Restless legs

[[Go...]]

I put a post up the other day about electric feelings in my legs.  Another Buddie that is having some of the same stuff says that it is Restless Legs.

 

I often have twitching (all the way down in my feet) and burning in my legs.  On occasion, I will feel an electric type thing run through my leg.  This is not painful, just very annoying.

 

I know this is probably wd but I take seroquel so when youtake other drugs, you never know what is what.

 

Anyway, thank you for any response,

GG

[[su...]]

Hello GG,

 

I saw your question and put together some information that may be helpful. I am the type of person who seeks to know what is happening and why, it brings comfort to me. I hope it does the same for you.

 

 

“Benzo-Wise, A Recovery Companion” by Bliss Johns, 2010

 

Restless legs: sensation in legs, overwhelming urge to move legs when lying down, leg jerks while sleeping

 

 

“The Benzo Book, Getting Safely off Tranquilizers”, by Jack Hobson-Dupont, 2006

He describes his experience and yes, it did go away for him:

 

“When it got closer to my bedtime, an electric sensation would begin in my feet and run up my legs. It would increase in intensity until I was squirming around in my chair, trying in vain to relieve it by movement, by flexing the muscles. Oddly, if I waited until these symptoms were at their peak, at an almost unbearable level of discomfort, and then go into my bed, I would almost invariably fall asleep almost immediately, far more quickly than the nights when Restless Leg Syndrome was absent. It seemed incredulous that I could possibly fall asleep with my legs writhing in my bed – yet it happened time and time again.”

 

 

"The Ashton Manual" by Heather Ashton, 2002

 

BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS:

 

INDIVIDUAL SYMPTOMS, THEIR CAUSES AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM

 

Muscle symptoms. “Benzodiazepines are efficient muscle relaxants and are used clinically for spastic conditions. It is therefore not surprising that their discontinuation after long – term use is associated with a rebound increase in muscle tension. This rebound accounts for many of the symptoms observed in benzodiazepine withdrawal. Muscle stiffness affecting the limbs, back, neck and jaw are commonly reported, and the constant muscle tension probably accounts for the muscle pains with have a similar distribution. Headaches are usually of the “tension headache” type, due to contraction of muscles at the back of the neck, scalp and forehead – often described as a “tight band around the head”. “

 

“At the same time, the nerves to the muscles are hyper- excitable, leading to tremor, tics, jerks, spasm and twitching, and jumping at the smallest stimulus. All this constant activity contributes to a feeling of fatigue and weakness (“jelly- legs”).

 

“None of these symptoms is harmful, and they need not be a cause of worry once they are understood.”

 

“There are many measures that will alleviate these symptoms, such as muscle stretching exercises as taught in most gyms, moderate exercise, hot baths, massage and general relaxation exercises. Such measures may give only temporary relief at first, but if practiced regularly can speed the recovery of normal muscle tone – which will eventually occur spontaneously.”

 

 

 

 

INDIVIDUAL SYMPTOMS, THEIR CAUSES AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM

 

“Insomnia, nightmares, sleep disturbance. The sleep engendered by benzodiazepines, though it may seem refreshing at first, is not a normal sleep. Benzodiazepines inhibit both dreaming sleep (rapid eye movement sleep, REMS) and deep sleep (slow wave sleep, SWS). The extra sleep time that benzodiazepines provide is spent mainly in light sleep, termed Stage 2 sleep. REM and SWS are the two most important stages of sleep and are essential to health. Sleep deprivation studies show that any deficit is quickly made up by a rebound to above normal levels as soon as circumstances permit.”

 

“In regular benzodiazepine users REMS and SWS tend to return to pre-drug levels but the initial deficit remains. On withdrawal, even after years of benzodiazepine use, there is a marked rebound increase in REMS which also becomes more intense. As a result, dreams become more vivid, nightmares may occur and cause frequent awakenings during the night. This is a normal reaction to benzodiazepine withdrawal and, though unpleasant, it is a sign that recovery is beginning to take place. When the deficit of REMS is made up, usually after about 4-6 weeks, the nightmares become less frequent and gradually fade away.”

 

“Return of SWS seems to take longer after withdrawal, probably because anxiety levels are high, the brain is overactive and it is hard to relax completely. Subjects may have difficulty in getting off to sleep and may experience “restless legs syndrome”, sudden muscle jerks (myoclonus) just as they are dropping off or be jolted suddenly by a hallucination of a loud bang (hypnotic hallucination) which wakes them up again. These disturbances may last for several weeks, sometimes months.”

 

“However, all these symptoms do settle in time. The need for sleep is so powerful that normal sleep will eventually reassert itself. Meanwhile, attention to sleep hygiene measures including avoiding tea, coffee, other stimulants or alcohol near bedtime, relaxation tapes, anxiety management techniques and physical exercise may be helpful. Taking all or most of the dose of benzodiazepine at night during the reduction period may also help.”

 

 

“The Accidental Addict” by Di Porritt & Di Russell, 2006

 

Muscle and Joints

 

“Severe muscle and joint pain, spasm, tension and weakness are all very common. Muscle pain is often a general dull ache but at times it can be particularly severe, especially in the neck and shoulders. Wrists, elbows, knees and ankles can also be very painful.”

 

 

Love to you,

Summer

 

[[Ho...]]

I'm having that feeling right now, gg. My answer is exercise..which I'm about to throw myself into. 

[[Go...]]

Summer and Hope, thank you so much for the replies.  I really do appreciate it!

 

Summer, I sent you a PM.  I am so proud of you and your taper.  Not to mention your continued support of others on here, including me, while you are going through this.

 

Hope, thank you for extending yourself to help others here as well while going through this yourself.

 

You both are amazing ladies!

 

Love

GG

[[Be...]]

I would think restless legs are more than just twitching in the legs. I sometimes just have to laugh at my legs, especially my calves, twitching like there is some electrical storm in them, because it looks like there is some creature alive under my skin sometimes. However, it also makes me think that if this is going on with my legs, then how much so is my brain and gut affected since there are so many benzo receptors there. In a way, it is strangely comforting.

[[Ho...]]

Summer and Hope, thank you so much for the replies.  I really do appreciate it!

 

Summer, I sent you a PM.  I am so proud of you and your taper.  Not to mention your continued support of others on here, including me, while you are going through this.

 

Hope, thank you for extending yourself to help others here as well while going through this yourself.

 

You both are amazing ladies!

 

Love

GG

 

No need to thank me, gg. You all help me by letting me help you. I love the members here....and you and I go way back to the chat room days, gg.