Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder related to sensation and movement. People with RLS have an unpleasant feeling or sensation in parts of their body when they lie down to sleep.
Most have a strong urge to move, and moving often makes them feel better. But all of this movement makes it difficult to get enough sleep.
As the name implies, RLS typically affects the legs but it can cause unpleasant feelings in the arms and torso too. When you don’t get enough sleep, you may have problems getting things done during the day because you are so tired and have difficulty concentrating.
There is no clear cause for RLS but sometimes it is due to a lack of iron. It often runs in families and can affect women during pregnancy. Other conditions sometimes linked to RLS include kidney failure, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, nerve damage, anemia and Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms
RLS makes you feel like you need to move a part of your body, usually your legs. These feelings vary and can be described as tingling, pins and needles, prickling, pulling or crawling. This usually happens at night when trying to sleep.
After falling asleep, your legs or arms may begin to jerk or move involuntarily. These are called periodic limb movements disorder (PLMD). They can wake you from your sleep which adds to your tiredness. PLMD is a separate condition, but it often happens in people with RLS.
Screening & Diagnosing Restless Leg Syndrome
If you are not sleeping well or think you may have RLS, talk to your doctor.
Your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and may order blood tests to assess for underlying or associated causes. In some instances, your doctor may order tests on your nerves to make sure there is no nerve damage. Your doctor may also order a sleep study called polysomnography which records how often your legs jerk or move in your sleep.
Treating Restless Leg Syndrome
If your symptoms are mild, lifestyle changes may be enough to control your symptoms. Some changes include:
- Avoid tobacco, alcohol and caffeine
- Keep your bedroom cool, quiet, and comfortable, and use it only for sleeping, not for watching TV
- Get regular exercise
- Massage the leg or the arm, or use heat or ice packs
If symptoms are more severe, medicines may help to control the urge to move while you sleep.