No Comments January 19, 2008 – 1:50 am

Creeping. Crawling. Jittery. Tingly. Burning. Aching. Those are just a few of the terms that people used to describe the disturbing symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This condition causes extreme discomfort when a sufferer is sitting or lying down. In fact, the symptoms are so extreme that people will get up and move around because doing so often causes RLS symptoms to go away.

RLS occurs in both men and women and has a tendency to worsen as a person grows older. According to the National Center on Sleep Disorders research, “restless legs syndrome is a common, under diagnosed and treatable condition.” Recent research suggests it affects about 10% of adults in North America and Europe with rates increasing with age. The biggest problem with RLS is that it makes it difficult, if not impossible for sufferers to go to sleep or stay asleep.

People who suffer from this syndrome are sometimes so baffled and so miserable that they have trouble describing their symptoms. The symptoms of RLS usually begin when a person lies down or sits for an extended period of time. Consequently, sufferers often find relief by stretching, shaking their legs or walking. The overwhelming desire to move is what gives RLS its name. The symptoms can be so severe that the people with RLS are reluctant to participate in any activity that requires them to be immobile for long periods of time such as sitting airplane in a car or at a movie theater.

Symptoms are typically worse in the evening and less bothersome during the day. People with RLS have trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. Although RLS is not dangerous in and of itself, the symptoms can range from bothersome to incapacitating. The symptoms usually fluctuate in severity and may completely disappear for short periods of time.     

Treatment for RLS usually includes a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. Interestingly many of the prescriptions that are effective in treating RLS were originally developed to treat other diseases. For instance, certain medications that were developed to treat Parkinson’s disease help RLS because the medications affect the level of the chemical messenger dopamine in the brain. There is no scientific evidence that suggests that people with RLS have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s.

Some narcotic medications called opiods may be effective in treating RLS but these can be highly addictive and not recommended for long term use.

Muscle relaxants and sleep medications are effective in some cases because they help you sleep better at night. However, these medications don’t eliminate the uncomfortable sensations associated with RLS and they may cause daytime drowsiness.  

Sources:

• The Mayo Clinic

• National Center on Sleep Disorders