Twitchy legs, aka restless leg syndrome, is a family affliction, although we never knew it had a formal medical-type name. It can be torturous, robbing you of sleep and making long trips hell. Imagine a feather tickling the inside of your joints until you have to move to make it stop. Immediately it starts again, and two, three five seconds are the most that you can stand before twitching again. I have it in my knees, shoulders and elbows, and it has kept me awake for days (nights), and even at times forced me to pull off the highway and walk in circles. Flights can be awful as there is no where to pace and your seatmate is invariably unsympathetic. Once a bout starts there is no telling how long it will last, and it comes more frequently the more desperate you are for sleep.
But I have discovered that the atkins diet cuts the symptoms to almost nil. I don’t know what the culprit was/is: sugar, flour, or some combination but after 24 hours back on this way of eating the twitchy legs are almost completely calm.
And with the car out of commission I have to walk or bike everywhere and that adds another hour or more of movement to the day. Plus I am contributing much less to car pollution. All of which makes me feel better.
And FINALLY the ticker is moving in the right direction!
June 20th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I can realate. I also get this restless feeling in my legs and have to go run around. I can remember riding my bike around the block while my mom waited on nights where this restlessness would keep myself and my siblings awake. I have to get up and exercise like crazy or lie in bed and clench all my leg muscles until they burn, stop, and then do it again. Or move them in the bed until the lactic acid builds up and then try to fall asleep before the feeling comes over me again. I have been known to put on a pilates video in the middle of the night to try and get the feeling out of my legs. Sometimes it works, sometimes I need more.
For me this is worse with stress, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, or having one drink close to bedtime. If I have not gotten a good work out that day I know I will be down on the couch so I don’t keep the man awake. I have been doing light pilates or Yoga at night before I go to bed and this has helped a bit.
June 20th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Wow. I’ve never met anyone else who has this syndrome, and now two people in one day. I’ve had it all my life mostly in my legs. The only positive thing is that when I go to bed, I wiggle my legs so much until I’m finally exhausted - I think it must be why I’ve never had those saddle bags or a big bum. I know just what you mean about being on a plane and needing to move but there’s nowhere to go. If Atkins helps, maybe South Beach would help, too?
June 20th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
TJ:
Good to see your blogg again. guess I just kept missing you. Sorry about the twitching. I have sleep apnea. Apparently I stop breathing 262 times a night! No wonder I wake up tired! All that cheating of death!
Glad you have found a diet that helps. In my case, just dieting and losing will help.
Tomorrow tomorrow I love you tomorrow….
Cheers
Shari