itchy legs when trying to sleep.gets worse when concentratng

carsten888 · October 23, 2006, 7:54am

When I try to sleep I get itchy legs. (yes, you can laugh, but I am serious). Sometimes my legs jerk. When I focus on something like concentrate on breathing or on my heartbeat or do a mantra it gets worse. When i stop it gets bearable again, or at least it will take a while before I can get to sleep.

anyone knows why it gets worse when concentrating on something? a remedy would be welcome.

Shem · October 23, 2006, 8:38am

I get that too. very annoying, It feels like i’m being tickled

I’ve heard that you just have to live with it, and that after awhile it’ll just go away…that’s what i learn when i studied Astral Projetion anyway

Maniac · October 23, 2006, 9:02am

happens wid me too,it just finishes my concentration.

Qu · October 23, 2006, 10:17am

it sounds a bit like the restless legs syndrome. I have it too sometimes, but in my case it’s more like a pain, and i have to move my legs otherwise it becomes unbearable.

Symptoms
* "An urge to move, usually due to uncomfortable sensations that occur primarily in the legs."
The sensations are unusual and unlike other common sensations, and those with RLS have a hard time describing them. People use words such as: uncomfortable, electrical, creeping, painful, itching, pins and needles, pulling, creepy-crawly, ants inside the legs, and many others. The sensation and the urge can occur in any body part; the most cited location is legs, followed by arms. Some people have little or no sensation, yet still have a strong urge to move.
* "Motor restlessness, expressed as activity, that relieves the urge to move."
Movement will usually bring immediate – however often temporary – relief. Walking is most common; however, doing stretches, yoga, biking, or other physical activity may relieve the symptoms. Constant and fast up-and-down movement of the leg, coined “sewing machine legs” by at least one RLS sufferer, is often done to keep the sensations at bay without having to walk. Sometimes a specific type of movement will help a person more than another.
* "Worsening of symptoms by relaxation."
Any type of inactivity involving sitting or lying – reading a book, a plane ride, watching TV or a movie, taking a nap - can trigger the sensations and urge to move. This depends on several factors: the severity of the person’s RLS, the degree of restfulness, the duration of the inactivity, etc.
* "Variability over the course of the day-night cycle, with symptoms worse in the evening and early in the night."
While some people only experience RLS at bedtime and others experience it all day and all night, all sufferers notice that the RLS is worst in the evening and the least noticeable sometime in the early to mid morning.

i found this wikipedia article on it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restless_Legs_Syndrome

carsten888 · October 23, 2006, 10:32am

aha. so maybe if I pick up on yoga again or start running again it might help.

cheers.

KingOmar · October 26, 2006, 12:54am

i somewhere read that during WILD your body wants to see if you are really sleeping and thats why that might happen just a thougt

MissEvil · October 26, 2006, 12:31pm

Yes, at times I also get pain in my legs. Its one if those frustrating must-move-to-get-rid-of-it pains. If that makes sense.

infinitycascade · October 26, 2006, 12:41pm

[color=darkblue]Yes. One itch can ruin everything when trying to WILD since you are meant to lie very still. Can be frustrating! I think you itch more when you are less relaxed.

I also get the jolts in the leg. If you manage to bypass that, you will start to feel numb. You are not too far off, keep trying![/color]

Stormthunder · October 26, 2006, 4:51pm

I saw the subject heading and immediately thought Restless Legs Syndrome, as pasQuale said. You should look into it with a doctor, I think.

Kava · October 26, 2006, 4:53pm

I imagine restless leg syndrom must feel like driving in a car for a long time, and feeling the urge to strech your legs?

Wushan · October 26, 2006, 5:22pm

I’ve got RLS it’s a real pain, expecially when I want to WILD. I had to give up with it in the end and go into MILD and DILD because i just couldn’t cope with staying still.

infinitycascade · October 27, 2006, 7:34am

[color=darkblue]Can RLS be alleviated by cycling or walking more during the day? I don’t think I have RLS but then every little thing that can be of minor annoyance to someone gets a label these days.

I notice, I fidget much less and sleep much better if I do maybe an hour or so on an exercise bike a few hours before bed or have done more throughout the day.

Also, don’t eat a large meal before bed either as this is supposed to make you restless.

I don’t know if it is related to the condition but worth a try…[/color]

Kaizu · October 28, 2006, 2:39am

Got the itchy legs aswell, go a little further then the point when you think you need to move or scratch and it will dissapear. Just totally ignore it and go on with what youre doing. (unless its scratching)

Tcc · October 28, 2006, 3:16am

I used to get that feeling a lot before, it would beso bad just sitting down would cause it. Thenover time I got used to it and ignored it. It evenfelt more relaxing when I ignored the strange feeling. But now that you brought my mind back to the subject, I’ve moved my legs about 8times while reading it. Now I have to start off with ignoring again. Well anyway I’m not angry at you, don’t worry.