Description

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes a strong urge to move the legs. The urge to move is usually caused by an uncomfortable sensation in the legs. What typically happens in the evening or in the night when you are sitting or lying down. Movement alleviates the discomfort for a short time.

Restless legs syndrome can begin at any age, and tends to worsen with age. It can disrupt sleep, which interferes with daily activities. This syndrome is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease.

Simple self-care steps and lifestyle changes can help relieve the symptoms. Medications also help many people with RLS .

Symptoms

The main symptom of restless legs syndrome is a need to move the legs. It is common to experience:

  • Uncomfortable sensations that begin during the break. A feeling in the legs usually begins after you have been lying down or sitting for a long time. It can happen while sitting in a car, plane or movie theater.
  • The relief with the movement. The sensation of RLS decreases with the movement. Stretching, moving the legs, the rhythm, or walking can improve symptoms.
  • Worsening of symptoms at night. Symptoms occur primarily at night.
  • The night of the leg is moving. This syndrome may be associated with other, more common condition called periodic limb movement of sleep. This condition causes your legs to tremble and shot during sleep, possibly throughout the night.

People often describe the RLS symptoms as convincing, unpleasant feelings in the legs or feet. They usually occur on both sides of the body. Less commonly, the sensations that affect the arms.

The feelings that you feel inside of the leg instead of in the skin. They are described as:

  • The crawl.
  • Crawling.
  • Pulling.
  • Throbbing.
  • Pain.
  • The itching.
  • Electric.

Sometimes the feelings of RLS are difficult to explain. People with RLS often do not describe the situation as a muscle cramp or numbness. They, however, consistently describe the desire to move the legs.

It is common for the symptoms to get better and worse. Sometimes the symptoms disappear for periods of time, then come back.

When to see a doctor

Talk with your health care professional if you have symptoms of restless legs syndrome. RLS can interfere with sleep, causing daytime sleepiness and affect your quality of life.

Causes

Often, there are no known causes for restless leg syndrome. The researchers suspect the condition may be caused by an imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine. Dopamine sends messages to control muscle movement.

The inheritance

Sometimes RLS runs in families, especially if the disease begins before the age of 40. Researchers have identified sites on chromosomes where the genes for the SPI may be present.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy or hormonal changes can worsen the symptoms of RLS. Some people suffer from this syndrome for the first time during pregnancy, especially during the last quarter. However, the symptoms usually go away after delivery.

Risk factors

Restless legs syndrome can develop at any age, even during childhood. The condition is more common with age. It is also more common in women than in men.

RLS usually is not related to a serious underlying medical condition. However, sometimes it occurs with other conditions, such as:

  • The peripheral neuropathy. This damage to the nerves in the hands and feet is sometimes due to chronic illnesses like the diabetes and the consumption of alcohol disorder.
  • The deficiency of iron. Too little iron in the body, known as the deficiency of iron can cause or worsen restless legs syndrome . People who have a history of bleeding in the stomach or the intestines may have iron deficiency. The deficiency can also affect people who have heavy menstrual periods or often to donate blood.
  • The renal failure. If you have kidney failure, you may also have a deficiency of iron, often with anemia. When the kidneys do not function properly, the reserves of iron in the blood may decrease. This and other changes in body chemistry can cause or worsen restless legs syndrome .
  • Disorders of the spinal cord. Damage, or injury of the spinal cord has been linked to RLS .
  • Parkinson's disease. People who have Parkinson's disease may have an increased risk of developing this syndrome .

Complications

Restless legs syndrome, symptoms can range from mild to have a serious impact on the life of the people. Many people with RLS find it hard to fall or stay asleep.

Severe symptoms of RLS can affect the quality of life and result in depression. Not being able to sleep can lead to excessive sleepiness during the day, but this syndrome can interfere with the nap.

Diagnosis

To diagnose the syndrome of restless legs, your health care professional has your medical history and will ask about your symptoms. A diagnosis of this syndrome is based on the following criteria, established by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group:

  • You have a strong, often irresistible urge to move the legs. This generally occurs with the feelings of discomfort in the legs.
  • Your symptoms begin or worsen when you're resting, such as sitting or lying down.
  • Your symptoms are partially or temporarily relieved by activity, such as walking or stretching.
  • Your symptoms are worse at night.
  • The symptoms can not be explained only by another medical or behavioral condition.

Your health care professional may carry out a physical and a neurological examination. Blood tests, particularly for iron deficiency, may be ordered to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.

You may be referred to a sleep specialist. This may involve an overnight stay and a study in a sleep clinic if another sleep condition such as sleep apnea is suspected. However, diagnosis of this syndrome usually do not require a sleep study.

Treatment

The symptoms of restless legs syndrome, sometimes, they disappear after treatment of an underlying condition, such as iron deficiency. The correction of a deficiency of iron may involve taking an iron supplement by mouth. Or you may be given an iron supplement through a vein in your arm. Take iron supplements only under the supervision of a doctor, and after you have your blood-iron levels in the markup.

The electrical stimulation of a nerve at the side of the knee may help the symptoms of RLS. Electrical stimulation devices require a prescription from a health care professional.

If you have restless leg syndrome, without an associated condition, the treatment focuses on lifestyle changes. If these are not effective, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines.

Drugs

Several prescription medications are available to reduce the restlessness in the legs. Many of the drugs that have been developed for the treatment of other diseases, but it can help with the restless legs syndrome . They include:

  • Drugs affecting calcium channels. Medications such as gabapentin, gabapentin enacarbil, and pregabalin are the first line of treatment for most people with RLS . These drugs can cause side effects such as dizziness, instability, mental fog, and weight gain.
  • Medications that increase dopamine in the brain.These medications affect the levels of the chemical messenger dopamine in the brain. Rotigotine, pramipexole, and ropinirole work at first. But in many people who take these medications,RLSgets worse with time. Medications can cause symptoms to return earlier in the day. Some people who take these medications find that the symptoms spread to the arms. This is called the rise. The medications can also make it difficult to handle the urges, such as gambling addiction. Because of these risks, the dopamine medications are only used if drugs that affect calcium channels do not work or cause side effects. People who have occasionalRLSsymptoms can be prescribed carbidopa-levodopa (Duopa, Rytary, other) to take as needed. But the health professionals would not recommend taking this medication daily or almost daily. The daily use of this medication can cause you to gain.
  • Opioids. These medicines are used in low doses for the treatment of this syndrome when other medications have not worked or have caused side effects. The majority of people who take opioids do not have major side effects, and these drugs are effective in the management of the symptoms of RLS. In low doses, the addiction is very rare. Some examples of opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone and buprenorphine.

Medications that increase dopamine in the brain. These medications affect the levels of the chemical messenger dopamine in the brain. Rotigotine, pramipexole, and ropinirole work at first. But in many people who take these medications, RLS worsens with time. Medications can cause symptoms to return earlier in the day. Some people who take these medications find that the symptoms spread to the arms. This is called the rise. The medications can also make it difficult to handle the urges, such as gambling addiction. Because of these risks, the dopamine medications are only used if drugs that affect calcium channels do not work or cause side effects.

People who have occasional RLS symptoms can be prescribed carbidopa-levodopa (Duopa, Rytary, other) to take as needed. But the health professionals would not recommend taking this medication daily or almost daily. The daily use of this medication can cause you to gain.

It may take several attempts to find the medication or combination of medications that will work best for you.

And some medications for other conditions may worsen the symptoms of RLS . These include some antidepressants, certain antipsychotic medications, some antinausea medications, and some cold and allergy medications. Your health care professional may recommend that you do not take these medicines, if possible. However, if you need to take them, talk about treatments to help manage the restless legs syndrome .

The majority of the medicines that are prescribed to treat restless legs syndrome are not recommended during pregnancy. Instead, self-care techniques, and iron supplements may be recommended to relieve the symptoms. But if the symptoms are bothersome during your last trimester, your health care professional may recommend the use of certain medications.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Make simple lifestyle changes can help relieve the symptoms of restless legs syndrome:

  • Try baths and massages. Soaking in a warm bath and massaging your legs can relax your muscles.
  • Apply hot or cold packs. The use of heat or cold, or alternating use of the two, you can lower the leg sensations.
  • Establish good sleep hygiene. Fatigue tends to worsen the symptoms of RLS , so it is important that you practice good sleep hygiene. Create a cool, calm, and comfortable sleeping environment. Go to bed and wake up at the same hour each day. Get at least seven hours of sleep each night.
  • Exercise. Moderate, regular exercise can relieve the symptoms of RLS . But the exaggeration of her work or it's too late in the day can make the symptoms worse.
  • Avoid caffeine. Sometimes to reduce the caffeine can help restless legs. Try to avoid products that contain caffeine for a couple of weeks to see if this helps. This includes cutting the chocolate, coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
  • Consider the use of a foot of bubbles or a vibrator. A foot wrap is specially designed for people with RLS puts pressure on the feet and can help alleviate your symptoms. You may also find relief with the use of a cushion that vibrates in the back of the legs.

Coping and support

Restless legs syndrome is more often a lifelong condition. You can help to develop coping strategies that work for you such as:

  • Tell others about your condition. The exchange of information about RLS helps your family, friends and work colleagues to better understand what is happening to you. This may help to explain why, could the rhythm of the room or standing in the back of the theater. You can help team-mates to understand better if you see walking down to the water cooler many times during the day.
  • Can't resist their need for movement. If you attempt to suppress the urge to go, you may find that your symptoms get worse.
  • Keeping a sleep diary. Keep track of medications and strategies that will help the symptoms. Keep in mind also what makes the symptoms worse. Share this information with your health care professional.
  • Stretching and massage. Start and end the day with stretching exercises or gentle massage.
  • Seek help. Support groups bring together members of the family, and the people with RLS . By participating in a group, their knowledge can not only help, but also can help someone.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have the symptoms of restless legs syndrome, make an appointment with your health care professional. You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in conditions that affect the nervous system, known as a neurologist or sleep specialist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Write down your symptoms, including when they started and when they tend to occur.
  • Make a note of the key medical information, including other conditions. Also include the medications you take, including prescription, over-the get without a prescription, vitamins, and supplements. And please note if there is a history of RLS in your family.
  • Have a family member or friend. Someone who accompanies you may remember the information that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask.

Some basic questions to ask about this syndrome include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What treatment options are available for this condition?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • What measures of self-care, might improve symptoms?
  • Do you have educational materials that I can have? What sites do you recommend?
  • Where can I find a support group for people with restless legs syndrome ?

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask a series of questions, including:

  • Get an irresistible urge to move the legs?
  • What words describe your symptoms?
  • Make of onset of symptoms while sitting or lying down?
  • Are your symptoms get worse at night?
  • What movement do you feel better?
  • You have said that kicking, shaking or otherwise move your legs while sleeping?
  • Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep?
  • You're tired during the day?
  • Does anyone else in your family have restless legs?
  • How much caffeine you have each day?
  • What is the typical exercise program?
  • Are you at risk of low iron levels due to the limitation of the meat in your diet, the donation of frequent blood or blood loss from a recent surgery?
  • What medications have been used for the SPI ? Do they work?

What you can do in the meantime

To relieve your symptoms, try:

  • Reduce or eliminate caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.
  • The massage of the legs while soaking in a warm bath.
Symptoms and treatment of Restless legs syndrome