RESTLESS LEGS KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT? CAN WE HELP?

It's become a pattern. Just when you crawl into bed and begin to fall asleep, your legs begin to twitch and jerk. You may feel burning or a crawling sensation deep inside your calves that seems to go away when you move your legs. These same sensations often return whenever you sit down and relax. If these symptoms sound familiar, you may have restless legs syndrome (RLS) — a neurological condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, usually along with an uncomfortable crawling, tingling, or aching feeling.

RLS can cause significant disruption to your sleep cycle and can worsen if left untreated. It can also mimic other conditions, so it should be diagnosed by a neurologist or sleep specialist to ensure an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment.

Risk Factors for RLS

Approximately 5% to 15% of the population suffers from RLS, a neurological condition that can be associated with a variety of factors, including:

• Genetics
• Low iron levels
• Kidney disease or diabetes
• Neuropathy
• Spinal cord disease
• Multiple sclerosis

The condition occurs more frequently in women than men and becomes more common with age. You have a 3 to 6 times higher risk for RLS if you have a first-degree relative with the condition, such as a parent, sibling, or child.

Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome

RLS is associated with these symptoms:

• Unpleasant leg crawling sensations or an urge to move the legs, particularly during periods of rest or inactivity
• Relief from these symptoms with leg movement, such as stretching or walking
• Worsening symptoms in the evening or at night
• Twitching or kicking of the legs throughout the night while sleeping
• Aching, throbbing, pulling, itching, crawling, or creeping feelings in the legs, with an unavoidable urge to move the limbs
• Sensations that may occur when sleeping, resting, or sitting for long periods, such as in a car or airplane

About 80% of people with restless legs will experience periodic limb movements during sleep — jerk-like leg movements that occur throughout the night, often causing partial awakenings that disrupt sleep and may lead to daytime sleepiness. Some people aren't even aware of these movements; it's often a bed partner who notices and mentions them. Although most patients start having symptoms in the evening, some experience symptoms during periods of daytime inactivity as well.

RLS symptoms vary from day to day and from person to person in both severity and frequency. In severe cases, symptoms occur more than twice a week.

How RLS Disrupts Sleep

During sleep, many people with RLS have involuntary, jerking leg movements called periodic limb movements. These movements can disrupt sleep and, over time, contribute to sleep deprivation that negatively affects overall health. Periodic limb movements can also occur during the day, but they're harder to notice then, since most people naturally move around once their legs start to bother them.

RLS usually affects the legs, but it can also cause unpleasant sensations in the arms, torso, or even a phantom limb.

Like any condition that impacts sleep quality, RLS can lead to daytime sleepiness, anxiety and depression, confusion, and difficulty thinking clearly. It can also disturb a bed partner's sleep, which can cause fatigue for both people and strain the relationship.

Not sleeping through the night? The neurologists at CNC diagnose and treat restless legs syndrome at locations across New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

Book Online: Schedule Your Evaluation Here

Call or Text: 800-200-8196

Causes of RLS

There are several different causes of RLS:

1. Iron Deficiency

Although restless legs syndrome is quite common, many people with the condition are unaware that iron deficiency is a major cause. Even if someone's blood iron level is in the normal range, iron stores in the brain and nervous system can still be low — causing iron deficiency in the nervous system specifically.

2. Disruption of Dopamine in the Brain

RLS may also be related to a dysfunction in the part of the brain that controls movement. The basal ganglia uses the brain chemical dopamine to produce smooth, purposeful muscle activity. Disruption of dopamine levels can result in involuntary movements. People living with Parkinson's disease have an increased risk of developing RLS.

3. Other Health Conditions

RLS appears to be linked to the following health conditions and underlying factors:

• Sleep deprivation and conditions such as sleep apnea
• Use of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine
• Neuropathy (nerve damage)
• End-stage renal disease and hemodialysis
• Pregnancy or hormonal changes, especially in the last trimester (in most cases, symptoms disappear within four weeks after delivery)

4. Family History of RLS

RLS often runs in families, and specific gene variants have been identified with the condition.

How Common Is RLS?

According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 7% to 10% of the U.S. population may have RLS. The condition occurs in both men and women, although women are more likely to have it.

RLS is generally a lifelong condition. Many people who are severely affected are middle-aged or older, and symptoms typically become more frequent and longer-lasting as a person ages.

Diagnosis and Treatment of RLS

RLS can begin at any age, although diagnosing and treating it in children is often challenging — children may struggle to describe their symptoms, and some childhood conditions can mimic RLS.

Treatment is based on each patient's specific symptoms and their severity. For mild symptoms, regular exercise and adequate sleep may be enough. RLS tends to be a lifelong condition that's managed with lifestyle changes, medications, and treatment of any underlying disorder. If the underlying cause is an iron or folic acid deficiency, supplements alone may be enough to relieve symptoms.

Helpful lifestyle changes include:

• Reducing or avoiding alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine
• Keeping a regular sleep schedule and practicing good sleep habits
• Moderate, regular exercise, including aerobic and leg-stretching exercises
• Leg massage or a warm or cool bath
• A heating pad or ice pack
• Foot wraps designed for RLS, or vibration pads applied to the back of the legs
• Avoiding antidepressants, antihistamines, and anti-nausea medications that can trigger or worsen RLS, when possible

Medication can also be extremely helpful, and many people become symptom-free with occasional adjustments to their regimen.

If left untreated, RLS can worsen and spread to other parts of the body, such as the arms. Overuse of certain medications can also lead to RLS augmentation — a progressive escalation of symptoms driven by increasing medication doses — which makes the condition harder to treat and underscores the importance of management by a specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes restless legs syndrome?

RLS is most often linked to iron deficiency in the brain and nervous system, disrupted dopamine signaling, family history, or an underlying condition such as kidney disease, neuropathy, or pregnancy.

Is restless legs syndrome serious?

RLS isn't life-threatening, but untreated symptoms can significantly disrupt sleep and daily functioning, and may point to an underlying condition — like iron deficiency — that's worth addressing.

Can restless legs syndrome be cured?

There's no single cure, but RLS is very manageable. Many patients see major improvement once an underlying cause is identified and an appropriate treatment plan is started.

What is RLS augmentation?

Augmentation is a worsening of RLS symptoms caused by overuse of certain medications over time. It can make the condition more difficult to treat, which is why ongoing management by a specialist matters.

Can children have restless legs syndrome?

Yes. RLS can begin at any age, though it's harder to diagnose in children because they may not be able to clearly describe their symptoms, and other childhood conditions can look similar.

Don't Dismiss Your Symptoms

Restless legs syndrome can be very disruptive to your lifestyle — don't dismiss your symptoms. Talk to your doctor about what you're experiencing.

Ready for answers? The neurologists at CNC specialize in diagnosing and treating RLS across our New York, New Jersey, and Florida locations.

Book Online: Schedule Your Evaluation Here

Call or Text: 800-200-8196