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A fairly new, but very common sleep disorder, restless leg syndrome (RLS) causes sleeping difficulties for about 10 percent of Americans. The disorder causes its sufferers to have overpowering urges to move their legs, especially when they are resting or sleeping. Arms and other body parts can also be affected. People with restless leg syndrome usually describe the sensations using terms such as aching, creepy, crawly, electric, twitching, tingling, burning or prickling.
Restless leg syndrome symptoms are generally described as unpleasant sensations and an urge to move the lower legs, specifically:
- A desire or urge to move the limbs, often caused or accompanied by unpleasant sensations. You may feel pain deep inside your legs
- Worsening of symptoms at rest. The urge to move or unpleasant sensations begin or worsen during periods that make you drowsy including resting, lying, sitting or otherwise being inactive. Some people have the urge to move and the unpleasant sensations after any long period of inactivity, such as during flights or while sitting in a theater
- Partial or total relief by activity, such as walking or moving around. When you move, symptoms improve immediately and relief continues for as long as you are active. The symptoms may recur as soon as you stop moving
- Fluctuation during the day. The peak time for symptoms is around midnight, with sleep coming easier in the early morning hours
Restless leg syndrome symptoms affect people differently. They can occur only occasionally, in certain situations, or frequently. They can range from mild to intolerable. RLS can start at any age, but most people who start experiencing symptoms are middle-aged or older.
Researchers don't know the cause of restless leg syndrome, but suspect a combination of factors. Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which influence nerve cells, are probably involved. There also seems to be a genetic link; a person with a family history of restless leg syndrome may develop the condition earlier than someone with no family history of it. RLS can result from other neurological diseases, kidney dialysis, pregnancy, chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, iron deficiency, certain medications, alcohol and caffeine.
Restless leg syndrome treatment requires maintaining good sleep and healthy lifestyle habits. Sufferers may also try the following:
- Go to sleep and wake up on the same schedule each day
- Use your bed for sleep and intimacy, not for reading or other activities
- Before bed, avoid activities or substances such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine that might keep you awake
- A gentle walk, a warm bath or shower, or a gentle leg massage before bed may be helpful
- Maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise
Medications can be prescribed if the above measures don't work. Ropinirole (Requip) and pramipexole (Mirapex) are both approved by the FDA to treat RLS. They raise the level of dopamine, a naturally occurring brain chemical that plays a part in controlling movement. Other drugs that raise dopamine levels may also be prescribed. Sleep aids like Ambien or Lunesta may help you sleep, but will not relieve restless leg syndrome symptoms. You may have to try several different medications to find something that adequately treats your individual symptoms. Over time, you may find that a medication stops working or does not work as well. If this happens, your healthcare provider can prescribe a different medication.
Think you may be suffering from restless leg syndrome? Schedule a consultation with the Mercy Neurological Institute today. |
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