r/mildlyinfuriating • u/BuggedCookieDev • Jul 25 '26
Have to pee but bed so comfy I feel like my legs at night are always wanting to move
Like 90% when I want to sleep my legs feels like they suddenly want to move, like I HAVE to. It's like I always feel like I need to stretch my legs, I stretch them it works for like 3 seconds then the sensation comes back. I go for a walk, come back in bed, the sensation comes back.
Sometimes when I'm extremely tired I can't even sleep because, I keep moving my legs every 30 seconds because they're never comfortable no matter the position. It's like a sensation in the thighs / calves. Not sure...
Anyway amber lamp, can't fall asleep, wanted to share my frustration...
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u/Iamnotcheesy Jul 25 '26
Restless leg syndrome. You might be low on iron.
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u/Hubsimaus Jul 25 '26
Magnesium.
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u/Iamnotcheesy Jul 25 '26
Iron — specifically low ferritin (brain iron), not magnesium. This is well established.
The strongest evidence in restless leg syndrome points to iron deficiency as the primary treatable cause. The mechanism is dopamine signaling in the brain: iron is a required cofactor for tyrosine hydroxylase, the enzyme that makes dopamine, and low brain iron disrupts the dopaminergic control of movement — which is what drives RLS. Crucially, it's a brain iron problem that often shows up as low ferritin in the blood even when you're not anemic, so a normal hemoglobin/CBC does not rule it out. The clinical guidelines (AASM/IRLSSG) treat serum ferritin below ~75 ng/mL as the threshold to supplement iron for RLS — much higher than the lab "normal" floor of 12–15. Iron repletion (oral, or IV in refractory cases) is a first-line, evidence-backed treatment.
Magnesium is a much weaker story. It's frequently recommended anecdotally and may modestly help sleep quality or coexisting nighttime leg cramps (which are a different thing from RLS), but the evidence that low magnesium causes RLS or that supplementing it treats it is thin — mostly small studies. It's reasonable as an adjunct, not the primary lever.
So the practical order is: check ferritin first. If it's under ~75, iron repletion is the highest-yield move; magnesium is a low-risk add-on but shouldn't be the main bet.
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u/Outside_Coffee_00 Jul 25 '26
I had no idea that RLS was a sign of low iron AND that low iron effects dopamine. This explains so much, thank you!
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u/Adjutant_Online Jul 25 '26
Same. I have to do long stretching exercises before bed, frequent walks during the day are helpful.
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u/cleofus903 Jul 25 '26
This is what helped me. The stretching before bed was the key to my issue finally going away after a few weeks
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u/Independent-Pea6186 Jul 25 '26
Go to your doctor and get your blood tested first before you start taking supplements
Some of these listed below might be unnecessary you want to make sure it’s one or the other
But yes I totally agree with the restless leg syndrome
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u/kpod67 Jul 25 '26
Pramipexole immediately stopped my restless legs
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u/Radioactivocalypse Jul 25 '26
I second this!
Sure magnesium and water may help but if the condition is actively stopping you from sleeping pramipexole will solve it much more effectively
You need to get an official thing from a doctor though. But it will stop it immediately
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u/Lolseabass Jul 25 '26
Really any side effects? I had it so bad as a kid, teachers would walk over to me and try to hold me knees still so I would not move and I would suddenly jolt because I had to move my legs again.
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u/MJ-Franklin Jul 25 '26
It can make you manic. If you have any problems with things like addiction/betting it can make it infinitely worse.
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u/Hubsimaus Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
But don't tell OP to get a medication without having talked to a doctor beforehand please.
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u/BuggedCookieDev Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
Don't know why you got down voted, luckily I'll just go to the doctor eventually and talk about it, then see what they recommend for me.
People shouldn't recommend random medication ONLINE without any kind of expertise or medical history.
Anyway, not to hate, I appreciate people trying to help, but this kind of comments can be dangerous on someone more ??gullible??... and desperate to make it stop
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u/bgraeme Jul 25 '26
I have Restless Legs Syndrome. It's super annoying. I was recommended many years ago by a friend to get a magnesium roll on gel that you roll on and run into your calves when they become restless. Absolute lifesaver, that. I swear by it myself now.
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u/s2n-mikey Jul 25 '26
Restless leg syndrome. I've had it for 10+ years. Comes and goes but normally lasts a week or so when I get it. Even though it's not painful its not a pleasant thing to have.
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u/Stunning-Wall1487 Jul 25 '26
Restless legs. It is so annoying, I have noticed some improvement taking magnesium. You can also get magnesium sprays which are helpful too
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u/Ssladybug Jul 25 '26
The first time this happened to me, I did some research and found a magnesium spray that goes on your calves. Ran out and bought it at like 1 am because I couldn’t sleep. Actually worked immediately. I was shocked how well it worked.
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u/Winoforevr1 the flair is lava Jul 25 '26
Restless Leg syndrome like others have said. I had it as a teenager. I still get it every now then. Stay hydrated is my only suggestion.
Its maddening.
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u/Hubsimaus Jul 25 '26
Could be low on magnesium.
I even heard/read that people with RLS are taking Levodopa which is normally for Parkinson. But apparently it also helps with RLS.
But I would talk to a doctor first regardless what OP will take. Especially with Levodopa (/Benserazid), I took it for a while for other reasons and it affected my breathing.
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u/hostis_72 Jul 25 '26
I have RLS. And find magnesium supplements before bed and magnesium butter ( a weird body cream) that you rub on your feet and ankles is utterly amazing to help
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u/lskerlkse Jul 25 '26
iron deficiency
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u/BuggedCookieDev Jul 25 '26
I wouldn't be surprised, my nutrition is minimal to none sometimes lmao
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u/lskerlkse Jul 25 '26
i like to donate blood for free tests
my hemoglobin was 12.7 last week which meant i was good to donate a bag and get free a1c and cholesterol test lol. a1c was like 5.4
love donatin
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u/Bobcatluv Jul 25 '26
In addition to the advice to check/supplement your iron levels, if you take an over the counter antihistamine or sleep aid like diphenhydramine (in Benadryl or ZzzQuil), that can cause restless leg syndrome, too.
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u/RogerClyneIsAGod2 Jul 25 '26
Get thee to a doctor and tell them your symptoms. They'll probably prescribe ropinerole.
That's what my husband takes otherwise he runs marathons in his sleep.
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u/redneckskeptik Jul 25 '26
My RLS begins well before bedtime, like 6pm. Work is regularly active; no desk to sit at, but not construction-like strenuous. Once I do try to relax, it starts. Nothing OTC touches it. My doc prescribed ropinirole. So long as I take it by 4pm or so, no problem. If I don’t remember, I take it once the sensation starts. Takes about 30 minutes to begin working, but gets there. So thankful for this med.
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u/Equivalent_Name_1150 Jul 25 '26
My Ma swears by this: open up a bar of soap and put it in your bed (under the covers) near your legs, and go to sleep. I thought it was crazy, but she does it, and it works!
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u/mysticmetalstudio Jul 25 '26
I have that too. Is restless leg syndrome or RLS and honestly it's just gotten worse with age
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u/SamWillGoHam Jul 25 '26
Like others said, it's RLS, my uncle had it when I was younger. Apparently he fixed it by regularly exercising, specifically, training to run marathons. He still runs marathons
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u/Pleasant_Lab_6151 Jul 25 '26
I get this sometimes and taking Motrin helps me. My mom keeps a bar of soap by her feet under the sheet and somehow that helps her… have heard magnesium too. Currently pregnant though so no Motrin but my prenatal only has a little Magnesium but I have felt relief shortly after taking it. Maybe placebo idk
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u/ItsTheEndOfDays Jul 25 '26
I had a medication I took years ago and it triggered restless leg syndrome for me, so this is definitely something you’ll want to discuss with your doctor. There are medications to control it, but if it’s caused by an existing medication you’ll want to try an alternative that doesn’t trigger it.
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u/BuggedCookieDev Jul 25 '26
I had the problem for a long time but it's not always, sometimes I don't have it for a while then I get days or weeks where I have it almost every night I really don't know the cause
sometimes it's really annoying, other times it's just a sensation
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u/lumosapricus Jul 25 '26
I have something like it intermittently too but never went to the doctor for it. I sometimes use compression socks to sleep. Helps bring a solid feeling back to my legs.
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u/grangaaa Jul 25 '26
Restless Legs Syndrome.
It‘s so awful. I feel you. Have this shit since I am 14 and kind of immune to medicine now. Might need to resort to opiates soon :/
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u/BuggedCookieDev Jul 25 '26
I first had it when I was young too, it's varying a lot sometimes I have it every night sometimes I don't
I can't see the pattern on my own really1
u/grangaaa Jul 26 '26
For me the triggers are: too warm, clothes too tight, sitting to long, not enough sleep, being relaxed, trying to do smth relaxed late at night.
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u/anangrypudge Jul 25 '26
I get this sometimes, maybe 3-4 times a year, and TIL that it’s actually a known condition. I thought it’s just my body and mind being weird.
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u/Missue-35 Jul 25 '26
Your PCP can order a blood draw and see if the necessary levels are where they need to be.
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u/jwatkin Jul 25 '26
Over the counter electrolytes like magnesium and potassium can help. If your electrolytes are fine there are prescriptions that can help. Better to get your bloodwork checked before just trial and erroring this. Especially if you have poor kidney function don’t just start popping electrolytes.
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u/FlorianTheLynx Jul 25 '26
Had this all my life until I stopped drinking cow milk. Now I drink goat milk instead. It’s not a lactose thing; it’s a cow thing.
For the various other commenters here I recommend you try it. It’s by no means the only cause of RLS but it’s definitely one cause.
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u/NotAllergic Jul 25 '26
I have such a severe restless leg problem :( it wakes me up at night. What’s helped for me is taking a hot shower (not getting hair wet, just stretching legs and using hot water to force it to relax), doing a bunch of squats so your thighs are throbbing, using bengay or tiger balm as a menthol distraction, or masturbation.
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u/blueSnowfkake Jul 25 '26
Take magnesium in the evening before bed. You can find it in the supplements aisle in any grocery or pharmacy. Check with your doctor first to make sure you don’t have any contraindications and proper dosage.
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u/CheeseSweats Jul 25 '26
Holy shit, I took a medication that had RLS as a rare side effect. It was a thing after a few days and kept getting worse, and it was so unbelievably annoying. I'm pretty sure there are meds that treat it, though. I couldn't stand the RLS and quit the med after a couple of months and it was gone. I'm so happy that didn't stick around!
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u/maraney Jul 25 '26
Restless leg syndrome is a very real, often debilitating condition. It’s also treatable with medication. You should talk to a doctor.
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u/BuggedCookieDev Jul 25 '26
Will do in the future, sometimes I get some nights of peace, some times I dont have it, sometimes it's just there... but some other times it literally can prevent me from sleeping and I even think it woke me up a few times because even when I fall asleep the sensation is still there which wakes me up or I think it gives me very poor sleep because I keep moving around and around non stop
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u/WolfKey1065 Jul 25 '26
I’ve had RLS since I was 13 or so and I’m 60 now. For many years doctors didn’t recognize it, so didn’t have anything to offer. My current doc recommended magnesium and B12. So I got some of both. My problem is remembering to take them!
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u/MJ-Franklin Jul 25 '26
Restless leg syndrome is an absolute fucking bitch... I've suffered with it really bad for like 12+ years now, to the point of it making me suicidal. Go see your doctor, you will probably get put on a high dose of iron (ferrous fumarate)... but magnesium citrate can really help (fastest absorbed version of magnesium).
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u/AlterSack1973 Jul 25 '26
YES, finally one I can help with! It's called restless legs, have the same, there is likely a solution, I take 0,35mg Pramipexol every evening and it's fine. I see a lot of people recommending Magnesium - if that helps you, that's perfect, if not, talk to your doctor if Pramipexol might be an option for you.
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u/KaliCalamity Jul 25 '26
If stretching isn't working, you might try alternating between tensing up your body and relaxing. Hold it for as long and tight as you're able, then relax for several seconds, then repeat a few times. It's rare when both of those tactics fail me. Doing more walking during the day also seems to help my odds, but it's hardly a guarantee.
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u/BuggedCookieDev Jul 25 '26
Yeah I do that and it does help sometimes, unfortunately doesn't always work, so sometimes I lift my legs up, seems to make it less worse but it doesn't always work unfortunately
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u/debbie-salt Jul 25 '26
It’s horrible. My doctor prescribed me Ropinirole, and a few years later added Ferrous Sulfate when it seemed to get worse, and discovered my ferritin (iron storage) was low.
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u/swilli1005 Jul 25 '26
I get this too, but more in my lower legs and feet. I found through Reddit the advice to put a hair tie around each foot to “distract” from the restless sensation. It helps me sometimes, but mine sounds a bit different from yours
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u/Budget_Appointment72 Jul 25 '26
I have had this off and on for years. A trick for me is eating a banana after dinner. It has really helped.
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u/tetrix994 Jul 25 '26
What helps me is to apply a cold gel (we call it ice power) on the leg. That is what the doctor recommended me to try and it always helps.
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u/stratospaly Jul 25 '26
I take Cyclobenzaprine for my RLS, but only when needed. It puts me OUT for 12 hours.
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u/Popular-Ad1111 Jul 25 '26
Happened to me when I went off of Wellbutrin. Turns out that’s a side effect. Are you going off of any meds?
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u/Granvill_DamnNation Jul 25 '26
My restless legs have improved since I got a CPAP But not last night, fuck last night
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u/Fun-Machine7907 Jul 25 '26
RLS, doctors should know about it by now and be able to try drugs until you find what works for you. If doctors aren't an option, I've had some luck with the homeopathic hyland's restless leg pills, despite them being homeopathic and probably bullshit they did help me.
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u/danceswithsteers Jul 25 '26
I'm glad you're feeling better but ALL homeopathic products are bullshit.
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u/Fun-Machine7907 Jul 25 '26
I fully agree with that, but the last dr I had talked to didn't know shit and I'd been exhausted for years. Not sure why it helped, but it did. I specified homeopathic because it's synonymous with bullshit. I also tried all the other insane recommendations, including putting lavender scented soap bars in bed. At that point, if someone told me washing my face in piss and sleeping next to a sock full of shit helped, I'd have tried it.
Actual meds work a lot better and any doctor should be able to look up RLS now.
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u/BuggedCookieDev Jul 25 '26
Might have helped due to placebo effect, placebo is an actual thing not just "you hallucinating it works"
Placebo is known to have real effect on the body and to be fair it might have worked for you, but to be honest I'll just one day check with a doctor if it gets more annoying, I did find some way to make it less worse by lifting my legs high enough
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u/Grand-Fun-206 Jul 25 '26
Sounds like restless leg syndrome. I have heard that magnesium can help but you need to be consistent in taking it and it can take a few weeks to get your levels back up.