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Restless Leg Syndrome

Alternate Names: Neurological Disorder

Featuring content from MRI Clinic

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    The Facts

    Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological (nervous system) disorder. It is characterized by an urge to move the legs in order to relieve abnormal sensations such as pain, creeping, or burning. In fact, some people say it feels like insects are crawling around inside their legs.

    The urge to move the legs occurs during periods of rest, such as before falling asleep, and generally tends to be worse in the evenings and at night. Although movement relieves the symptoms, the sensations often return. Although this condition is known as Restless Leg Syndrome, the abnormal sensations can occur in the arms as well.

    RLS occurs in both men and women, although the incidence is slightly higher in women. This condition also becomes more frequent and severe with age.

    Sometimes, people with RLS also experience sudden jerking of the arms and legs known as periodic limb movements. People don't have control over this movement, which generally occurs every 20 to 60 seconds and may continue throughout the night.

    From 2% to 15% of people around the world may have RLS.

    Causes

    The cause of RLS is not clear. Scientists have observed that approximately half of the people who have RLS also have a family member with the condition.

    RLS is thought to be caused by one the following underlying conditions:

    • low levels of iron or certain vitamins
    • kidney failure
    • diabetes
    • Parkinson's disease
    • other diseases of the nervous system
    • arthritis
    • pregnancy
    • medications used to treat nausea, seizures, depression, or psychosis

    People with these conditions sometimes experience relief from RLS symptoms once the underlying condition is treated or when the suspected drug is discontinued.

    Drinking coffee or alcohol and smoking may aggravate or trigger symptoms in people with RLS or those who are likely to develop it. Decreasing your intake of these substances, or stopping them altogether, may relieve or reduce symptoms of RLS. Not getting enough sleep also seems to aggravate the disorder.

    Symptoms and Complications

    The following are characteristic symptoms of RLS:

    • During periods of rest, abnormal sensations occur in the legs or arms including crawling, creeping, tingling, burning, and pain. These abnormal sensations can range from mild to intolerable.
    • Movement temporarily helps relieve abnormal sensations, although they often return after the movement is stopped.
    • Symptoms are generally worse in the evenings or at night.
    • Symptoms are not always constant and may disappear and return for no apparent reason.
    • The symptoms tend to get more frequent and severe with age.

    Over 80% of people with RLS also experience uncontrollable movements of the arms or legs during sleep, a phenomenon known as periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS).

    Since the symptoms are worse at night, people with RLS may have problems falling asleep or may wake up several times during the sleep. Some may find it difficult to function normally at school or work or to carry out their normal activities due to tiredness.

    Making the Diagnosis

    There are no lab tests to diagnose RLS. However, your doctor may order a series of tests to identify if you have any other disorders that may be causing your symptoms, such as a vitamin deficiency.

    The diagnosis of RLS requires an assessment of your medical history and description of symptoms. The doctor will rule out other possibilities and focus on the presence of four factors in order to diagnose your condition:

    • an overwhelming need to move the arms or legs in order to relieve abnormal sensations such as crawling, tingling, burning or pain.
    • symptoms that are temporarily relieved by movement.
    • symptoms that are worse or only present during periods of rest such as at rest or while sitting.
    • symptoms that get worse at night.

    Occasionally, the doctor may ask you to undergo an overnight sleep test in a sleep clinic to determine the cause of sleep disturbance more conclusively.

    Treatment and Prevention

    Treatment for RLS focuses on controlling any underlying health condition that may be causing RLS (e.g., correcting a lack of iron). The doctor will first suggest non-medication measures to manage mild symptoms. For example, some people find that light exercise such as walking or stretching, taking a bath, massaging the leg, applying hot or cold packs, and practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga reduces the symptoms. Changing your sleep schedule to allow more time for sleeping in may also help. The doctor may suggest you keep your mind active (e.g., by reading) during periods of prolonged inactivity, such as traveling, in order to take your mind off RLS symptoms.

    However, if your symptoms are frequent and severe or if you are having difficulty falling or staying asleep, the doctor may prescribe medications for you. The most common medications used include those that are also used for Parkinson's disease (such as ropinirole*, or pramipexole), anti-seizure medications (such as gabapentin), benzodiazepines (such as clonazepam), or opioids (such as codeine).

    Since the cause of RLS is not well understood, there are no known ways to prevent it. However, people who have RLS may be able to decrease episodes by making simple lifestyle changes including eliminating caffeine and alcohol and by treating any underlying conditions.

     

    *All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

    All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2020. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Restless-Leg-Syndrome

    All material © 1996-2020 MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

  • Back to Conditions

    All material © 1996-2020 MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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