Comments on: Why do I have crazy feet in the sack?

Question: Why do I have crazy feet in the sack?

bjork24 — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:33:36 -0800

Why do I have a compulsion to constantly move my feet when going to sleep?

I've done it for as long as I can remember. Just a small back and forth motion with both feet until I fall asleep. Is this something that other people do or am I showing early symptoms of Parkinson's?

By: dogwelder

dogwelder — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:38:28 -0800

Maybe it's a form of Restless Leg Syndrome.

By: dogwelder

dogwelder — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:39:23 -0800

Maybe it's Restless Leg Syndrome.

By: jrossi4r

jrossi4r — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:43:40 -0800

Wow. I do this too. Drove my husband nuts when we first got married. It's not restless leg syndrome, at least for me. It's more of a comfort thing. Like rocking almost.

By: voidcontext

voidcontext — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:44:31 -0800

I do something similar... except it's wiggling my toes. If I concentrate, I can make it stop. I become uber-conscious of my feet, and begin to think they feel wrong. This has been going on consistently for about 5 years.

At times I wonder (like you) if it's something wrong, but mostly I just ignore it. Interested to see what responses you get. I just always assumed I was borrowing trouble thinking about it.

By: Rubber Soul

Rubber Soul — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:46:42 -0800

Could it be Restless Leg Syndrome?

By: lunalaguna

lunalaguna — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:48:34 -0800

You probably have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). I have it, and it is easily treatable. Mine was brought on by iron deficiency, but it is also hereditary. I was treated with Klonopin for severl years until the RLS got so bad that it bothered me in the day. I went to a neurologist, who tested my ferritin serum level, gave me an iron supplement, and put me temporarily on a Parkinson's medication called Mirapex until my iron levels were normal. I highly recommend seeing a neurologist about this one.

By: owen

owen — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:53:20 -0800

Weird...I'm compelled to do the same thing, though being married forced me to quell the urge. I agree it's a kind of comfort thing.

By: ObscureReferenceMan

ObscureReferenceMan — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:44:32 -0800

Previously discussed. Also called "the jimmy leg" (you'll have to search for it).

By: deadfather

deadfather — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:47:06 -0800

I would have to say that it's not Restless Leg Syndrome; I have RLS, while my partner does the foot movement thing.

The reason I say this is how you describe it: if you off-handendly describe it as a compulsion, as opposed to Oh-My-God-Someone-Chop-Off-My-Legs-So-They-Stop-Doing-This, then it's not RLS. I can't say what it is, other than it seems completely harmless, and psychological rather than physical.

By: speranza

speranza — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:48:42 -0800

I do this too and have since I was a kid. As far as I know, I don't have RLS.

By: bjork24

bjork24 — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:52:05 -0800

Yeah, I don't think it's RLS. It's definitely a comforting feeling, but I don't know why moving my feet would be associated with a feeling of comfort.

PS - I'm married and it doesn't bother my wife. Woo hoo!

By: TheLibrarian

TheLibrarian — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:53:37 -0800

chirping?

By: Hildago

Hildago — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:55:34 -0800

Perhaps it's that Restless Leg Syndrome I've been hearing so much about.

By: adamwolf

adamwolf — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:07:47 -0800

Girlfriend does it.

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:10:27 -0800

I do the same the same thing when I drift off sometimes. I liken it to a cat kneading down its bed before it sits down.

By: kimota

kimota — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:11:33 -0800

I caught myself doing this at college and thought it was really weird. Then I went home on vacation (where I had a waterbed) and noticed I was doing it there, only my foot was on the frame of the bed and causing slight waves. I realized that at some point I'd unwittingly learned to rock myself to sleep. I still find myself doing it nowadays (haven't had a waterbed in almost 15 years), sometimes when I'm sitting in a chair, but always only when I'm sleepy.

By: jon_kill

jon_kill — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:17:49 -0800

It's definitely RLS

By: aladfar

aladfar — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:43:53 -0800

Definitely not RLS. I do the same thing - it's the equivalent of bouncing your knee at the dinner table or tapping your pen on a desk. Otherwise known as fidgeting. Indeed, I just caught myself doing exactly this as I type.

Interestingly, some studies have shown that fidgeting reduces incidents of obesity. All those little motions add up!

By: birdie birdington

birdie birdington — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 13:16:16 -0800

I toe wiggle and my partner foot wiggles. Not much help, but we are clearly destined for a lifetime of pre-sleep shaky bed.

(And it's not RLS for either of us, just deeply comforting like rocking, as previously stated.)

By: hardcode

hardcode — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 13:19:05 -0800

I do this, it's not through (obvious) discomfort, it's more a comfort thing.

By: nitsuj

nitsuj — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 13:33:27 -0800

I do this pretty often, but it's usually more noticable when I've been drinking. Any link between alcohol and leg moving?

By: andraste

andraste — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 13:35:18 -0800

I do it too - the rhythm feels comforting. I think it's some kind of leftover desire to be rocked to sleep like a baby.

By: pomegranate

pomegranate — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 14:06:15 -0800

My three sisters, my brother, my mom, my toddler niece and I all do it - I like it, as long as I've recently had a pedicure so there aren't any callouses on the balls of my feet or heels.
It takes our partners some time to get used to it, and one sister has convinced her husband that she has to knead her feet on his leg, but generally I think it's harmless and a form of self-comfort probably learned when you first start to put yourself to sleep.

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 14:21:16 -0800

Is it something like when dogs go around in circles before they lie down? Are you smoothing out some primordial undergrowth?

By: Kickstart70

Kickstart70 — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 14:47:01 -0800

I have RLS, and it's anything but comforting. Please folks, listen to the questioner and don't automatically give a medical diagnosis.

By: Dag Maggot

Dag Maggot — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:56:05 -0800

Eediots! enough with the RLS. Definitely not that. I do it too. It's just a self comforting thing. I don't have to do it - just feels nice.

By: Mamapotomus

Mamapotomus — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 17:22:32 -0800

I'm a nocturnal foot wiggler too, and it's from growing up with a waterbed like kimota did. Flexing each foot downward created really soothing waves. It's been a decade since I owned a waterbed but if I'm very tired I notice myself still doing it.

By: zharptitsa

zharptitsa — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 18:38:03 -0800

Okay... this may be totally wrong, but it's possible it's a symptom of Attention Deficit Disorder. I have ADD and I have the exact same thing with my feet. I've ruled out RLS. My guess is that it's a form of restlessness or excess energy (even if I'm totally exhausted, my body is more comfortable moving than being still). Anyway, if you have some other ADD symptoms it might be worth looking into with a doctor.

By: wilberforce

wilberforce — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 04:13:06 -0800

So, this foot - it vibrates?

Sorry.

My girlfriend does this, and it used to annoy the crap out of me - I couldn't get to sleep. I've basically conditioned her to stop it - mostly by gently nudging her foot with mine. Sometimes she would try to keep doing it (not consciously) by just moving so her feet weren't touching me, but her whole body moves while she's doing it. Now, after 8 years, she pretty much doesn't do it anymore.

I think she gets it from her dad, but I don't sleep with him, so he's allowed to keep doing it.

By: pizzylou

pizzylou — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 14:11:23 -0800

My boyfriend does it and luckily, I find it comforting. But I sure would like to know where it comes from.

Supposedly, he was told that as a child, he was mildly autistic. Perhaps something to do with that?