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MedHelp Member's Question

Restless Legs? HA!

by Norco, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
I've been reading about what you guys have referred to as RLS but I wanna tell ya - WOW !  This goes so far beyond "restless" that I would consider that a joke!  My legs feel like some one has taken a baseball bat to them!  Is this normal?



You guys seem to be a really well informed group and a wealth of knowledge when it come to experience.  Thanks!



I'm trying to build up the courage but I remember the last time and that leg thing just was incredible!



Member Comments (32)

by hellbent, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: PainLes
I never thought I'd make it back. I was doing 800mgs a day, sometimes I did more. I was spending 150 every day, and while I had money, I couldn't quit. Once I was almost homeless, I somehow found the courage to get into a 21 day methadone detox then stop cold. Was also addicted to benzos, and stopped cold on them simultaneously. Pretty bad 2 months getting off everything after the methadone detox ended.



Anyway, I wasn't totally nuts or hardcore or anything. I was on OC's for 4 years, never stopping, and that's just what it took to get me high at the end. As you must know, the tolerance grows and grows, and the hole gets deeper and deeper.



We can talk if you are thinking about finding a way to get off the stuff.

by athena, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: norco
Good morning and welcome.Yes,restless is an understatement!That is the worst part of withdrawl.hot baths will make all the difference though and the thomas recipe (posted everywhere) helps a lot too.Good luck and keep posting.



pixi

by emmy22, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
Good morning. Yes, restless leg syndrome is the WORST symptom of withdrawal, in my opinion. It has a good side, though. If it were not for the rls, I would have relapsed by now. The leg thing was uncomfortable enough for me that i will never forget it and i don't ever want to go through it again. It feels like you have to keep stretching your legs and arms, and it feels like your legs are gonna jump out of your skin. The worst is at night, when you feel like you have to keep stretching your legs and you cannot sleep. I agree with the hot baths, too. What worked for me was taking a hot bath right before bed, and soaking for awhile, then jumping right into bed and trying to sleep before the rls started in again. It really worked. good luck. emmy22

by CATUF, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
I HATED RLS.  I agree with Emmy22, however, the desire to avoid RLS is a big help in ignoring the whispers.  But, they don't last forever and if you can get off with an extended taper (as I did with my brother's help) they happen almost not at all.



CATUF

(@ Day 36)

by peaz, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: norco, pixi, emmy, catuf, et al
"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" (remember that commercial?) but I barely had restless leg at all.  I couldn't sleep, but my legs weren't the reason why.  I about Sh*t myself to death, though.... Good luck today to everyone who's fighting their battles.          Peaz

by taeme, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
What's the thomas recipe?  Do you guys know how to take care of constipation associated with opiods?  As far as RLS, I just feel like I'm crawling out of my skin, I feel like I need something firm touching my back, does this sound familiar to you?

by athena, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: Thomas02
Hi Thomas

Could you post your fabulous recipe again? Several people need it and I can't find it on the boards anywhere.It was a lifesaver for me and i thank you for sharing it.hope you are having a good day.



pixi

by Bodymechanic, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: Norco
If you are interested in a pharmacalogical solution, clonidine and flexeril will help during a withdrawal.  Xanax has been used in cases of non addiction with good results but during a withdrawal it may make the problem worse.

by taeme, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
Is it true that online pharmacies won't prescribe anything like Oxycontin etc... you know the really hard pain meds? Just a question not a desperate plea to scope some drugs.  I've done some Oxy but I haven't for almost two years and by the grace of god I never became addicted to them. Just curiosity.

by Bodymechanic, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: Taema
Some online pharmacies will prescribe oxycotin.  It will involve a lot of paperwork and having a physicans assistant come to your home to evaluate you.



by trout, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
Not sure if this is the right place to post, but here goes anyways.  In reference to restless legs, is this in response to opioid withdrawal or an actual quantifiable syndrome non-withdrawal associated?  If this is opioid related, then time is the only cure.  I am 22 days off of stopping cold-turkey a 30 pill a day Lortab 10/500 habit.  In my opinion, the only thing worse than acute withdrawal is post-acute withdrawal.  And with post-acute withdrawal comes the leg problems.  I eat a boat load of Ibuprofen and this helps quite a bit.  I am just now starting to feel a bit better.  I have forced myself not to miss any work or other commitments and this has been very trying to say the least.  I have to share this story:  6 days after quitting cold-turkey, I ran in a 200 mile relay as part of a team.  I had to run 3 seperate legs each around 7 miles in a 24 hr time period.  Without any natural endorphins to help through the pain and agony, I still finished.  At the time I thought of myself as bullet proof and able to withstand anything; including withdrawal.  Today I am still humbled by the narcotics refusal to leave me in peace.  I still am light sensitive, irritable, itchy, tired, and not able to concentrate.  My advice for anyone looking to stop, buy a ton of Imodium (Loperamide Hydrochloride) and eat enough to stop the discomfort during the initial acute phase.  Thanks for listening.



Trout

by suzieneedshelp, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
Re: RLS. Well people am I the only one who had it before drug use?  In fact only since I've been on the stadol (synthetic narcotic) I DON'T have rls. That is part of what i dread about after withdrawal and my future drug free days ahead. It seems there is no relief from it.  I've researched it on the net. RLS makes one feel you are going nuts!  Keep tightening those muscles but only get temporary relief.  Long walks, exercise helps also for temp relief.

Thx,

Peace to all!

Suzie

by hellbent, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: Trout
I never had RLS at all, and I was taking lots of opiods (800mgs of Oxy a day, equal to 160 percs daily). I had plenty of terrible symptoms, but never that. Perhaps it is specific to opiates like H, Done', etc, and not to synthetics. I don't know.

by Sundown, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: Hellbent and suzie
RLS doesn't happen to everyone. Each person's body can respond differently to withdrawl, so it's hard to say how any of us will react.



RLS also occurs to people not going through withdrawl. It's generally seen in an older poplulation. Some people severly suffer, and the reasons for it are not well understood. Treatment can vary from quinine which helps some, to even using opiates to control severe RLS cases.



I was lucky and didn't have RLS. But I can understand how miserable it can be. At least after withdrawl and detox it can get better.



Suzie, if you are still having RLS well after getting opiates out of your system it may be a condition not related to your drug use, and your use of opiates may have controlled it. If our symptoms of withdrawl get better, we should all consider ourselves lucky.



Sundown

by smalltown, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
Hey everyone:



I wrote to this forum for the 1st time yesterday, I had written it to BodyMechanic because his words could of been my own.  I sit and read all your thoughts, and I am amazed that I am not alone. Do any of you ever look at people in the supermarket and malls and wonder are they are wandering around taking something too, or am I the only one?  Am I the only one who has to take 4 darvon in the morning just to feel like I can handle the day?  Today I had to go to see a Dr.  It was for a legitimate female issue, but I had to fight the extreme urge to "cry wolf" that I was having back pain so I could get some vicodin or something.  I just couldn't do it, i wanted to, but didn't.  It is now the evening.  I worry about what will happen tomorrow, I count my pills and wonder how am i going to do this before I can get another RX or my hands on something.  I feel like a louser.  I have a good life, a great husband, and am keeping this feeling to myself.  I only feel good when I take the meds, otherwise I feel like I could sleep all day, and I'm so cold all the time.  I just read something about a Thomas recipe.  What is this?  Any words of encouragement would be appreciated as I don't know if I can break this cycle.  Life is hard, drugs seem to make it easier.  Sometimes this justifies things for me.  My husband smokes pot, but it seems that if he doesn't, it doesn't effect him.  He once told me I was slurring and got on my case, so of course I got defensive and said who was he to say **** being he smoked weed?  Is my drug of choice worse than his?  Or are we both in the same boat?  Are we all in the same boat?



Thanks for listening.

by Starraven, Nov 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: SmallTown
First of all let me say that I am happy you made it to this forum.



Secondly, Instead of looking around at people wondering if they were on something just like me, I looked around and envied people that were able to carry on with the mundane things WITHOUT being on something.  (although I will never know if they were addicts like me)



Today I was at the store with my husband and for the first time, I didn't think everyone was staring at me because in the past I just KNEW they WERE looking at me and could see I was a addict.  (which they couldn't, I didn't look any different than anyone else.) I think that was the guilt of my addiction kicking in.  I just wanted to be normal.



I didn't read your first post, (I will look for it when I finish this)  you said that you take darvon in the morning to get through your day, are you in pain as well as trying to deal with your dependency to the drug?  As far as your husband smoking weed and your drug of choice being opaites.  I know from past experience that I never got addicted to smoking weed,but then met my husband and flushed all of my stash as he was straight as an arrow and he wouldn't hear of his fiance smoking