please share

[tiayang]

Dr. Berkowski, thank you for describing airlines as torture chambers for people with RLS! This is the very first doctor who is able to explain RLS in detail. I've suffered with RLS for 30+ years. My primary doctor just brushed it away when I mentioned it. I'm being told that physical activity relieves RLS but that has not been the case for me; it makes sense now! According to Dr. Berkowski there's a "sweet spot" for activity levels depending on each individual. My activity has been too intense so I have to find that sweet spot. Thanks so much for this video.

[ourcreativebeehive]

I inherited mine from my father. Have had it since I was a child. I am so done with it!

[karlacrawley]

I don’t “feel” anything, I just can’t not move. I can’t stop myself, almost like a reflex.

[stealthk]

Glad I found this. I have restless WRIST syndrome. Get it very very minutely in my legs, but oh boy my wrists suffer. I have the constant urge to shake my wrists, an uncontrollable spasm so to speak. Feels like my wrists are constantly itching/tingling/forced to move. I only get it at night and briefly after waking up. Doesn't happen all month, maybe only a week out of a calender month. Wouldn't wish this syndrome on anyone. I'm a 32 year old male and it's reduced me to tears with how frustrating and sleep deprived it makes you. A very underrated disorder, if you don't have it, count your blessings.

[me_shell]

I started taking Magnesium glycinate 325mg, 10mg of Melatonin and sometimes add in a THC/CBD/CBN gummy or tincture. This combo has allowed me to get at least 5-6hrs of rest at night. Prayers to all who suffer, this is an extremely frustrating syndrome!

[GnomeGardeners]

I’ve noticed my symptoms are triggered by caffeine, anxiety and inactivity. It is an unintentional, rhythmic movement involving lower back, hip, knees and ankles - almost like bicycling. Walking and massage helps and my electric blanket. I have noticed this since a teen and am now post menopausal and still have it. As long as I don’t get a muscle cramp, I am generally able to fall back to sleep even with the continued involuntary movement.

[EduardoM]

I experience it this syndrome since I was a kid, it was very desperate, anxiety, I remember to pour cold water in a tub and stay inside for at least 30 minutes. As time passed by I experienced randomly but since this pandemic started I started experiencing every day, my sleeping habits change drastically.

[karenjohnston]

Just listened to this video.

Have had restless leg syndrome since a child . Am now 78 and have learned that magnesium threonate which is the least likely form to cause loose stools, works very well.

Each night awaken with the need to move the legs and get up and take 3 1000mg capsules.

It works well - back in bed after 10 minutes or so begin to get sleepy and fall asleep again.

Some nights it happens again so follow the same routine.

Am very grateful for this remedy and sleep very well most nights using it.

Have learned over the years as he suggested not to use alcohol or caffeine which helps alot.

Also not to get overtired as this always brings it on - am very tired and then suddenly wide awake with restless legs.

Hope this helps someone.

[yvonnegougelet]

I have had this since I was 16. Over 20 years. I have found sugar to be a HUGE trigger. If I eat any type of sweets later in the day, especially dessert, my RLS is really bad.

I found that tonic water, black organic cherry juice and medical grade cbd oil all help alleviate this. Along with cutting g back on sugar.

I will try to take iron supplies again, as well as est more iron rich foods.

[mrhopsy]

weighted blanket help greatly in making me sleep.

[glo]

My husband bought me a weighted blanket. I fold it about 4 times and place it in my legs at night. It helps reduce the feeling for me by at least 50%. Not all the way but for me anything that can help, I will use.

[judithbeard]

I have had this literally all my life. When I was a young child I would start crying and all my mother knew to do was an aspirin and soaking in a hot tub of water. This was a relief that still works. And if we were going on a long car trip I would always take aspirin before leaving home to prevent the misery from starting. I'm 70 yr old now and it still gives me problems.

[tarasteines]

I’ve found my anti-anxiety meds caused a lot of restless leg. I think that acidic foods also provoke it as well. Makes me want to chop my legs off some nights. Horrible 🤯

[jenniferdaulby]

I've had RLS for about 15yrs & can say if I'm on the 4-5th night of this awful syndrome - sometimes it can make you feel suicidal. I take Sifrol on a high dose but over time it has become ineffectual. My Mother & Aunts all had it. Just feels like torture. Best wishes from Australia 🇦🇺 ❤

[Bille]

My rls is my legs start kicking while I’m relaxing into sleep I end up crying on knees n elbows trying to sleep is exhausting even when on ropirole I still get it I try stretching hamstrings or lying on stomach at least you can’t kick much on your stomach and almost impossible to fall asleep it steals your sleep quality beyond belief.

[heatherallingham]

Heat is definitely a trigger for me. I moved to a basement apartment which is freezing and for 6 months never had a bout of it to the point that I forgot I had the syndrome. Today we has our first day of heat outside, and POW, it returned with a vengeance, the creeping crawling driving me up the wall. Only cooling off in my suite gave me any relief.

[sheilarodgers]

After paying close attention to my body over the years. I’ve found that eating after 7:30 p.m. always triggers restless legs and keeps me tossing and turning until 5 or so in the morning. I only get RL if I eat after 7:30 p.m. I don’t understand it but that’s my conclusion. I’m up right now with RL because I ate after 7:30 tonight 😩😩😩😩😩😩. This really sucks.

[KimmyGibson]

Did you catch that in the beginning? He said, "long car rides where you're not driving"...."not driving" is key!!! He was specific about it (driving vs. not driving) for a reason. Why? In my 40 years of coping with both severe and intractable RLS/PLMD....I have learned that for me, yes, being a passenger in a car or plane, going to movies, trying to take a nap...are all when my brain remains FOCUSED on a particular mental, visual, or auditory task, (sometimes all three are required) the feeling causing the need to move voluntarily (or involuntarily, if PLMD) ... stops, at least until you end the task or until you are able to fall asleep without symptoms. For me, the onset of sleep is delayed 8 to 10 hours EVERY night. In the beginning, it was only 2-3 hours, but remember, it's a progressive disease. It progresses not only into other areas of the body, but in the duration and intensity. RLS can also be accompanied by PLMD...involuntary 'jerking' movement. I hope that everyone who suffers from this torture finds a medication that works for them. None work for me any more and that's how I had to learn other ways to cope....to add and change the stimuli I mentioned, as necessary, to keep the feeling/movement at bay. I wish you much luck!!