Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Ekbom’s syndrome, refers to an disagreeable feeling in the legs that normally happens in the evening, chiefly when an individual is at rest. These sensations compel the individual to move their legs to get relief, only to have the symptoms happen again. These complex to describe feelings in the legs are experienced as “tingling”, “itching”, “creeping crawling”, and are occasionally painful. Rarely, RLS symptoms occur in the face and arms.
Description of Restless Legs Syndrome
About 10 percent of people between the ages of 30 and 79 have restless leg syndrome (RLS) at least five times per month. RLS affects people of all ages, with a more common incidence in women. Its commonness tends to increase with age and it appears to happen more normally in people of European and North American background.
people with RLS have difficulty falling and staying asleep and suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, which could lead to fatigue, depression, and an increased risk of accidents due to slowed responses.
About 80% of individuals with RLS are also affected by a similar condition that happens during sleep, described as periodic limb movement disorder. This disorder is characterized by repetitive limb twitching during sleep (as opposed to RLS which happens when awake), which can also interrupt sleep.
Treatment for RLS includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods. Frequently symptoms respond to warm baths, hot packs, stretching exercises, walking, or massaging the legs. As noted earlier, iron deficiency has been linked with RLS, so iron pills will often be prescribed. In addition, many medications may lead to some improvement in the symptoms of RLS and the exact category of medication is regularly dictated by the frequency of the symptoms. The symptom incidence can be divided into intermittent, every day, and refractory. For intermittent symptoms, a medicine that contains dopamine (levodpa/carbidopa--typically a care for Parkinson’s disease) is typically used on an as required basis. For daily symptoms, two medications, pramipexole (Mirapex) and ropinirole (Requip) that increase the amount of dopamine in the brain are used on a daily basis. Other medications such as benzodiazepines and opiates help induce sleep and frequently improve the unpleasant sensations of RLS. When symptoms continue some anti-seizure medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin), may be added.
An interesting phenomenon, called augmentation, could happen in those taking dopamine-related medications. Augmentation is when RLS symptoms begin earlier in the day, symptom intensity increases, or spread to the arms. This is often managed with medication additions and adjustments.
If you are laying up at night with creepy crawling feelings in your legs (and sometimes arms) there is something you can do about it. A natural holistic method has also been shown to be effective in permanently relieving RLS.
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