Havin a rough time

[gonna_make_it]

My stinkin legs are absolutely killing me at night! During the day I'm halfway decent(on my 8th day of no tramadol) but my legs are torturing me at night. What did u guys do to help...Thanks!

[littlebit667]

If it is so bad you cannot get rest, it makes the wd so tough.  I have RLS normally w/o dealing with WD and so when I went thru WD it became even worse.  The Hydro kept me from feeling it and when I got off...wowoza...I have not slept for 10 days..even naps in the day were not possible.  My doctor had been out of town those 10 days and I had run out of my normal medication and could not get a refill til she returned....it is a parkinson's med called carbidopa (generic for sinemet) and for RLS you take far less then someone with parkinson's which means the side effects that those patients have to deal with is pretty nonexistent for RLS needs.  I finally got my refill today and boy am I a happy camper!  

Point of story it is one option if your doctor can prescribe.  

[LeaAnn807]

Let's see.......I had restless arms (same thing-different body part!) for a week-ish??  And the energy came back after about three weeks.  I started Super B Complex.  I have never been a vitamin girl, but I was willing to try anything.  I started taking a short walk every day and taking the B Complex.  I felt better almost the same day!  For the RLS, you should try the Cal Mag Zinc (all three in one) supplement and drink apple juice and gatorade.  For leg pain, I took Hylands Leg Cramps with quinine.  It saved my sanity!!  Stops the leg pain almost instantly.  It's different than the restless leg formula.  I highly recommend it.  You can get all of it at Wal Mart and I'm sure basically any similar store.

Everyone is different, but for me it was about a month for sleep and energy to fully return or at least where I could function pretty well.  If I had started really trying the advice I was given, I might not have suffered for as long though.  HINT HINT HINT! : )  The exercise is so important.  It has a way of bringing both sleep and rest at night and energy during the day!  Odd, right?  But addicts want it all, don't we? LOL  Hang in there with the RLS.  It will basically go away pretty quickly for you now, but it may come on and off for a while when you least expect it.  Taking any antihistamine in an effort to sleep will make RLS TEN TIMES worse!!  Don't do that!!!!!

Let me know how tonight goes, ok?

[gonna_make_it]

Ya the zero energy ***** just as bad too! Tramahater when u  kind of start getting yours back? How long did ur leg thing go on? lol full of questions!

[LeaAnn807]

Yep!  That and insomnia usually round out the top two, followed by zero energy!!!  WD should be enough of a reason for anyone to never use again, but it's usually not!  : )

Heating patches are a great idea!  I used a heating pad.

[gonna_make_it]

Thanks everybody...I've been getting the thermacare heating patches and they're pretty expensive but it seems like the constant direct heat helps...I've got the restful leg stuff and I just bought some magnesium so I hope it helps. RLS could absolutely drive a person mad...I swear! I'll try the water too. For me this is the worse symptom by far!

[sandstone27]

I agree - getting the blood flowing is critical as the above posters have indicated.  My friend was a marathon runner - which is why he would get the leg cramps, and the quinine helped alleviate those.  It will also help as an adjunct to any form of exercise that a person can reasonably handle, along with everything else previously mentioned.

@gonnamakeit - YOU ARE (gonna make it!)  Time will help more than anything, and you're doing a great job!

Well wishes...

S.

[ricart70]

I am a runner I ran before during and after this addiction and I have experienced almost no restless leg or pains at all besides mental and major mental.I am not boasting just thinking there is a strong correlation between heavy exercise and restless legs.I am 41(no spring chicken) and was on oxycontin 150mg+per day(no small habit) for at least eight months.

[Innerstrength67]

I agree with everyone. You need to get the blood flowing. Heating pad, compression, walking...

[littlebit667]

I am the lucky 30 day one!!!  It is getting a bit better and I understand how it can drive you around the bend.  Keep trying the ideas given...something has to help.  I bought a heating pad of sorts and it helped more than I thought it would.

[sandstone27]

Lots of people with RLS!  It's strange, someone just posted that they still have it after 30 days, others post that it goes away after a week.  It varies greatly from person to person.  A friend of mine used to get leg cramps from distance running, and drinking quinine water helped her tremendously.

Laurel gave you a list of treatments to try, and I hope one or a combination of several of them helps you out. There is an article online that contains alot of information about RLS and RLCramps and treatments for them.  You can google it yourself, or if you want, message me and I can give you the link.  It won't show up here.  A few of the recommendations were making sure your folic acid intake is where it should be, as well as your iron intake.

Good luck to you!

Sandy :)

[worried878]

RLS..restless leg syndrome...caused from the sudden withdrawal of all the extra dopamine your brain was getting on the trams.  What was ur dose?
There is an article in the health pages on RLS...compression helps and exercise during the daytime helps.  Folks who are active and walk or exercise are less likely to get this.  Take a look at your diet as vtamin definciencies contribute to RLS as well.
Massage, soaking in hot water or a jacuzzi (if u shld be so lucky) compression hose or ace wraps all help too.  Massaging your legs with icy hot or ben gay etc before bed can help.  This is usually worse at night when ur brain is idle.  Caused by the same culprit that Parkinsons is caused from..but urs will go away when u get the trams outta ur system
good luck and keep posting

[LeaAnn807]

Good advice!!  Depending on if "killing me" means pain or movement?  You can buy something called Hylands Leg Cramps.  It will stop pain immediately.  The stuff laurel said works well on rls.  Wrapping them tight helps also!

[laurel453]

Here you have a list,.. RLS can really be a torture at nights, good luck :)

hot baths with epsom salts

tonic water .... it has quinine on it and helps

potasium rich food like bananas, apple juice, spinach, tomato soup, nutcrackers...

Hylands restful legs... at any drugstore, it is a natural remedy

mineral supplements...chelated magnesium, calcium, potasium....

hot blankets or ice bandages ( ice made the trick for me but others find that hot  helps them.. )