I have tried everyhing for rls, medications that are recommended, opiates, sleeping pills. Nothing works and I am lucky if I can get an hr of uninerrupted sleep. I understand that dopamine has something to do with rls. I have tried eating more foods that contain dopamine, but to no effect. I read in a medical article that sex curtails rls. In your experiences, is this true?
Restless leg syndrome, has anyone heard that sex curtails RLS ? Serious answers please.
- Posted:
- 18 Jun 2012 by 55barbara
- Topics:
- restless legs syndrome, sleep
Details:
Answers (11)
GUNTHER1018 Jun 2012
I am sure you cant sleep because of racing thoughts do to anxiety.Have your doctor start you off with 1mg of xanax to use before going to bed. Keep taking the xanax until lexapro or paxil takes effect usually 6 weeks,then do a slow taper off xanax. this worked great for me. I take paxil and depakote now I feel great and been sleeping fine for 2yrs. My name is Scott and I have a lot of experience being a mental health patient.
Patiently...18 Jun 2012
To be completely and utterly honest.. sex curbs pain, anxiety, stress, and yes nerve problems and even rls. Don't get me wrong its not gonna control everything but a good relaxed moment after sex is for sure a better chance of sleep for me. It helps me shut off my brain.. even if for just a bit.
Anonymous 
pledge
26 Jun 2012
Ondi, why are you now posting as Anonymous? I hope you are well. Enjoyed your wit, and wisdom.
Kimstuff
balbanese
Anonymous 18 Jun 2012
Hi B, have you actually TRIED this? I'm not talking about slamming your leg into the mattress either. I mean sex for RLS and pain? ENDORPHINS/ENDORPHINES!!! They work well. Give it a try if you haven't yet indulged. I can almost guarantee pain relief.
balbanese
18 Jun 2012
Of course I have! Problem is the "relief" only lasts as long as the sex, and that can vary greatly depending on many components that I can't really list here :)
DzooBaby
nledesma1...18 Jun 2012
Sex helps relive pain because it releases endorphins (sp?). I myself experienced that a while back when I ran out of pain meds during the weekend and couldn't get it from my dr. My husband and I had sex and I did get SOME relief for a couple hours. So I do believe its a natural pain reliver. Great question because I seriously thought I was crazy. Get well and God bless!
Anonymous 18 Jun 2012
nledesma,
You are most certainly NOT going crazy, you are right about endorphins/endorphines (sp?) and I think you are brilliant for trying this during your w/d weekend!
Ondi
Patiently Waiting
19 Jun 2012
I have had that happen and survived a weekend myself doing the same thing :) everyone is different but I truly benefit.
pledgeAnonymous 18 Jun 2012
For me, Robaxin 750, take one before bedtime and that usually takes care of me. RLS is horrible, believe it or not, Soma gives me RLS.
I am on a bunch of psych meds that increase levels of happy neurotransmitters, and doesn't seem to make a difference.
Hoping you find relief soon,
Sweet Hippie
endlessPred18 Jun 2012
The endorphins in sex are heightened with a loving relationship, not just the act. It is the awakening of the limbic system that creates the sense of pleasure and peacefulness after orgasm. Actually deep meditation provides the same response.
I agree with the anxiety analysis as well. Anxiety heightens our inner watch guard. We become hyper vigilant. Shutting that down, shuts down the racing heart and such which is sending the mixed messages to your nervous system and ultimately RLS. Some people get insomnia instead. This feels,like torture and makes us even more anxious to sleep which makes the effects more difficult and.. Well, you get the idea. Since the so called reptile part of the brain is not shutting down for sleep properly, the body twitches, jumps, and so forth. When this works correctly the body is at peace for sleep.
Anonymous 19 Jun 2012
Karen,
Very cogent points, all. I'm not saying drag some dude in off the street and have at it, I mean it can be great in a loving relationship, it's a basic human need, intimacy. We can live w/o sex, but no one wants to live without intimacy.
Or maybe that's just the way I feel.
You make a good point about keeping those moments in ones memory.
Ondi
endlessPred
20 Jun 2012
Not drag a guy off the street? lol. Exactly right. Love is the key. Thanks for understanding.
Lisa0118 Jun 2012
Bless your heart, I feel for you. I've suffered from rls for years, but just suffered through it until I had my knee replacement done. Blew one of the stitches out and undid a week of pt with one particularly violent kick! I know you said you've used the meds, but I just thought I'd tell you that they put me on the Requip 1 mg with no help. It wasn't until they moved it up to 2 mgs that I got any relief. I don't particularly care to use it because it makes me very nauseous every time. Even after taking it for 3 years. I've learned my lesson though, after my knee healed I decided to stop taking it since I hated the nausea. Two broken toes later (and the removal of a footboard) I decided to just suck up the nausea! Apparently I missed my calling in life as a place kicker for the NFL! Hope this helps!
Lisa
shauna39085 Feb 2013
I was prescribed dopamine pills, so I decided to try sex too. Because of an injury my husband sustained while deployed, his back hurts bad and we cannot do it too often, but when he can, he is a thourough and passsionate lover who takes care of my needs before his own and I can have several orgasms before he finishes and I can sleep all night. Unfortunately it does not last for more than a day for me.
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar questions
Does anyone have Restless arm syndrome - what medicine do you take?
... my psychiatrist gave me clonazepam for restless leg syndrome over 7 years ago and when I was able to speak with a neurologist from the VA Sleep ...
7 answers • 29 Aug 2010 • 
Has Zanaflex helped anyone with leg aches sort of like restless leg syndrome?
Not Restless Leg Syndrome, but simular. suffer from leg aches (sort of like "RLS") that start at about 2:00 in the afternoon that ...
1 answer • 4 Dec 2010 •
Off Tramadol now but have bad RLS (restless leg syndrone), when will it end, any advice?
Ok guys I have been off of the tramadol 300 mg for 3 days now and going on 4th day.. and I have to say I am feeling a little more human..I have went ...
4 answers • 13 May 2011 •
Restless Legs Syndrome - Besides mirapex, what meds. have helped with RLS?
my rls is getting worse. With all the preservatives, and addives in food that aren't listed. Mirapex works unless rls is triggered by ...
5 answers • 29 Jun 2011 •
How dangerous is methadone for restless leg syndrome?
I can't find anything else that works but I am afraid of it and don't know what else to turn to. My RLS is very severe.
2 answers • 6 Jul 2011 •
"it" keeps me awake ... lol ...
Ohh, well.. I would swap early morning instead of bedtime.
I will add also that sperm is a relaxant on the hips for those suffering Sciatica. Does wonders for mine.