restless legs syndrome | ADHD Information

I'm the poster child for this, although I'm not sure if it's technically RLS. Legs constantly "begging" me to stretch, bend, contort them in any way possible for relief. I've spent many a night on the couch b/c of it...in fact, I usually don't even realize that I'm digging the heel of one foot into my calf, thigh etc to calm them down when my wife kicks me out!

Only thing that seems to work is rubbing the heck out of 'em and stretching.

I have this at times too-Running helps-especially long distances-like a marathon![QUOTE=stixxx]

Only thing that seems to work is rubbing the heck out of 'em and stretching.

[/QUOTE]

Couldn't have described it better.

Hmmmmmmmm

I have this too,,,, I dont' know if it is related to ADD?

It was worse during pregnancy.

Precisely the reason I am mad about Yoga and Pilates. I DO reccommend it to anyone who's AD/HD makes it really hard for them to relax. It is very hard to sit (still anyway) through the class at first, but start small and soon you will be addicted! My teacher *still* has to come touch me to get me to relax in Savasana (corpse) but I'm totally starting to 'get it' more...like I think I *am* relaxing...but evidently not!

No matter your physical fitness level. I wish you all would try it out. I also promise I'm no hokey 'hippy.' Hee hee.

[QUOTE=trailseeker]

It was worse during pregnancy.

[/QUOTE]

My mom said that too.

My legs don't stay still either when I first go to sleep at night. I feel the urge to flip them around.

Hi everyone,

I don't personally have restless leg but my mother did. She was never diagnosed but I know she had ADHD because I'm sure she is where I got it. She not only had resltess leg (all day long). Sometime I would find her sitting in the living room in the middle of the night (sometimes in the daytime also) either shaking her leg or rocking because she had what she described as butterflies in her stomach. Said she's had them as long as she could remember. I thought it was probably anxiety before my son and I were diagnosed with ADHD, since her Dad died when she was 6 of pneumonia and it was 1930 (right smack dab after the stock market crash in 1929 and the start of the depression). I guess it could be both ADHD and Anxiety since they have been know to coexist.

Gettingagrip

gettingagrip38471.4550462963I have the same problem. I have had it forever. People are always telling me to knock it off. I just can't. I really have to concentrate to stop doing it. The minute my mind wonders off my leg starts shaking again.

I have problems with the same thing!! I am the inattentive type of ADHD but I'm always fidgeting with my legs. When I'm sitting down, i tend to bounce my foot or wiggle my toes. It is always something with the legs. it feels weird for me to be perfectly still sometimes lol. even right now both of my legs are moving. And at night I think I do that too...I'll have to see lol. Anyway, I'm very anxious and very inattentive adhd so that's why I probably do that.

-Princess-

anyone have a problem with this?

lying in bed at night, your legs feel active and prevent you from sleeping? or even during the day?

it's has yet to be defined, but does have a name.

just curious if it's a ADHD issue.

YES---I have had this problem for as long as I can remember. I have ADD w/out hyperactivity so, as far as I know its the only "hyperactive" thing I do. It's constant and I have had people ask me to stop. I don't even realize it most of the time. At night I always go to bed before my husband because I can not go to sleep without shaking my legs, foot, or rocking myself to sleep.

it sucks, i think we would agree on that.

the only thing i've found worthy of using is; don't give into it, go with it. if you need to walk and move around do it.

I read somewhere that one of the genes believed to be associated with ADHD is also associated with RLS.

Drives me nuts.

Mark -

What exactly is Restless Legs Syndrome. My legs always feel active even when I'm just sitting down or sleeping. This doesn't happen to me as much now as when I was younger (29 now), but I remember being in 2nd or 3rd grade, sitting in class and my legs having this uncomfortable, achy, restless feeling like I needed to move them around or stretch.
Now it's not the same thing, but I can almost never sit still. It's like I can never get comfortable. Sometimes I'm sitting in class and realize how much I'm moving around in my seat and have to force myself to sit still because it's kind of embarrassing. I don't know if anyone actually notices, but still, 29 year old medical students aren't supposed to squirm around like second graders.
I can never get comfortable in bed either. I'll usually toss and turn for almost and hour before I get comfortable.
The worst is if I find my "spot" and then I move for some reason (even just barely) and I have to find a new spot.
Oh, and I've never been hyperactive. Just plain ADD.
addMDtobe38499.7713310185

ME TOO!

I noticed recently, I've also wanted to stretch my legs like crazy and it feels so so good when I do. It's almost like pleasurable. Could this be related it sitting too long? I used to do long commutes to work and during my communte I would either wanting to stretch like crazy or just punching leg trying to get the blood flow going?

I really really want to know if this related to ADD.

I didn't have the urge below. I've tried exercising more nowadays to see it's not just a physical thing.

[QUOTE=Mark Goode][QUOTE=stixxx]

Only thing that seems to work is rubbing the heck out of 'em and stretching.

[/QUOTE]

Couldn't have described it better.

[/QUOTE] nothappy38499.4417013889[QUOTE=nothappy]

I really really want to know if this related to ADD. [/QUOTE]

Yes it is. It's apparently a related condition, though not everyone has it. I read on another forum that it may be caused by low dopamine levels. It's almost impossible to describe it though, isn't it? It's not a pain, it's not an itch.. it's a sensation all its own. It's not the normal ADHD fidgets, it's a kind of torture that can only be relieved by stretching, flexing, rubbing or punching the legs to create a temporary feeling of relief.

And at nights... Oh, boy .

I have it a few times a year, it comes and goes and
only happens when I try to sleep at night. My doctor
says it is a neurological condition, though I didn’t
know I had ADHD as well when she explained that.
Extremely hot baths help temporarily, as hot as you
can stand. Unfortunately, by the time I’ve gotten
myself in bed, the benefits wear off before I can fall
asleep. It’s rough!