Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system disorder that causes an overpowering urge to move your legs. It's also known as Willis- Ekbom disease.
Doctors consider it a sleep disorder because it usually happens or hets worse while you're at rest. You might have trouble sleeping or sitting for a long time.
A condition characterized by a nearly irresistible urge to move the legs, typically in the evenings. Restless legs syndrome typically occurs while or lying down. It generally worsens with age and can disrupt sleep.
The main symptom is a nearly irresistible urge to move the legs. Getting up and moving around helps the unpleasant temporarily go away. Self- case steps, lifestyle changes of medication may help.
Symptoms:
The chief symptom is an urge to move the legs. Common accompanying characteristics of RLS include:
- Sensations that begin after rest: the sensation typically begins after you've been lying down or sitting for an extended time, such as in a car, airplane, or movie theater.
-Relief with movement: The sensation of RLS lessens with movement, such as stretching, jiggling your legs, pacing, or walking.
- Worsening of symptoms in the evening: symptoms occur mainly at night.
- Nighttime leg twitching: RLS may be associated with another, a more common condition called periodic limb movement of sleep, which causes your legs to twitch and kicks, possibly throughout the night, while you sleep.
People typically describe RLS symptoms as abnormal, unpleasant sensations in their legs or feet. They usually happen on both sides of the body. Less commonly, the sensations affect the arms.
The sensations, which generally occur within the limb rather than on the skin, are described as:
- Crawling
- Creeping
- Pulling
- Throbbing
- Aching
- Itching
- Electric
Sometimes the sensations are difficult to explain. People with RLS usually don't describe the condition as a muscle cramp or numbness. They do, however, consistently describe the desire to move their legs. It's common for symptoms to fluctuate in severity. Sometimes, symptoms disappear for periods of time, then come back.
Causes:
There's no known cause for RLS. Researchers suspect the condition may be caused by an imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine, which sends messages to control muscle movement.
Heredity:
Sometimes RLS runs in families, especially if the condition starts before age 40. Researchers have identified sites on the chromosomes where genes for RLS may be present.
Pregnancy:
Pregnancy or hormonal may temporarily worsen RLS signs and symptoms. some women get RLS for the first time during pregnancy, especially during their last trimester. However, symptoms usually disappear after delivery.
Risk factors:
RLS can develop at any age, even during childhood. The disorder is more common with increasing age and more common in women than in men. RLS usually isn't related to a serious underlying medical problem. However, it sometimes accompanies other conditions, such as
- Peripheral neuropathy: This damage to the nerves in your hands and feet is sometimes due to chronic diseases such as diabetes and alcoholism.
- Iron deficiency: Even without anemia, iron deficiency can cause or worsen RLS. If you have a history of bleeding from your stomach or bowels, experience heavy menstrual periods, or repeatedly donate blood, you may have an iron deficiency.
- Kidney failure: If you have kidney failure, you may also have iron deficiency, often with anemia. When kidneys don't function properly, iron stores in your blood can decrease. This and other changes in body chemistry may cause or worsen RLS.
- Spinal cord conditions: Lesions on the spinal cord as a result of damage or injury have been linked to RLS. Having had anesthesia to the spinal block also increases the risk of developing RLS.
Diagnosis:
A diagnosis of RLS is based on the following criteria, established by the international restless legs syndrome study group:
- Strong, often irresistible urge to move your legs, usually accompanied by uncomfortable sensations.
- Symptoms start or get worse when you're resting, such as sitting or lying down.
- Symptoms are partially or temporarily relieved by activity, such as walking or stretching.
- Symptoms are worse at night.
- Symptoms can't be explained solely by another medical or behavioral condition.
Physical and a neurological exam, blood tests, particularly for iron deficiency, may be ordered to rule out other possible causes for symptoms.
Sleep specialists involve an overnight stay at a sleep clinic, where doctors can study your sleep if another sleep disorder such as sleep apnea is suspected.
Complications:
RLS doesn't lead to other serious conditions, symptoms can range barely bothersome to incapacitating. Many people with RLS find it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Severe RLS can cause marked impairment in life quality and can result in depression. Insomnia may lead to excessive drowsiness, but RLS may interfere with napping.
Lifestyle and home medicines:
Making simple lifestyle changes can help alleviate symptoms of RLS:
- Try baths and massages: Soaking in a warm bath and massaging your legs can relax your muscles.
- Apply warm or cool packs. Use of heat or cold, or alternating use of the two, may lessen your limb sensations.
Establish good sleep hygiene. Fatigue tends to worsen symptoms of RLS, so it's important that you practice good sleep hygiene. Ideally have a cool, quiet, comfortable sleeping environment, go to bed and rice at the same time daily, and get at least seven hours of sleep nightly.
Exercise: Getting moderate regular exercise may relieve symptoms of RLS, but overdoing it or working out too late in the day may intensify symptoms.
Avoid caffeine: Sometimes cutting back on caffeine may help restless legs. Try to avoid caffeine-containing products, including chocolate, coffee, tea, and soft drinks, for a few weeks, o see if this helps.
Consider using a foot wrap: A foot wrap specially designed for people with RLS puts pressure under your foot and may help relieve your symptoms.
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