Restless Leg Syndrome Symptoms

Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms occur as the result of RLS disorder that is related to both sensation and movement.

Patients with this condition experience an unpleasant feeling in their legs whenever they lie down to sleep.

Often, there is also an unexplained urge to move their legs, which will often make them feel better. None of this is conducive to getting a good night?s sleep.

While Restless Leg Syndrome has been known to run in families, it is unclear as what triggers it on the whole.

It has been linked to patients who do not get enough iron, and while treating that has worked to a point, it has not been decided as a cause as yet.

Pregnant women will sometimes develop this condition as a one of the lesser known Pregnancy Symptoms, while they are carrying the baby, but it often goes away once the baby is born.

There have been other conditions linked to Restless Leg Syndrome, like kidney failure, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, nerve damage, anemia and Parkinson?s.

But, more often than not, those afflicted with this disorder do not have any connection with any of these other conditions.

Symptoms

Urge to move: the main symptom of Restless Leg Syndrome is the uneasy feeling radiating out from your legs. This can include tingling, pins and needles, prickling, pulling and crawling.

Moving your legs after it begins often makes your legs feel better, at least for a while. This will often happen when you are laid out, preparing to sleep.

Once you have fallen asleep, your legs will begin to jerk and move on their own. This will wake the patient with this condition, adding to the general symptom of constant fatigue.

These movements are referred to as Periodic Limb Movement, which is also a sleep disorder of its own. Periodic Limb

Movement has also been proven to occur with other sleep disorders, and while linked to Restless Leg Syndrome, the two are most definitely not the same.

The Difference

Periodic Limb Movement disorder is characterized by cramping and jerking of the legs during sleep.

Unlike feelings of pins and needles or prickling, there is no occurrence of this before falling asleep, only after.

The movements are repetitive and rhythmic, usually around every 30 to 40 seconds.

This condition appears in only around 20% of RLS patients, but that is the only apparent link because patients with Periodic Limb Movement may not develop RLS or any other sleep disorders.

The leg movements will involve one or both legs and the knee, ankle and big toe joints all bend as part of the movements.

The movements themselves will vary from only slight jerking to wild kicking and thrashing. They only last around 2 seconds, another difference between this condition and RLS.

Treatment

Mild RLS conditions are usually treated through lifestyle changes, like cutting out caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and adjustments to the sleep environment.

Regular exercise and massages on the legs, using heat or ice packs at night before bed will help allay mild symptoms.

See your doctor for advice on treating any symptoms, of course.