Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system disorder that causes uncomfortable feelings in your legs, making you want to move them. The discomfort of RLS is usually enough that it interferes with sleep, causing a sleep disorder. Therefore, it is considered a sleep disorder as well.
The symptoms of RLS all have one thing in common: discomfort in the legs that ranges from mild to intolerable. RLS symptoms may come and go, and may be chronic or intermittent. When the discomfort is enough to wake you, or keep you up, it is considered a sleeping disorder.
Some of the symptoms include feeling the following on your legs at night:
The good news about RLS symptoms is that, as long as they are not mild, they are often easy to identify because it's hard to not notice an irresistible urge to relieve discomfort. If you notice these symptoms and live in Anchorage, you can consult with us or your healthcare provider to begin the road to treatment.
The causes of restless leg syndrome are generally not known, though genes may play a role (nearly half of people with RLS have a family member who also has it). For many people it’s “just one of those things”.
Some factors that influence the severity or onset of RLS are:
In some cases, like onset during pregnancy or after sleep deprivation, may go away naturally. In other cases, RLS may be a chronic problem without treatment.
RLS may affect up to 10% of the U.S. population [WebMD]. Here are some facts about who is at risk:
The primary risk for restless leg syndrome is sleep deprivation. Unfortunately, the sleep deprivation may also worsen your symptoms.
Indirectly, another risk for people with mild or intermittent RLS is that it will go undetected or misdiagnosed. The problem here may be mild, but down the road can cause chronic sleep deprivation.
There is no direct treatment for RLS such as, for example, sleep apnea has with CPAP devices.
Some treatments used in mild to moderate cases of RLS are targeted at lifestyle changes such as:
Non-lifestyle treatment methods include:
In some cases drugs may be used, but the effects may relieve or worsen your RLS (results are sporadic) and the effectiveness may lessen over time.
If you live in Alaska and are concerned that you may be struggling with RLS, consult with us to begin your road to recovery and no more uncomfortable legs.