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Restless legs

golfer59
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Hi Folks, I wonder if any of you have experienced the following symptoms and have any solutions. I finished my radiotherapy mid Feb and do not need any more hormone injections. I am having great trouble getting to sleep at night, when I lie down flat my legs get really heavy / restless / slightly painful / tight and slightly swollen. I wake up after about two hours and have to walk about until the sensation eases. It is playing havoc with my sleep pattern, any advice? Many thanks, John. 

  • I'm really pleased you don't need any more treatment golfer59 although I'm sorry about the side effects you've been experiencing, it sounds very challenging.

    Hopefully some of our members who have had to contend with this will offer their support and advice to you soon but our cancer nurses are just a phone call away if you'd like to have a chat with them about this. Their phone lines are open Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m on 0808 800 4040.

    Do be sure to let your GP/medical team know as they may be able to help as well.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    I have restless leg syndrome and problems following a blood clot (DVT) linked to my treatment. There are a few things that work for me, that you could try... running cold water on my legs before I go to bed, sleeping with the room slightly cooler, and on a good day I do a very short, low level yoga video before bed. Good luck John!

     

    P.S. I also end up pacing the house when none of these things work! ;-) 

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    I have similar problem.  Am on Oral chemo for Myeloma and up to a month or so ago, was sleeping well.  Nw, as soon as I lay down, I get an uncomfortable feeling in my legs and feet.  I have tried wearing socks and raising legs on pillow but neither really helps.  I do have some peripheral neuropathy but this is more like restless leg syndrome.  I snatch a couple of hours’ sleep here and there during the night but it isn’t satisfactory.  I have to get up or sit with my legs hanging over the side of the bed to get relief.  As soon as I am vertical- or legs are hanging down - the feeling goes but the minute I lay down again, it returns.  It’s very wearing!  Any tips???

     

  • Offline in reply to js123

    Hello js123,

                         you could try raising the head of the bed up ,it might work,

                                                                                                                       David

  • Offline in reply to gruntifen

    Thank you.  Might give it a go.

  • Offline

    Hi bud.

     

    not sure if related to your issue, after the main part of chemo and Radiotherapy I was still on morphine, and unknown to me at the time, but every time morphine was reduced, then I went through side effects,,,such as feeling very cold, insomnia, agitation and legs very fidgety..Each time it reduced I had similar symptoms, took months to realise it was drug withdrawal, certainly unexpected....

     

    sorry if this not applicable to your current conditions 

     

    bobby. 

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