I completely understand what you are going through. I am in the exact same situation that you are (24 hours without any meds, no real problems until now), except that I have no other medication I can take to help me sleep. I have hydroxazine, but that is basically Benadryl with a bit more power, and it is doing no good. I had some martinis tonight to help me sleep (and they ALWAYS make me fall straight to sleep), but nothing.
It's not just my legs either. Once I make myself stop thinking about my legs wanting to move constantly, my entire body starts wanting to move and it is as if I am mildly convulsing.
I keep wondering if I am psyching myself out. Earlier today the only side effects I had were some sweats, nausea, and the need to move my feet and toes (that sounds like sort of a lot, but it wasn't that bad). And the need to move my feet was nothing like the RLS is right now. I have been reading through posts this afternoon to see if any would help me over the next few days, and I read that a lot of people have had extreme RLS. I wonder if I am sort of making myself have the RLS because I know it is a withdrawal symptom. So I keep telling myself that it is all in my head and the RLS gets a little better (as long as I keep my mind active enough to convince myself that all this is in my head, but that in itself keeps me awake), but then my entire body starts moving and shaking.
I have fibromyalgia and arthritis among other health problems. I have been taking Vicodin for 2 years for the pain associated with my medical problems. I am actually not supposed to be getting off the medication. It is an unfortunate accident that I am in withdrawal. The way the law works here, I had to have a tox screen before my doctor would prescribe another refill and the results haven't come back yet. In the meantime, I ran out of my medication, which is probably obvious by now. And, man, am I in pain! The sad part is I may end up going back on the meds once my tox screen comes back since the pain is such that nothing else works (or has worked). But I am not sure if I ever want to go through this again when they finally make a drug that deals with my kind of pain and I can get off the Vicodin. But then again, I can't live in this much pain every day until the time comes when I find a medication that works. I have tried everything my doc will prescribe me for this issue (including Tramadol, but let's not get into the side effects of that drug), and I can't function in this amount of pain. I am a graduate student in Mediterranean Archaeology and a teacher. I am very active, and my work in archaeology is very demanding. If I can't keep the pain under control, I am in trouble. But then again, I don't want to go through another withdrawal if I do get back on the Vicodin.
I don't know what anyone can say to help that hasn't already been said on the numerous posts I have already read. I guess I am just writing this to get all this out. I am not hiding any of this from friends or family. I have been in genuine pain and didn't take the Vicodin to get high, so I have never been secret about the meds. But I have been addicted nonetheless and thought I would share what I am going through right now. I suppose I could use some advice on what to do to get the RLS (mroe particularly, the movement of my whole body) under control so I can sleep (and my husband can too). Thanks for reading this.
I broke down & took a soma the 3rd & 4th day....again, - I don't know your drug of choice so...All I can tell u is mine was Loratab/Vicodin/ambian/xanex....I cut all those off & for day 3 & 4 I did have to use soma for restless leg. I'm also dr. perscribed for it but, he didn't know all the other meds I was mixing.
I wa going so crazy & trying not to use anything - then just became real with myself. A soma & for the 2 days that are the worst worked for me. Then valium or calonapin for the mind racing. Stay strong.. :)
You took a klono 1/2 an hour ago?
No help? Try to look back at "GoingToMakeIt's" journal and the Thomas recipe.
I think he says to take enough to sleep? Not sure... please please check on that and of course, only take what you are supposed to.
I really know what you are going through, tho. Been there. Another thing to be VERY careful of is: Some of the "natural" alternatives. I took L5HTP hydroxy tryptophan, because I heard it "promoted a calm mood"... uh NO.. NOT IN ME. It stretched out my WDs by over a week!! It was HORRIBLE. Some of those "natural" remedies make me MORE wired.
Please, hang in there. I swear, it DOES get better.
Try ANOTHER bath...i know...i have that damn rls too....and it drives me cr@zy!!!! I am on day 18 and STILL get it(although I had it before i even started doing drugs)...i keep the heating pad on my legs when i'm sitting in the chair watching t.v. or something.
I have found NOTHING that really helps for long. Exercise helps alot...but i am not going to exercise now...i want to go to sleep!!! and I don't think that is going to happen any time soon, either. I have only gotten 6-8 hrs. over the last 2 nights...that's one of the reasons i took the vics....no rls....but that option is gone so ............hang in there...i will suffer in silence with you!!!!! lol
I just t ook 1 mg of klonopin about \1 hour ago. Thay helps? I am literally not knoing what to do right now. Move tem and try not to?
Do you have any valium or klonopin available to you? (Please check with your doctor before.. blah blah, etc. etc...)
This helped me during that horrible time.