While previously mistaken for stress or muscle cramps, RLS has recently received more attention within the medical community and throughout the media, so it is being taken more seriously and is more frequently accurately diagnosed. If you suspect you may have RLS, do not hesitate to discuss your symptoms with your health care provider.
Medical Factors Affecting RLS
As noted above, RLS may be the side effect of another medical condition in many cases. Pregnancy, for instance, can intensify RLS symptoms, and anemia, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are often linked to RLS diagnoses. Iron deficiencies, circulatory issues, Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure and peripheral neuropathy can be accompanied by RLS, and certain medications may trigger RLS symptoms. Treating these underlying conditions often gives some relief from RLS symptoms.
However, it is also a condition seen in individuals without any of these conditions. Middle-aged or older patients most commonly present with RLS symptoms. Some researchers believe that imbalances in dopamine, the brain hormone responsible for muscle control, may be a root cause of RLS when no other medical conditions are present. Heredity is also a considerable factor, especially in cases in which the onset of symptoms occurs prior to the age of 50.
Signs You May Suffer from RLS
There are several symptoms that are standard markers of RLS. If you experience any of these symptoms, discuss them with your doctor to determine if you might suffer from this condition.
- An almost uncontrollable urge to move your legs: This is the hallmark sign of RLS. In fact, this symptom is necessary for an RLS diagnosis, so if you don’t have this symptom, chances are pretty good that you don’t have it. Some words used to describe the unpleasant sensations people experience in their legs with RLS include: pulling, gnawing, creeping, itching and crawling. The urgent need to move your legs may be almost unbearable, requiring you to get up and walk or simply move your legs around in a prone position.
- Your discomfort subsides with movement: If your leg discomfort goes away partially or fully when you begin moving, this is another solid sign that you are suffering from RLS. Many RLS patients describe their unpleasant leg sensations lessening or disappearing when they begin moving them.
- Discomfort begins or increases when you are resting. RLS seems to strike mainly in the evening and night hours or when an individual has been in a resting position for a while. Symptoms are also prevalent in the daytime for many people as well. Many patients complain of symptoms beginning when they’ve been sitting for a long period of time, such as in a car or movie theater or when they lay down for the night. If your symptoms are bothering you after you have been a rest for a period of time, you may have RLS.
- Sleep disturbances: RLS has been linked to insomnia, which disrupts the quality of life for some affected individuals and can lead to poor work performance, mood swings and depression. The restlessness of the legs and unpleasantness and discomfort prevent undisturbed sleep and may keep RLS sufferers from getting a full night’s sleep.
When you go to see your doctor, be sure to describe all of your symptoms. Don’t try to downplay or explain away anything you’ve been experiencing because this information is necessary for your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. You may have noticed that your symptoms fluctuate or decrease in frequency or intensity at times. Or maybe your symptoms disappear completely for a while. You can share this type of information with your doctor, but don’t assume that periods of dormancy of your symptoms mean you shouldn’t take them seriously.
To make a diagnosis, your physician may perform a full physical and a neurological examination. Iron deficiency and other pathology may be determined with a blood test. Your doctor may also consult a specialist such as a sleep clinic to help determine what causes your symptoms.
Once diagnosed, your doctor will prescribe a treatment plan to help you manage RLS symptoms. In some cases, medications or supplements such as iron may be prescribed to help control RLS. Other treatments include the following.
- Treatment of any underlying medical condition discovered that contribute to your RLS symptoms will need to be initiated to decrease or eliminate symptoms.
- If you suffer from circulatory ailments such as varicose veins, you may need to undergo surgery to repair the problem.
- Dietary restrictions may be implemented to control RLS, such as limiting or eliminating nicotine, caffeine or alcohol.
- An exercise regimen may be recommended for some patients to help alleviate suffering associated with RLS.
- If the patient smokes, health care providers may recommend quitting.
RLS has gained exposure in the medical field, and more doctors can diagnose patients with this condition accurately, leading to appropriate treatment and follow-up care. Don’t hesitate to seek medical guidance for your discomfort because you are concerned you won’t be taken seriously or that you’ll be misdiagnosed. Be clear about your symptoms and insist on appropriate examinations and testing. You’ll feel better once you are diagnosed and able to move on with treatment and ensuing relief.