Restless leg syndrome is a specific kind of sleep disorder. The symptoms of RLS are acute "pains" that are experienced in the legs when a person attempts to sleep. These sensations can also alternate with feelings of tingling and/or numbness. Some patients report feeling a pulling sensation, a deep itch centered in the lower leg below the knee and in the most extreme cases a gnawing, burning or stabbing feeling.
If you have this condition, you’ve probably experienced difficulty explaining to a doctor what sensations you are experiencing. You’ve also experienced that RLS makes it very hard to relax while sleeping or sitting. Moving your legs may be the only way that you can find relief.
The common sensations that are attributed to restless leg syndrome are:
- Pin-pricks
- Creeping
- Tingling
- Deep Aches
RLS tends to center around the lower leg below the knee. The calf region is usually the most pronounced area affected but it may be felt along the entire leg. The condition may exist in one or both legs. The symptoms may also present themselves infrequently, lulling the sufferer into denial, until the next attack occurs.
The symptoms of RLS cause discomfort, but the degree is different from person to person. For some, it is more of a deep ache rather than tingling pain. The effects are felt throughout the day, although the most troublesome time tends to be during sleeping hours. This disease can cause you to lose hours of sleep each night because of the constant kicking and movement of the legs in search for relief. It is hard to pinpoint when a person first developed restless leg syndrome due to the fact that the onset is slow and it gradually becomes more pronounced over time.
RLS often occurs temporarily in pregnant women who are near the end of their term. Many pregnant women suffer with the condition as their bodies prepare for the onset of labor. Symptoms of RLS can worsen during later hours of the day and into the night. It is also one of the contributing factors of insomnia as well as marked daytime drowsiness. Without proper, professional sleep testing, the excess tiredness that you may feel during the day could be misattributed to being caused by narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea.
If left untreated, restless leg syndrome may become chronic and more severe with each attack. The condition can become more pronounced and can prevent you from taking part in activities that require long periods of sitting still such as meetings, plane trips, and even going to the movie theater. The disease may also cause marital stress as spouses, disturbed by the constant leg movements, often suffer along with their partner who is afflicted with RLS.
The Sleep Center at Las Colinas Medical Center can help. Only a qualified health professional, such as your physician, can determine if you have RLS and what the treatment may be. If you think you or a loved one may be suffering from this serious sleep disorder, we can help. Please contact our offices for an appointment to discuss treatment options for your sleep disorder.
