What Is RLS Restless legs syndrome?
RLS) is a condition that effects your legs such that they feel extremely uncomfortable while you're sitting or lying down. RLS can begin at any age and generally worsens as you get older. Other than the discomfort in the legs- -felt mainly at night, RLS can disrupt your sleep, generally leading to daytime drowsiness and even insomnia. The leg pain from RLS typically eases with the need to constantly move your legs, generally resulting in the unpleasant feeling temporarily going away.
General Symptoms of RLS
Unless you are afflicted with this nuisance of RLS, it is difficult for us that do have it to try and describe what it feels like. Generally the symptoms can best be described as an unpleasant sensation in the calf, thighs, feet area, often expressed as:
Crawling
Tingling
Cramping
Creeping
Pulling
Painful
Electric
Tense
Uncomfortable
Itchy
Tugging
Gnawing
Aching
Burning
These are not meant to be all inclusive, nor are they always present in RLS. In looking over this list, I can't dispute any of them. The only problem is the sensations tend to defy description. Those of us affected with RLS don't consider it has any crampness or numbness in the legs. In my own case and the data I have read on this subject, there is one known fact - the constant desire or need to move the legs. Unfortunately, this can also cause your bed partner to also loose sleep as well!
Generally, the symptoms follow a pattern and can fluctuate in severity.
>Inactivity seems to initiate the first signs when you are lying down or sitting for some extended period.
>The sensation brought on by RLS lessens when you are up and about - stretching, jiggling the legs, pacing around, or just taking a walk
>Unfortunately, the condition tends to worsen as the evening progresses
There is some medical indication that RLS may be associated with another condition referred to as Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS)
PLMS causes an involuntary flexing and extending of the legs while sleeping and becomes more intensified if you have severe RLS. This condition occurs without any conscious knowledge that it is happening. Unfortunately, this can also cause your bed partner to also loose sleep as well! More than 4 out of 5 people with RLS also experience PLMS.
While RLS doesn't lead to any other serious conditions, the resulting symptoms range from somewhat bothersome to incapacitating. People with RLS will find it difficult to get to sleep or stay asleep.
Causes of RLS
It appears that no known cause for RLS exists. Some medical researchers contend an imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine is at fault. Dopamine is a chemical that sends messages to control muscle movement. (My research indicated that RLS can affect the arms as well as the legs). In addition, researchers were able to identify sites on the chromosomes where genes for RLS may be present.
Heredity does appear to make a difference with as much as up to half the people with RLS in a family. RLS tends to affect women more than men, and pregnancy or hormonal changes may have a temporary worsen RLS signs and symptoms. Fortunately, most of the women affected by RLS during pregnancy, the signs and symptoms generally disappear quickly after delivery.
Medical knowledge does agree that RLS isn't related to any serious underlying medical problem(s). RLS, does however, accompany other conditions as:
Peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves)
Iron deficiency
Kidney failure
Treatment for RLS
Medical treatment of RLS looks toward any underlying illness, if known. Taking a blood test to check for iron deficiency anemia. Reduction or elimination of caffeine and alcohol can be very helpful. Stopping smoking can also diminish symptoms. Getting better sleep and exercise can help some persons affected by restless legs.
There are several medicines available today to treat RLS. I have not seen any evidence that it 'cures' this condition, but, from my own experience, it can definitely reduce the bouts of RLS significantly!
RLS) is a condition that effects your legs such that they feel extremely uncomfortable while you're sitting or lying down. RLS can begin at any age and generally worsens as you get older. Other than the discomfort in the legs- -felt mainly at night, RLS can disrupt your sleep, generally leading to daytime drowsiness and even insomnia. The leg pain from RLS typically eases with the need to constantly move your legs, generally resulting in the unpleasant feeling temporarily going away.
General Symptoms of RLS
Unless you are afflicted with this nuisance of RLS, it is difficult for us that do have it to try and describe what it feels like. Generally the symptoms can best be described as an unpleasant sensation in the calf, thighs, feet area, often expressed as:
Crawling
Tingling
Cramping
Creeping
Pulling
Painful
Electric
Tense
Uncomfortable
Itchy
Tugging
Gnawing
Aching
Burning
These are not meant to be all inclusive, nor are they always present in RLS. In looking over this list, I can't dispute any of them. The only problem is the sensations tend to defy description. Those of us affected with RLS don't consider it has any crampness or numbness in the legs. In my own case and the data I have read on this subject, there is one known fact - the constant desire or need to move the legs. Unfortunately, this can also cause your bed partner to also loose sleep as well!
Generally, the symptoms follow a pattern and can fluctuate in severity.
>Inactivity seems to initiate the first signs when you are lying down or sitting for some extended period.
>The sensation brought on by RLS lessens when you are up and about - stretching, jiggling the legs, pacing around, or just taking a walk
>Unfortunately, the condition tends to worsen as the evening progresses
There is some medical indication that RLS may be associated with another condition referred to as Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS)
PLMS causes an involuntary flexing and extending of the legs while sleeping and becomes more intensified if you have severe RLS. This condition occurs without any conscious knowledge that it is happening. Unfortunately, this can also cause your bed partner to also loose sleep as well! More than 4 out of 5 people with RLS also experience PLMS.
While RLS doesn't lead to any other serious conditions, the resulting symptoms range from somewhat bothersome to incapacitating. People with RLS will find it difficult to get to sleep or stay asleep.
Causes of RLS
It appears that no known cause for RLS exists. Some medical researchers contend an imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine is at fault. Dopamine is a chemical that sends messages to control muscle movement. (My research indicated that RLS can affect the arms as well as the legs). In addition, researchers were able to identify sites on the chromosomes where genes for RLS may be present.
Heredity does appear to make a difference with as much as up to half the people with RLS in a family. RLS tends to affect women more than men, and pregnancy or hormonal changes may have a temporary worsen RLS signs and symptoms. Fortunately, most of the women affected by RLS during pregnancy, the signs and symptoms generally disappear quickly after delivery.
Medical knowledge does agree that RLS isn't related to any serious underlying medical problem(s). RLS, does however, accompany other conditions as:
Peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves)
Iron deficiency
Kidney failure
Treatment for RLS
Medical treatment of RLS looks toward any underlying illness, if known. Taking a blood test to check for iron deficiency anemia. Reduction or elimination of caffeine and alcohol can be very helpful. Stopping smoking can also diminish symptoms. Getting better sleep and exercise can help some persons affected by restless legs.
There are several medicines available today to treat RLS. I have not seen any evidence that it 'cures' this condition, but, from my own experience, it can definitely reduce the bouts of RLS significantly!
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