Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also described as Ekbom’s syndrome, refers to an unlikable feeling in the legs that typically happens in the evening, mainly when an individual is at rest. These feelings compel the person to move their legs to get relief, only to have the symptoms recur. These complex to describe sensations 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 individuals between the ages of 30 and 79 have restless leg syndrome (RLS) at minimum five times per month. RLS affects individuals of all ages, with a more common occurrence in women. Its prevalence tends to increase with age and it appears to happen more normally in people of European and North American background.
individuals with RLS have trouble falling and staying asleep and suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, which may lead to fatigue, depression, and an increased risk of accidents due to slowed responses.
About 80% of people with RLS are also affected by a like condition that occurs during sleep, described as periodic limb movement disorder. This disorder is characterized by repetitive limb twitching during sleep (as opposed to RLS which occurs when awake), which could also disrupt sleep.
Treatment for RLS includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic techniques. Often 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 frequently be prescribed. In addition, many medications will lead to some improvement in the symptoms of RLS and the exact type of medication is frequently dictated by the regularity of the symptoms. The symptom occurrence can be divided into irregular, every day, and refractory. For irregular symptoms, a medication that contains dopamine (levodpa/carbidopa--normally a treatment for Parkinson’s disease) is regularly used on an as needed basis. For daily symptoms, two medications, pramipexole (Mirapex) and ropinirole (Requip) that increase the quantity of dopamine in the brain are used on a daily basis. Other medications such as benzodiazepines and opiates help induce sleep and often improve the uncomfortable sensations of RLS. When symptoms continue some anti-seizure medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin), can be added.
An attention-grabbing phenomenon, called augmentation, will happen in those taking dopamine-related medications. Augmentation is when RLS symptoms start 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 sensations in your legs (and sometimes arms) there is something you may do about it. A natural holistic method has also been shown to be effective in permanently relieving Restless leg syndrome.
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