How Grief Showed Me the Link Between RLS and Stress

I am writing this article with a specific reason in mind. As the title states – is there a link between stress and restless legs syndrome (RLS)?

Over the last week, I have been back and forth to the veterinarians with my adopted dog, Belle. Unfortunately, I write this article with a heavy heart. My beloved Belle, my grumpy shadow, is no longer with us.

My restless legs have been in overdrive

This puts me in a unique place to first-handedly report on my findings regarding the topic at hand. I can answer a resounding yes!

Over the days since her leaving, I have hardly slept for more than a couple of hours. The RLS Hokey Cokey has been in overdrive, the urge to move utterly overwhelming. Also, it's not just confined to my legs. My impression of a garage wind-sock guy has been well and truly perfected.

My medication is not working

My medication is refusing to pull its weight, too. Having taken double the dose last night, I still experienced no relief. As my bed hogger gained her wings, I no longer have to worry about disturbing her.

This is a fact I am sure my subconscious has relayed to my legs, as I have had to pick up my duvet off the floor multiple times due to my inability to stay still.

Room to roam

Having free rein over the house helps too. Marching around, putting as much pressure through my muscles as I dare, the concrete floor helps me keep up the urgency of the movements, allowing a small amount of relief.

As the creeping sensation has been starting earlier in the evening, I think I may have broken the record for making cups of tea recently.

Due to my other disabilities, I have a wet room with a shower rather than a bath. Maybe if I could soak in an Epsom salt-infused warm bath, it might help; I fear it might not, though. I think I would just end up drowning the bathroom in water and flooding the hallway!

Searching for relief

There needs to be a muscle-relaxing tea made. Some herb or natural additive must be able to be combined with chamomile or lavender to make a scent you could add to your pillow or pyjamas.

Or a tea that you could drink whilst wearing the carpet out as you take laps around the ground floor level of your home. Maybe there is and I have inadvertently missed it?

I keep meaning to try a weighted blanket. The amount of money I must have spent on gadgets and gizmos in the hope that they might help 1 little iota, but alas, they haven't helped so far. Have any of you found some level of relief from a weighted blanket? Or any other item you have bought?

Searching for distraction

I shall leave you now with the dread starting to grow that tonight will be another bad night. Trying to distract myself by listening to an audiobook will be my choice tonight. Do any of you have any recommendations for a book that would keep me going until my symptoms decide to level out? Let me know in the comments.

The last words I have to add, just because I can: Fly high, sweet Belle. Remember to play nice with the others on the rainbow bridge.