My dh and I had a bad case each of the "twitches" the other night. Neither his legs nor mine would stop twitching for quite some time, and even getting up and walking around did not help. It made sleeping impossible until finally our legs calmed down.
There is a syndrome called Restless Leg Syndrome. If it continues you need to see a doctor. There are prescription medications to help.
My husband and I get the same thing, if you have a massager, take turns massaging each others legs, it will work the twitching out enough for you to go back to sleep. Then the next morning start eating bananas to get your potassium, drink some milk for the calcium and increase you magnesium.
The fix may depend on what type of problem is causing the twitching.
For me, magnesium tablets and icing daily helps a bit to relax the muscle...but I have a compressed nerve under my calf. This twitching is caused when I feel like my leg is like a winch being pulled tighter, and tighter, and tighter until it explodes!
Other suggestions by my doctor was tonic water (also known as quinine water) nightly, daily doses of major electrolytes (in my case, drinking a 12 oz portion of the lower calorie Gatorade), etc.
In my younger days, I would have muscle cramping that would be severe enough to lead to twitching. Potassium usually helped.
But I would strongly suggest visiting a doctor when possible. There are many different causes of leg twitching and you might need physical therapy to correct them as well.
I was in a coma 3 years ago and when I woke up and began recovery for multiple organ failure I had the same problem. The doctors prescribed 500 mg magnesium tablets, and increased my calcium intake. I try to get calcium in my diet, the magnesium is available at most drug stores.
My partner also has this problems at times... We've found that it comes on mostly when he hasn't got enough sleep for several nights or when he gets dehydrated... Make sure your husband is getting enough Calcium (dairy) & Potassium (bananas).
I've had this happen several times over the years and can always connect it to time sof not much rest and/or not enough milk...just a thought.
We people with Fibromyalgia have the restless, twitching and sometimes cramping legs. All of the suggestions are helpful. But the thing that works best for me is putting a heating pad under my legs for a while. It will invariably help and relax them enough for me to get to sleep.
My DH and I both have leg cramps from time to time, not twitching but really painful cramps. I started taking potassium tabs and magnesium tabs. He has increased his banana intake. I can't get him to take supplements since he has several prescriptions to swallow and refuses to take another pill. Both of these measures have helped quite a lot.
I get this sometimes (since I was a teen) and mainly my feet and calves when I am laying down/sleeping. When it happens I know it was a vitamin deficiency because not a balanced food day :-( The way I was sitting or the position I was lying down seems to bring it on :-(
Anyway, I 'slightly' adjust the way I am laying (or sitting) and it goes away ... Sometimes it takes a couple of 'adjustments' but it works for me ... Hope this helps ...
I read about this in an article by Dr. Peter Gott in Jewish World Review. Put a bar of soap inside the sheet at the foot of your bed. The doctor passed this tip along from people who have used it and found relief. He could not explain why it works, but he encouraged people to write to him as he was collecting anecdotal data.
I have restless leg syndrome. You can look it up online as that and find out various remedies. My legs are jumpy every night starting when we are relaxing in front of the TV and will continue for a a few hours after I go to sleep. I tried soap in the bed, warm baths, and finally I got a medicine, Mirapex, and take it at least a half hours before bed. It works well, but you can try other things first.
www.medicinenet.com/
Here is a good site with information on causes, treatments, and other conditions that may cause jumpy legs.
Harriet
As a nurse I feel the need to tell you that if this continues you need to see your Doctor.
In the mean time try Quinine Water, we can get it the local grocers here in the States. Quinine is one of the main ingredients in all of the medications for Restless Leg Syndrome.
My husband has resolved the problem by taking Extra Strength Tylenol Rapid Release Gels. He only needs one at bedtime. He is borderline diabetic which may cause his nerves to be a little on edge. The Tylenol relaxes him and he sleeps soundly.
Hi. I lived in Australia for many years. If you want to try the quinine water remedy, which is quick and easy, then go to your local milk bar and pick up a bottle of tonic water. It's got quinine in it and it tastes nice.
Here is a link with good information...
Iron, folic acid and magnesium will help, need to be careful with the iron, you can overdose on it if you have high iron levels already...
www.lef.org/
Take care,
Jim in Jax
