Painful leg jerking, especially late in day. Anyone have experience? What helps?

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pcgirl56 Asked July 2019

Painful leg jerking, especially late in day. Anyone have experience? What helps?

Mom's legs jerk violently late day/evening, getting more frequent and stronger. She says they hurt. Giving Tylenol, but wondering if this is a downturn in her physically. She looks so tired. Her ambulation is slowing, shuffling, but when I suggest she get up and stir around in mid afternoon she usually keeps a good attitude and tries, just can't walk far. Anyone else w/experience here? Anything more to help, or are we moving to a new phase in deterioration?

Alzheimer's & Dementia Mobility Senior Health

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score 1 · Answer 1

Low iron definitely contributed to my restless leg syndrome but what you describe sounds different from that. Something suggested on RLS advice sites is a foot soak in epsom salts, that certainly can't hurt.

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And it would help her feel pampered. We just purchased a walk-in tub with jets in hopes that 1) she can bathe and 2) it will help ease some if her aches and pains. I'll let everyone know!

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score 1 · Answer 2

Hi PC, has your Mom had blood work done recently? Low iron levels might be contributing where you mention she looks so tired also. I hope you can find a cause and relief for her. Good luck.

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Thank you! We'll certainly get that followed up on. Great suggestion!

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score 0 · Answer 3

That should have read now sleeps w/oxygen. Revisited link, re-read the info. I do wish there were better answers than tranquilizer as it seems we'd be trading fall risk for relief of jerking. Has anyone out there tried a homeopathic remedy such as Hyland's Leg Cramp tablets?

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score 1 · Answer 4

My dad deals with this quite often. For him, it’s related to his end stage congestive heart failure and not having good blood flow, plus the amount of Lasix he’s on causing depletion of potassium. A potassium supplement has helped some, along with Aleve

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score 1 · Answer 5

Would Mom be getting up from a favorite chair or a recliner/bed? There may be two separate issues here. One is the legs jerking and a separate slowing ambulation issue.

My mother with venular insufficiency caused by injury during pregnancy gets swelling in her legs and feet when she sits too long with her feet down and walking becomes difficult. When she goes to day care and sits in her wheel chair for several hours, there's enough swelling when she gets home that using the walker in our home is painful. After resting in her recliner with her feet elevated for 2 hours, she does fine with the walker again.

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She is in her recliner. Thankfully no leg swelling or venous issues. I wonder if this is a dementia-related form of restless legs?

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score 1 · Answer 6

What does her doctor say? Myoclonus is usually related to a neurological disease so finding relief will depend on the underlying condition. I'll add a link for you

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Myoclonus-Fact-Sheet

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Yes. Her doctor and I have discussed hypoxia issues and think that's likely partly to blame for her dementia. She was hospitalized with pneumonia several years ago and that's when hypoxia was discovered. Overnight oximetry revealed she was dipping to 80% for over an hour at a time throughout the night. Obviously she NIW sleeps w/oxygen and we have a fingertip oximeter at home in case we suspect daytime hypoxia. Sadly, too much time undiagnosed elapsed and did its damage in the years before we convinced her to live w/us and not alone. Thanks for the link!

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Painful leg jerking, especially late in day. Anyone have experience? What helps?

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