leg cramps

I have been using vicoden for 4 and 1/2 years, I started cutting down 3 weeks ago but going on 6 th day without any, I managed to get through the symptoms of the flu but I am  going nuts with the leg cramps. I have not slept in 6 nights and my legs won't stop, I am ashamed but I broke down last night in the middle of the night and took a vicoden, slept for 7 hours. I just had a melt down, I feel hopeless, sorry bad speller!! Can anyone give me hope as to when the legs will stop moving??

[IBKleen]

Hi,

You are in the right place and definitely not alone. there is great support here.

The first thing you should do is get rid of any pills you have available. Now you back to square one--day 1-and as long as you hold on to your "just-in-case", I doubt you will get through this. You are only making it harder on yourself hun every time you take one. And if you like the rest of us, there is no such thing as 1.

I have not personally used The Hylands Restless Legs but I have heard some good things about it. The thing that worked the best for me was light exercise to get the muscles moving, and as many hot baths as you can stand. If possible, wrap ace bandages around your calves (the pressure helps) and try sleeping in a lounge type chair. My guess is that the rls kicking in when you are laying flat, right? So laying back in a lounge chair will help. It also helped me to put a heating pad under my calves. If you have one with the moist heat capability, it is even better. If you can get some Potassium supplements, they will help as well and bananas are another reat source of Potassium as well. While you are at the store see if you can get some Quinine water--that helps too. Actually, anything with potassium will help. Also be sure to keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water, Gatorade or the like--anything to make certain you don't become dehydrated. It is important at this stage.

Remember that this is not forever---it will end and you should begin to feel better. I don't want to harp on it but if you keep taking the Vicodin every time you have a symptom, you will keep going back to day 1 and this will never end for you. Six days would have been awesome and you would have had one, maybe two more days to go so this time set yourself up for success and get rid of whatever you have left. Don't beat yourself up about the relapse--make today day 1 and get going on this.

Stick around and keep posting. You will find a lot of members here with good suggestions.

[soaddicted]

Hey there! Congrats on ur 6 days clean! The legs cramps are the worst and I'm 21 days clean and still get them maybe 1 night a week. But I got an OTC medicine called hylands rest legs and it works great it really help me sleep. So hang in there it will get better. U broke down and took a vicodin but just have some one else take them so u can have access. Don't think bad of urself for taking the vicodin just focus that much harder to stay sober. Good luck! Hope u have a blessed weekend.

[Baker3336]

I'm on day 25 off norcos(same as vics just a tad stronger) and I've only had 3 nights without the restless legs. It was gone the last three nights before last night. It came on last night for whatever reason. Not half as bad as it was though. From what I've read it's the last thing to regulate. You should be getting better by week 3. Everyone is different I had the rls bad it was my worst symptom after the 4 day mark. It's still lingering. Good luck.

[0421]

I keep reading about hylands can you get it at a pharmacy or do you have to go to a health food store?? thanks for the shout out it makes me feel like I am not alone.

[Baker3336]

I got it at a health food store but it did absolutely nothing for my legs. I'm sure it works for some but not me.

[IBKleen]

Hi,

You are in the right place and definitely not alone. there is great support here.

The first thing you should do is get rid of any pills you have available. Now you back to square one--day 1-and as long as you hold on to your "just-in-case", I doubt you will get through this. You are only making it harder on yourself hun every time you take one. And if you like the rest of us, there is no such thing as 1.

I have not personally used The Hylands Restless Legs but I have heard some good things about it. The thing that worked the best for me was light exercise to get the muscles moving, and as many hot baths as you can stand. If possible, wrap ace bandages around your calves (the pressure helps) and try sleeping in a lounge type chair. My guess is that the rls kicking in when you are laying flat, right? So laying back in a lounge chair will help. It also helped me to put a heating pad under my calves. If you have one with the moist heat capability, it is even better. If you can get some Potassium supplements, they will help as well and bananas are another reat source of Potassium as well. While you are at the store see if you can get some Quinine water--that helps too. Actually, anything with potassium will help. Also be sure to keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water, Gatorade or the like--anything to make certain you don't become dehydrated. It is important at this stage.

Remember that this is not forever---it will end and you should begin to feel better. I don't want to harp on it but if you keep taking the Vicodin every time you have a symptom, you will keep going back to day 1 and this will never end for you. Six days would have been awesome and you would have had one, maybe two more days to go so this time set yourself up for success and get rid of whatever you have left. Don't beat yourself up about the relapse--make today day 1 and get going on this.

Stick around and keep posting. You will find a lot of members here with good suggestions.

[0421]

thanks I have the leg pain all the time, day and night, walking, standing and sitting, lying down, I keep thinking it is something else. I keep reading and it seems like the leg pain is common so I will  keep on trying. I will and  I mean I will go get rid of the 2 vicoden left. I just need some sleep but if a night sleep puts me back at day1then they will go. I guess I feel stupid, I didn't even know I was dependent on them. I have always been able to take 2 a day or 3 a day but never knew I would have withdrawals. The Dr just kept on giving them to me after I broke my leg and then got shingles on my siatica nerve down my other leg, and just seems like he thought it was okay so never knew. He left the practice and the new Drs just said we are not writing any more opied scripts find a new Dr, I thought well I will just stop taking them, what a joke, I can not believe how stupid I was, this is the hardest thing I have ever done.

[Baker3336]

Does taking one pill really start your wds all over again or does it just start your "days clean counter" over? Just curious. I've only gone through this once(right now day 25). I plan on it being my only time going through this. Thanks.