Do you ever get "jumpy leg" syndrome on flights from the USA to Europe?

I stand by one of the exit doors and stretch, toe touches, quad stretches, side bends, shoulder stretches, various things. I get an occasional weird look from people, but it feels great!

Last week I kept an eye on the map and made sure I got up to look out the window when we flew over southern Greenland. This still ranks as one of the better views I have had from a commercial airplane.

I have not experienced the urge to jump out of the plane.

I would consult my physician. Maybe a muscle relaxer would help as well as stretching your legs. I have this problem a lot and have used OTC pain relievers as well as muscle relaxers. Sometimes they work great and other times not so much.

Boy I need stronger glasses...I thought you said "do you ever get lumpy legs" and I thought, "well, yeah, but I think they were lumpy before I got on this plane.'

But I do hear you....I hate being on an airplane, especially going east, as we arrive tired, cross, and the next day is here...

It happens to me on planes (and in theaters, etc.) when I am seated for a long time and overly tired. It is a terrible feeling, isn't it?

OMG, we just flew home from Hawaii and I thought I was going to go crazy with my RLS. I spent most of the time in the back of the plane doing stretches. I wasn't the only one. The FAs were very sympathetic and not annoyed. I walked up and down the aisles when carts weren't being used, too. I thought about volunteering to serve the drinks and food, just for the excuse to keep moving

If you get this any other time you should see your physician. It is a sleep disorder.

I have a fairly simple remedy, just drink a glass of bitter lemon or tonic water. The quinine in the drink is enough to relax the legs and the problem disappears. Several members of my family suffer and this was a tip from a niece.

It worked for me on flights to and from New Zealand earlier this year, I asked for tonic water everytime the drinks were offered and managed to avoid the problem

Gretchen -- I never get it any other time -- only on flights.

Thanks to all of you for your understanding, sympathy, and ideas. I have a trip coming up in a couple of weeks so I will give these ideas a try.

Any more ideas?

Yes, it's called restless leg syndrome.

I've had it for years. The only thing I've found that works is to try and get to sleep asap (usually only using a sleeping pill works). This isn't ideal and a doctor won't recommend it but it's the only thing I've found that helps me.

If you can't get to sleep quickly (and stay asleep) then yoga stretches can help if you can find somewhere to stretch out on the floor by the exit doors.

I've been desperate before and I totally understand your point about jumping out of the plane!

There is a prescription drug being advertised on tv for RLS. Amusingly, the side effects are reduced impulse control, including possible sexual promiscuity and irresistable urges to gamble. I am not kidding!

I'm not sure what you mean by jumpy leg syndrome, but on flights my ankles tend to swell and feel very uncomfortable. I've found that avoiding the salty airline food prevents this completely.

If nothing else works I wouldn't bother with the promiscus pills but choose your tarket and do some ear whispering and you could join the high sex club thst'll work wonders.

I have restless leg sydrome and it is so much worse when I fly. I do know that mine is partly caused by low iron levels.

Yes, I wanted to jump out of the plane too.

How long has this been going on?

I tried a couple of OTC meds without any luck and went to my MD he rxed mirapex, so far no side effects. I also started prenantal vitamins for the iron and I have been able to lower the mirapex dose.

I can't take "just straight" iron.

I have a similar problem going to Europe (on long trips), but MOSTLY coming back when I;m tired and just want to be home and off the plane. I try and sleep.

You're right you feel like you just want to jump out of the plane.

Magnesium helps with restless leg syndrome. I take it regularly and sitting for long periods like on a plane makes it worse. I prefer Twin Labs brand, yes, there is a difference.

My jumpy legs seem to settle down about halfway through the second gin & tonic.

I get it just as much when sitting around at home, but never when in bed as many people do.

I walk, walk, walk, round and round the plane...... it's enough to drive anyone nuts.

I am going to try the bitter lemon or tonic water thing. It would be really great if that worked, but I'm not very optomistic, sounds too good to be true for me.

I was told to take iron and magnesium but that didn't work either.

Good luck and please don't jump

I have suffered from RLS for many years which prevents me from falling asleep. My doctor prescribed a pill called Trazadone.

It is a non-habit forming, non-narcotic pill which can be taken on a daily basis for the rest of your life without being habit forming, except in your mind.

I swear by it. I seldom if ever have RLS. It helps put me to sleep and there is no groggy after effects.

When I asked my doctor for Ambien to help put me to sleep so I wouldn't notice I had RLS, his comment was that he would never perscribe sleeping aids, especially on an airplane as with Ambien. Should there be an emergency you can't wake up and have a clear head.

Trazadone doesn't have any groggy effect, but it keeps me sleeping.

I, too, have RLS. I only use an OTC remedy called Restful Legs - well, not true, I also take 500mg of magnesium a day for my fibromyalgia, but it probably helps the RLS, too. The Restful Legs always works for me within 15-20 minutes of taking it.

I never get this in bed, but I do get it when I am tired and sitting up too long. I also get this on planes (mostly on the long hauls). I need to get up and walk around and I doesn't really go away until I get to where I am going.

I am going to try a gin and tonic next time

Those who don't quite understand what this feels like have never had it - if you had, you would identify immediately. I also suffer from this and it is main reason I need an aisle seat. I just spent half of a short 2-hour flight in US wiggling around in my seat, rubbing my legs, standing up - to try to get that horrible feeling to go away.

I am going to try the magnesium and quinine suggestions.

I've had RLS for years and take a prescription med called Trazadone for it.Works great.

Dehydration leads to muscle cramps, often an accompaniment of restless legs syndrome. Are you drinking enough water? The air within aircraft cabins is very dry, and this can lead to dehydration without passengers becoming aware.

I do get it,often at night and definitely on long flights. I have such an urge to stretch my legs, twist my ankles, rotate my feet... I get up and walk when I can, but mostly I just try to focus on a movie or book (I don't sleep much).

At home, I take an OTC sleep aid when I feel it coming on.

I've never addressed it with a doctor because I already take a few meds and don't really want to add to it for something that is sporadic.

I also have RLS. Doc prescribed Ropinirole which is equivalent to Requip. Despite the warnings, I do not have sudden sex urges or the urge to gamble. DARN!!! Two of my favorite things to do.
Seriously, this generic rx has really helped me.

Happens to me on the way back from Europe. I got my Xanax prescription from the Dr. today to use on my trip next week - it helps to take half a tablet prior to takeoff. I too get an aisle seat so I can adequately stretch my leg. Best thing though is to get up every hour at least and take a walk. I dread the trip home every time... about half way through the trip I think I can't stay on the plane a minute longer - a terrible feeling. But I manage.

My massage therapist suggested I carry a tennis ball with me when I fly. I use it to roll up and down my legs or my back to relieve the "jumpy" sensation. It has worked quite well for me.

The bitter lemon and tonic for quinine is used for stopping cramps so it is probably related...isn't it the worst feeling and it just doesn't go away!

Wow, I'm so glad to read this post and happy to know I'm not the only one who suffers terribly from RLS when flying. I fly weekly in the US for work 8 months a year. The short hauls are ok, the longs ones difficult. My vacation flights to Europe are misery. I had no idea what was wrong with me until they started advertising a drug on the TV here for RLS. I was so relieved to know I actually had something wrong with me & it's not all in my head. My MD perscribed Klonopin and I swear by it. I can actually get some sleep on those long transatlantic flights. It is not a daily medication, just a med for when the condition raises it's ugly head. I do the same as other posters & walk as much as possible before sleep time. I also have noted that the more semi-reclined the seat is, the more I will suffer. I actually pile up pillows & clothes on the meal tray and curl over face & arms forward over this big makeshift pillow to sleep. This really helps me oddly enough. At home I will have problems some nights and not others. I have no idea why. I have figured out that if I bike strenuously for exercise, I will have problems at night. Walking as exercise doesn't seem to cause problems. I'm sure going to try tonic next week when I fly. Thanks to the previous poster for that suggestions.

Yes, but I get it on long bus journeys too. Do you?

ie nowt to do with flying; everything to do with sitting in one place for a long time.

Have been known to get it at a night in the theatre too.

I try "mind over matter" but it doesn't work! Just flex the leg and wiggle it around and wish I was twenty years younger.

Tough but true.

Cheers.

oh, and not USA to Europe. The USA doesn't figure - but continent to continent on flights of 9+ hours and sometimes longer.

Yes. I have restless leg syndrome. It usually "kicks in" when going to sleep; but, I've experienced it on planes and in movie theaters. There are a range of px medicines available for RLS. Mirapex is the one I take. For me, it has no other effect other than stopping the jumping as you call it.

Maybe your doctor would give you a low dose of something when you fly.
If your "jumpy leg" is as annoying as restless leg, I strongly recommend giving your doc a call.

Good luck

I quick addition to my earlier response.

I just started reading down the list of responses from others and saw that one person suggested something along the line of muscle relaxants.

If what you are experiencing is at all related to restless leg, muscle relaxers might be the wrong way to go. RLS kicks in when you get too relaxed--bed, movies, planes.... All in all, a call to the doctor sounds like the way to go.

Do you drink alcohol on the flights?

I started paying attention to when I was getting RLS and noticed that it always happened when I followed alcohol with a period of inactivity (sleep, seeing a play, long flights). And not even a lot of alcohol... usually just a glass or two of red wine.

No, I never drink alcohol on flights. So it can't be blamed on that.

Having my laptop on my legs before flights seems to make mine worse.

Anyone else?

I also get jumpy legs or at our house we call it “Jimmy Leg” (named after Seinfield episode many years ago). I also drink diet tonic water all the time at home for jumpy legs. But when I am traveling international I rub my legs down with a essential oil called “thieves” before I board the plane. The thieves is diluted with almond oil or some other oil, I don’t put thieves on full strength. I have never had jimmy leg when using thieves even on twelve hour flights. It has really made a difference I use to worry about getting so uncomfortable during a long flight but not any more. I also do knee bends in the bathroom or march in place each time I use the bathroom for a few minutes. I also rotate my feet while sitting.

I have RLS which bothers me mostly at night. Extensive testing has not shown any cause.

Sometimes acetominophen (Tylenol) helps.

Restless Leg Syndrome (if it is what you really have--anyone) is a recognized sleep disorder. It can be a truly disruptive disease. When it is, it should be evaluated by a qualified sleep disorder physician and addressed with the appropriate mediacation to make life for the patient liveable. We have a friend who is truly disabled by it. My DH has a different sleep disorder, but it can be very serious.
It is interesting to read the number of different solutions people have found.
BUT just a suggestion--if you have persistent "jumpy legs", you might want to ask your doctor about it. It can be as simple as muscles needing salts, but it can be something else.

I've never had it before, even on long flights, but I did this year going over to Paris. I had taken a Benadryl hoping it would help me sleep. It think something in it was doing it. I would go to sleep and my legs would twitch and wake me up, over and over.

I am the original poster. I was going to just try the tonic water on my next flight next week, but I was having an annual physical and brought the subject up to my doc. She prescribed Klonopin, so I guess I will try that and see if it solves it. Thanks to all who have answered my query. Want to say again that I NEVER have this at any time except on flights.

bookmarking

I don't often have problems with RLS, although I am a very light sleeper, but I noticed that every time I took Tylenol PM, I would suffer with restless legs. The "sleep" ingredient is the antihistimine diphenhydramine hydrochloride, which I think is the same active ingredient as in Benadryl, which makes some people drowsy.

Gretchen gives very good advice. After suffering from RLS all my life, a name finally came along for it. My doctor prescribed Lunesta for me, and it's been a huge blessing! I was able to sleep on vacation and not have my days ruined by waking up tired. I stuck with 2 glasses of wine on the plane, tho, and shelled out for premium economy for room to stretch my legs and fidgit. I find that job stress greatly exacerbates RLS. It's very important to not let it go to the point it affects your whole life.

I have had RLS before such a diagnosis existed - more than 20 years (and I'm 37). It's manifested itself on planes, in bed, on sofas, you name it. I visited a naturopathic doctor who told me to take 775mg of calcium. I take Professional Health Products osseoapatite plus. I have not had any problems since, except for the one time I ran out and didn't think I needed it anymore.

Be aware of any meds you take prior to the flights-- they may be causing the restless or jumpy leg. I know personally that I can never take Tylenol PM because I always get the "jumpy leg" syndrome you described.

Again, I am the original poster. I have just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in Germany. Being more interested in results than scientific experimentation, I took the Klonopin AND drank tonic water. Something worked -- maybe both -- and I had two pleasant flights, going and returning. So I am a happy camper! I even got some sleep on the way there, so that was an added benefit. Take it for what it's worth!! It was great to not want to jump out of the plane.

Thanks for having the consideration to post this follow-up. If others would do the same we would all be better for it.

hey... i have a sis-in-law who had the jumpy leg problem for years. she also had other health-related problems that were caused by the same thing.(migraines, brain for, mood swings)

her friend who she met at a dr's office was having a lot of yeast infections, bloating, menstrual pain, and something else. anyway, as it turns out, they had something that causes the jumpy legs AND can cause a myriad of other things but once they got rid of the root cause of all of it and they say they have never felt better and it's been 2 or 3 years now i believe.

if anyone is interested in what they did, just let me know and i'll try to find out.

Hi folks! You're not going to believe this but according to my sis-in-law and her friend that I mentioned in my last post... what they had was a lot of YEAST or CANDIDA in their bodies.

It appears that that can be some bad stuff but once you've got it under control you've got it made. Here's the page. JumpyLegsReliefandRemedy.com

Hope this helps.

Granny2