Does anyone here experience Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) from cycling?
03-30-22, 01:29 PM
#1
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Does anyone here experience Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) from cycling?
I seem to get it almost nightly from several minutes to an hour or more. Any tips how to relieve it?
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03-30-22, 02:22 PM
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03-30-22, 02:35 PM
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What makes you think it's related to cycling?
03-30-22, 02:37 PM
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03-30-22, 02:40 PM
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If it's causing you problems, you should see a neurologist rather than soliciting opinions from strangers on the internet.
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03-30-22, 02:53 PM
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The first line of defense against restless legs syndrome is to avoid substances or foods that may aggrivate or worsen the problem. Stay away from alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. This may help relieve your symptoms. In addition, review all medications you are taking.
03-30-22, 06:57 PM
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It sometimes seems that cycling makes it a bit worse for me. But it is alcohol that really does it.. all bad episodes involve booze and the more the booze the worse it can be.
If it is really bad I hit my legs with a percussion message gun for five minutes, and I am back to sleep in five additional minutes every time.
If it is really bad I hit my legs with a percussion message gun for five minutes, and I am back to sleep in five additional minutes every time.
03-30-22, 07:16 PM
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03-30-22, 07:23 PM
#10
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I seem to have it. But it's been gone for a while.
When I had it, it would get me when I lie down to sleep. It starts with a tickle at the back of my femur and my leg would jerk. I would isolate the specific muscle and tense it up real good. That would be enough to let me fall asleep.
Then I would notice I get this on my rest days or when there are long periods between my workouts at the gym. Maybe it is indirectly related to my cycling because on my cycling days where I would go for long distances, my legs wouldn't be getting the same type of strenuous workouts as in the gym.
So I started doing RDLs to specifically target my hamstrings. Gotta get a really good stretch in but be careful not to pull the hamstring. And on other days, do barbell squats.
So far so good. I haven't felt it in a few months now. I don't know if it really was Restless Leg Syndrome or something else but it was enough to worry me.
When I had it, it would get me when I lie down to sleep. It starts with a tickle at the back of my femur and my leg would jerk. I would isolate the specific muscle and tense it up real good. That would be enough to let me fall asleep.
Then I would notice I get this on my rest days or when there are long periods between my workouts at the gym. Maybe it is indirectly related to my cycling because on my cycling days where I would go for long distances, my legs wouldn't be getting the same type of strenuous workouts as in the gym.
So I started doing RDLs to specifically target my hamstrings. Gotta get a really good stretch in but be careful not to pull the hamstring. And on other days, do barbell squats.
So far so good. I haven't felt it in a few months now. I don't know if it really was Restless Leg Syndrome or something else but it was enough to worry me.
Last edited by Daniel4; 03-30-22 at 07:26 PM.
03-30-22, 11:14 PM
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It sometimes seems that cycling makes it a bit worse for me. But it is alcohol that really does it.. all bad episodes involve booze and the more the booze the worse it can be.
If it is really bad I hit my legs with a percussion message gun for five minutes, and I am back to sleep in five additional minutes every time.
If it is really bad I hit my legs with a percussion message gun for five minutes, and I am back to sleep in five additional minutes every time.
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03-31-22, 08:16 AM
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I would take one of those drugs you see on the TV commercials. You'll be so busy with the side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and blurry vision that you won't even notice your restless legs.
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03-31-22, 02:01 PM
#14
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If you're willing to travel to Baltimore, these guys are pretty good and have a nice summary of the current knowledge on this page.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neur...ls/causes.html
Here's the full list of top centers from the RLS Foundation
1. Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
2. Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston, TX
3. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
4. Innsbruck Medical University, Austria
5. Stanford, Palo Alto, CA
6. Emory, Atlanta, GA
7. Yale, New Haven, CT
8. Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN
9. Scripps, San Diego, CA
10. Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Switzerland
11. Massachusetts General, Boston, MA
12. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh, PA
Expertise in this disease is spotty and not every "specialist" knows what they're doing.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neur...ls/causes.html
Here's the full list of top centers from the RLS Foundation
1. Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
2. Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston, TX
3. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
4. Innsbruck Medical University, Austria
5. Stanford, Palo Alto, CA
6. Emory, Atlanta, GA
7. Yale, New Haven, CT
8. Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN
9. Scripps, San Diego, CA
10. Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Switzerland
11. Massachusetts General, Boston, MA
12. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh, PA
Expertise in this disease is spotty and not every "specialist" knows what they're doing.
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03-31-22, 05:10 PM
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My GF and her mother (86 yo) have had it for all their adult lives. They still cannot point to any cause. My GF says that perhaps very strenuous exercise will stave it off for the evening, but even then there is no guarantee. Strange condition!
It is not every night, but enough to be an issue.
It is not every night, but enough to be an issue.
04-01-22, 06:25 AM
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Mine goes away with either a couple of bananas, or a Calcium-Magnesium supplement.
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04-01-22, 07:02 PM
#18
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Beat me to it.
One theory is hot sauce might help, or Hot Shots.
I get it and it comes and goes. Mine is probably from a serious case of caffeine addiction. If war cuts off our coffee supply, I’m a goner.
One theory is hot sauce might help, or Hot Shots.
I get it and it comes and goes. Mine is probably from a serious case of caffeine addiction. If war cuts off our coffee supply, I’m a goner.
__________________
Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
04-01-22, 07:51 PM
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Yes, i think coffee and tea are main culprits. I'm seriously considering quitting both of them once and for all. Time for some change. I think lentils are a generous good source of iron.
04-04-22, 12:41 PM
#22
Newbie
I tried every home remedy you can imagine (well, not quite but it sure felt like it) and finally let my doctor prescribe me Requip. No side effects, no insomnia due to restless legs. But then I would be up as long as 3-4 hours each night with the restless legs before the med. It all depends on your particular aversion to prescription medication.
Last edited by kunoichi; 04-04-22 at 12:42 PM. Reason: grammar
04-04-22, 03:09 PM
#23
Senior Member
i have had it off and on m entire adult life. No pattern as to why I get it. If caffeine is the culprit I should get it everyday.
