Recapping My 2021 With RLS

Most people are of the opinion that leaving the past in the past is the way to go. I am not most people.

I revisit the past from time to time because it helps me better navigate the future. In January 2021, I resolved to keep a journal of events and things that affected my restless legs syndrome (RLS) for better and for worse, and today I'm sharing that list.

A year with restless legs syndrome

January

Every day was almost always the same but I realized my legs felt slightly better on the really cold days.

February

My RLS symptoms were quite terrible and probably at their all-time worst. I started to expose my legs to cold more. This helped, but I eventually caught a cold and had to stop.

March

Ah! the month I stumbled onto vibration therapy – still a light bulb moment for me. Even though my back hates it, I still go in once every 3 months, and it does help immensely.

April

This was the month I decided to look into getting a new doctor. It was also the month I stopped drinking wine often. I've conned my brain into thinking that giving up wine made any real difference, but honestly, I highly doubt that.

May

My anxiety was at an all-time high. My legs were once again getting really bad. I was sleeping only about 2 hours at night. I wasn't really eating, and my mental health took a big hit.

June

Battled anxiety still. My daytime RLS was now just as bad as my nighttime RLS. Luckily, I was working from home this month, or else I'm not sure I would have coped with working in an office setting.

July

I experienced a huge loss in my personal RLS circle.

August

I finally saw my new GP, who placed me back on a medication on which I had already experienced really bad augmentation, but I took the chance as my RLS was getting progressively worse. I have already written an article on my previous history with said medication, and I'm working on a new one that chronicles my present journey with it.

September

The medication I was placed on was working – maybe a little too much. And whilst this was great, I couldn't shut out the voice in my head that kept telling me shit was about to hit the fan.

October

I lost my grandmother. We were very close, so this affected me so much that even my legs felt my grief.

November

Most of the month and for the first time in my life, I didn't really feel any RLS symptoms. But of course, it was too good to be true because towards the end of the year, I started experiencing numbness sporadically in my legs.

December

The numbness was still there. It comes at the most random of times, and once this happens, I lose my balance. I also decided to register at a gym to help me consistently get more exercise.

Looking ahead to 2022

All in all, 2021 was one of my worst years regarding RLS, but I'm truly hoping 2022 is kinder to us all. Happy New Year.

Have you ever tracked your RLS over time? Are you looking forward to a better 2022? Share with us in the comments below!