No Rest For Lisa's Legs

by Shelley White

‘Can’t you keep your legs still for five minutes?’ Paul demanded. ‘Whenever I settle down to watch the news, your blooming legs start up.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Lisa, ‘but I can’t help it. You know I don’t move them about just to annoy you. I keep getting these niggly feelings in my legs, like worms wriggling through my veins. The only way I can get any relief is to move my legs about.’

‘Yes, well you’ve moved them about ten times already. Isn’t that enough?’

‘If only! You don’t understand, Paul. I have to keep them on the go. Once I move them it feels all right for a few minutes, then those awful creepy-crawly feelings start again.’

‘I’m trying to understand, Lisa, but it’s darned irritating watching you fidgeting. I can’t concentrate on the TV.’

‘That’s very nice!’ said Lisa, her green eyes flashing. ‘Fat lot of sympathy I get from you.’

‘Do you think it might help if I massaged your legs for you, love?’

‘You could try,’ her voice softened. ‘I’ll take my socks off.’

Lisa found the massage soothing and she thought if she was encouraging, it might stop his moaning about her fidgets: ‘Ooh, that’s lovely darling,’ she purred, fluttering her eyelashes. She also knew it wasn’t too much of a chore for Paul - she was proud of her shapely legs.

‘Is that enough, love? My arms are aching.’

‘That’s fine. My legs feel so much better now. I’ll go and put the kettle on.’

Lisa rejoined Paul on the sofa and they both settled down again to watch the rest of the news. No sooner had they drunk the tea, than Lisa had the urge to move her legs about once more.

‘You’re at it again, Lisa! Stop shuffling your legs.’

‘Don’t you think I’d stop if I could? It’s driving me mad as much as it is you.’

‘Can’t you go and move them about somewhere else?’

Lisa’s eyes flashed daggers at him again. ‘I will then,’ she snapped. ‘I’m going to bed!’

Lisa was tired out from constantly having to keep her legs moving. They had been bothering her in the evenings mainly for the past few weeks but she didn’t think it was serious enough to see the doctor. She was fed up of Paul nagging her about them. Why was he so inconsiderate? Why couldn’t he understand how infuriating it was for her as well as him?

She climbed into bed. Recently, she’d been having fights with the bedclothes – it was her bicycle legs on the go all the time – but tonight the sheets felt cool and smooth against them. She sighed with relief, totally exhausted and fell fast asleep.

When Paul came to bed, she didn’t stir. He was about to enter the Land of Nod when wallop! Lisa jerked a leg and gave him a kick on the shin that Wayne Rooney would have been proud of.

‘Ow! For goodness sake, Lisa.’

‘What?’ Lisa’s eyes opened wide. ‘What is it?’

‘Can’t you stop even when you’re asleep? I’ll be black and blue in the morning.’

‘Sorry, Paul.’

‘Look, we’ve got work tomorrow. We’ll both be shattered. You’ll have to find out what’s wrong.’

‘You think there’s something wrong?’

‘It’s probably not serious, so don’t worry, but I think you should let the doctor check it out just in case. Besides, it’s keeping us both awake and we need our sleep.’

‘All right,’ yawned Lisa, ‘I’ll make an appointment. Goodnight.’

Ten minutes later, Paul was the subject of another kick. ‘That’s it. I’ve had enough. I’m sleeping in the spare room.’

‘Please yourself. And shut the door after you.’

The next day, Lisa realised that Paul was trying to make up to her for his lack of sympathy. He’d bought theatre tickets for that evening – Chicago in the West End. Lisa thought it would do her good to go out and surely her legs wouldn’t play up like last night, would they?

All went well for the first half hour, then her legs were up to their tricks again. She clenched her teeth till her jaw ached trying to keep her legs still. It was impossible. First she moved her legs to the right, then she moved them to the left but she couldn’t get comfortable.

‘Are you at it again?’ Paul hissed, as their neighbours in the theatre began to stare at them.

‘Sorry, Paul, I’ll have to leave. I can’t stand it any more.’

‘Great! That’s eighty quid down the pan.’

‘I said sorry. I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow so I’ll find out what’s wrong.’

The following day, Lisa told the doctor about her restless legs. ‘Not only am I feeling anxious but it’s making me depressed too. I’m not a hypochondriac am I?’

‘Of course not. Restless Legs Syndrome affects one in ten people at some time in their life but in most cases, we don’t know what causes it. It could be due to a lack of or imbalance of some brain chemicals, or it could be that RLS runs in families.’

‘Yes, I seem to recall Mum having problems with her legs too.’

‘Yes, it could be a genetic condition. But to rule out any other possible cause, you’d better have a blood test to make sure you’re not suffering from iron deficiency, anaemia, kidney failure or diabetes.’

‘It’s a relief to know I’m not going mad.’

‘No, you’re quite sane. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot can be done about RLS. But while we’re waiting for your blood test result, you could try some self help remedies.’

‘Such as?’

‘First of all, try and take your mind off your legs. Read or watch TV if your symptoms are mild. Go to bed and get up at a regular time – get into a routine.’

‘I’ve been trying to do that but it is difficult.’

‘Don’t let yourself nap, especially in the evenings. Don’t drink coffee or anything with caffeine at bedtime. Have a milky drink instead. Relax before going to bed – a warm bath could help.’

When Lisa’s blood test result came back, it was clear. ‘That’s such a relief, but it means I have to put up with RLS in the best way I can.’

‘Yes, but what if the self help measures don’t work,’ asked Paul scratching his head, ‘and your symptoms become more troublesome?’

‘I’ll go back to the doctor. He said there was medication available on prescription if it gets worse.’

‘I hope you won’t need to do that, love,’ said Paul. ‘I’ll try to be more understanding in future, I promise. Should we have a take-away tonight?’