Restless Legs

First a quick update as prompted by my 'No Place to Run' blog. The truth is despite a promising start, my weight has fluctuated and if you're anything like me weight-loss is as much to do with state of mind as anything else. Moods have been inconsistent and after an initial decrease from the original baseline when I started this challenge, my weight went up. With a struggle it's down again to 113.2kg as of yesterday so at least going in the right direction again. I did promise no place to run! Will continue to work at this, update again in a week or so.

Now to the main point today. Alongside insomnia and an Achilles/ankle injury, for me in the past few months Restless Leg Syndrome has been the most troublesome Parky's symptom. It's quite common I believe and it's hard to describe. It's happening to me right now as I write so I will try to describe.

You know when you've exercised for the first time in a while and next day you feel stiff? And initially you regret what you did the previous day (until you see some benefits)? Well it can be like that.

Also, my legs feel hollow. Weird but true. A bit like growing pains too. And it isn't a pleasant feeling.

Where the word restless really comes into it is that feeling that you want to stretch and you do stretch out both legs as far as possible. If that is just a little morning stiffness (not that stiffness, cheeky!) then it passes soon enough but with this symptom the feeling carries on without pause for mercy. It's very distracting and more often than not I find myself on my feet, pacing up and down the living room just to alleviate the pain as far as possible. That irresistible feeling that you need to move your legs to at least alleviate some of the pain can be overwhelming.

My consultant prescribed Ropinirole but that didn't suit me. Some people tell you that a good hot bath will help - in our home we have a shower room, no bath (I have to laugh!). Some people recommend magnesium but others will tell you that's no good for Parky's. Very recently the latest, and slightly bizarre suggested treatment is drinking a small quantity of pickle juice! You know the kind that your jar of pickled onions are literally pickled in? I've tried it and I think sometimes it works. As always I 100% cannot tell you it's a cure but I can just share my experiences. I have also tried the same reasoning with pickled beetroot and pickled gherkins. Some folks tell you it provides almost instant relief, the reason being the high concentration of acetic acid. Love the gherkins by the way but why doesn't my wife want to kiss me goodnight?!

Please note - if you have any reservations about any of the treatments I write about, always refer to your GP, consultant or specialist nurse.