Restless Leg Syndrome is a sleep disorder and condition that causes people to feel a crawling sensation in their limbs, mostly in their calves, ankles, and across their trunk.
The distraction and pain of the symptoms cause sufferers to move their legs in an effort to ease pain and find relief, thus the description of ‘restless legs’. Obviously, Restless Leg Syndrome can disrupt a person’s sleep significantly.
Indeed, Restless Leg Syndrome almost always results in some degree of insomnia. The presence of irritating sensations and pain, and the involuntary movement and jerking of legs can make getting a good night’s sleep almost impossible, and can result in daytime fatigue.
Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome
Although the cause of this condition remains unknown, it seems to run in families. Research shows that Restless Leg Syndrome is more common in groups of people with certain deficiencies. People with anemia and iron deficiencies are more likely to suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome.
Pregnant women may also be more susceptible to this condition. Additionally, restless leg syndrome is found in people who are obese, people who suffer from diabetes, smokers, heavy coffee drinkers, and arthritis sufferers.
Other perhaps more serious conditions that may also be related with Restless Leg Syndrome include hormone diseases, kidney disorders, nerve diseases, and polyneuropahty.
The onset of Restless Leg Syndrome is also linked with some prescription drugs, including certain antidepressant drugs, as well as Zantac and Tagamet. Even though Restless Leg Syndrome appears to be more common in older individuals, it may appear in people of all ages.
Restless Leg Syndrome is also thought to affect children who may be experiencing “growing pains.” These children are often mislabeled as hyperactive due to their restlessness.
Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome
Sometimes Restless Leg Syndrome sufferer may experience considerable discomfort, causing a throbbing and even stinging sensation in the leg muscles. Restless Leg Syndrome sufferers have also described feeling a tingling, creeping, and pulling feeling across their legs and trunks.
It is during periods of extended inactivity, such as when long periods of sitting or lying down, most Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms are felt. Most of the time, sufferers will experience symptoms at nighttime, thus the syndrome’s classification as a sleep disorder.
Some people will experience symptoms in only one leg, and others will experience them in both. In rare cases, individuals may experience the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome in their arms.
Most symptoms become intensified at night, mainly at the beginning of a sleep cycle. Most people in the early morning hours experience a reduction in symptoms. The symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome become more pronounced when the legs are at rest.
Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (also known as PLMS) is another sleep disorder that is often confused with Restless Leg Syndrome. PLMS involves involuntary movement, both bending and jerking, of the legs during the course of a night’s sleep.
PLMS sufferers may experience movement of the legs every 10 to 60 seconds. Unlike Restless Leg Syndrome, PLMS occurs while the individual is asleep, although the constant movement may cause them to wake throughout the night.
Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment
It is often difficult to treat Restless Leg Syndrome because there is no definitive cure. Searching for the underlying cause is the first step toward treating Restless Leg Syndrome.
If you suspect you have Restless Leg Syndrome, your medical professional will conduct blood tests to reveal if you have an iron deficiency and/or anemia. Your doctor will also work to rule out any other possible causes for your symptoms.
Reducing caffeine [Caffeine and Sleep Problems] and alcohol intake, particularly before bedtime, can help reduce the Restless Leg Syndrome Symptoms. If you are a smoker, you can reduce Restless Leg Syndrome significantly by reducing your smoking or quit altogether.
To keep the Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms under control, practicing good sleep hygiene and getting some form of daily exercise are also significant. Your doctor may recommend certain medications if your case of Restless Leg Syndrome is severe.
Ropinirole, gabapentin, and tramdol are the most common medications prescribed for the treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome [Restless Leg Syndrome Medications]. Electric nerve stimulation, acupuncture, and ingesting oral magnesium are the other non-prescription options.
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Restless legs syndrome is one of those commonly misdiagnosed disorders. This could be due to the fact that no definite cause has been established. There have been studies linking this disorder to hereditary causes but other predisposing factors are also evident: medications, medical causes, etc.
I have fibromyalgia and RLS. I am 49 years old woman.
How did I get this. Is there anything I can do naturally?
I take one mg. of Requip, but on some nights that does not even help. I also take Zoloft and Trazodone for
anxiety/depression. Is that somehow related? It is hard for me to work my part time job and function property.
Thank so much for all of the information. I didn’t really realize I had RLS until seeing commercials for the medication (and even then wasn’t sure I did). Last night I had a bad episode and this morning started menstruating, so I started to look around online to see if there was any link between the two and see that there is. Reading all of the articles helped me a lot. Thank you.