Aching legs

emsjane

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone else on here gets aching legs? Especially at night time or in the evenings when resting. My legs sometimes ache so much, that i can't sleep!

Ive been reading up on the internet and it did say you can get this if you have arthritis. I also read up about RLS, (Restless Leg syndrome). I don't always have it and i wondered if it is maybe linked with low iron in my body.

It feels kind of muscular and my legs ache more when i lie on my side and put one leg on top of the other, then it becomes unbearable and i have to move them. In the end i take a couple of paracetamol, just so i can sleep!!

frogmorton

Hi Emma

When my arthritis is really flaring l can't bear a sheet on my legs so l really can sympathise with you :? Sounds very tiring when you are already needing to sleep.

Someone on here does have restless legs, l know so might be able to tell you more.

Love

Toni xxx

SteveBurns

I have OA in both knees and get very achy legs when standing for more than half a minute. The ache is in both calf muscles.

When I sit down at the end of each day my legs ache and I get restless legs, just can't get comfortable, sometime get so fed up with it I have to go to bed.

In bed I rest both legs on a pillow, I do sleep but my legs tell me when to wake up, usually around 5 am.

Sometimes cramp in the calf muscles wakes me up, you know what that's like I'm sure.

My appointment was cancelled for last week, it's now next Monday when I hope to get on the list for a half knee replacement.

mouseymousey

I was reading a magazine in the bath tonight. It mentioned Philip Schofield has this, and its called 'Ekbom Syndrome'. The article also advises you avoid caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and eating late. It goes on to say a hot bath before bed will relax the muscles & in extreme cases your gp can prescribe a few things. Also says an iron supplement can help.
Hope this is of some use - its a strange world.
Best wishes.

elnafinn

Hi Emma

I am really sorry to hear you are suffering with "aching" legs. It does sound like RLS. I have suffered terribly with this at times.

This is a very useful link and if you check it out, you will know if you are a sufferer of RLS or not.

http://www.rls-uk.org/

Deficiencies of vitamin B, folic acid, or magnesium and being low on iron can bring on the symptoms.

Unfortunately quite a few gps do not know enough about RLS and it can sometimes take quite a time to get diagnosed/find a gp who is knowledgeable and sympathetic.

Elna x

Aimer66

Hi there, I get the achy legs as well, feels like I have been on my feet walking all day. For me it's mainly lower legs and my feet but I do get it pretty much all the time.

My current diagnoses is sero negative inflammatory / psoriatic arthritis.

Mark.

7worlds

Hi Emma. Iwas diagnosed with severe anaemia and needed a blood transfusion.One of the symptoms was restless legs. It used to drive me up the wall!! It then transpired that the anaemia was a result of the RA. which was diagnosed a year later, so its possible its all connected. I know it was for me.

7worlds

SteveBurns

elnafinn wrote:

Hi Emma

I am really sorry to hear you are suffering with "aching" legs. It does sound like RLS. I have suffered terribly with this at times.

This is a very useful link and if you check it out, you will know if you are a sufferer of RLS or not.

http://www.rls-uk.org/

Deficiencies of vitamin B, folic acid, or magnesium and being low on iron can bring on the symptoms.

Unfortunately quite a few gps do not know enough about RLS and it can sometimes take quite a time to get diagnosed/find a gp who is knowledgeable and sympathetic.

Elna x

I just had a look at the link and I've got it. Thanks Elna.

tillytop

Hello Emma

I have rls and I know from what I have read that RLS affects people differently - some people have severe pain with it, but I am lucky in that mine don't hurt.

My legs don't ache as such but when it gets going I HAVE to keep moving them - constantly. When it is really bad it affects my arms too. My GP suggested that low iron and magnesium levels can be a contributing factor and I know that some people swear by magnesium tablets (do check with your GP before taking supplements though, specially if you are on other meds). My GP has recently prescribed Oramorph for me to try to damp down my rls and so far it is working brilliantly and enabling me to sleep. Not all GPs are clued up on rls but I have found the links posted by the others give really useful info which you could maybe use as a basis for discussion with your GP if you think you have rls.

Hope you find something to help you manage whatever is going on with your legs.

Love Tillyxxx

PollySid

I have had RLS since 1989. I went to the drs a couple of times back then and they hadn't got anything they could give me, so I just handled it as best I could.
I have never found what brings it on as it is not there every evening. I know if I am travelling and tired it can come on which is horrible as I know I can do nothing until I get to my destination. It mainly seems to be attached to tiredness in my case, although I don't always get it everytime I am tired.
The only thing that works for me is actually going to bed.
I suppose that I am lucky in that respect as laying, relaxing in bed seems to ease it off. I have tried laying on the sofa, so I don't have to go to bed so early but that doesn't seem to work.
I once got it when travelling by bus the latter part of a 7 hour journey to Scotland from Norfolk. Now that was bad, I was virtually crying by the time we got there.

hileena111

I have never been diagnosed with RLS but when I sit down at night {especially with my feet up} and then wehn I go to bed.....my legs, ankles and soles of feet start aching. I tend to put it down to the arthritisin my left ankle {from an accident a few yrs ago :roll: }
Love
Hileena

emsjane

Thanks everyone, your replies have been really helpful! It's confirmed my thoughts about the iron! I am recovering from my toe op last week so it is very possible I am low on iron. Doc also put me on flucloxacillin as a preventative measure as I'm on MTX. So I'm going to eat a lot of iron rich foods and see if that helps. I will check out that link too, thanks Elna.

If it doesn't go I will pop in and see my docs and see what he thinks. I did find taking paracetamol helped me get to sleep.