A U.S. hospital, the Mayo Clinic, recommends ways to help quiet restless legs, including taking non-prescription painkillers and soaking in a warm bath. The Mayo Health Letter also advises sufferers to:
--massage the legs;
--learn to relax, especially before bed because stress can aggravate the symptoms;
--stretch your legs at the beginning and end of the day;
--try heat or cold packs or alternate between the two;
--get regular exercise but avoid overdoing it or working out late in the day;
--cut back on caffeine, alcohol and tobacco, all of which may aggravate or trigger symptoms;
--go to bed later because adjusting to a later bedtime can help relieve symptoms;
--stay busy until bedtime because boredom or drowsiness before bed may worsen symptoms.
Restless legs syndrome, a sleep disorder, brings on feelings of a creeping, crawling, jittery, tingling, burning or aching feeling in the calves, thighs, feet or, less frequently, arms. If nothing seems to work, see your doctor, who can prescribe medication for managing the
symptoms.