Here is a great article by Eugene B. Johnson.
Restless Leg Syndrome
Approximately fifteen percent of the adult population is affected by the restless leg syndrome, which is a type of asleeping disorder. Usually, the incidence is common among males than in females. Also, the condition is often seen in late adulthood. The occurrence restless leg syndrome is also increased in people with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, varicose veins, and arthritis.
The most obvious manifestation of the restless leg syndrome is to move the lower extremities, the lower limbs in particular. Pain can also be felt during these movements. Aside from pain, people may also experience
varying sensations such as itching, pricking, and burning. Sometimes, others would even describe the feeling like something is crawling on their legs.
The manifestations of restless leg syndrome may actually appear commonly at night but it can also happen during the day.
For manifestations that occur at night, a person will most likely have a sleeping disturbance. Because the manifestations are bothersome, the person will have troubles of getting back to sleep resulting to lack of sleep. When this happens, the patient would usually feel sleepy and restless throughout the day.
Symptoms
Symptoms and other clinical manifestations of restless leg syndrome would greatly affect the social life of the person who has the disorder. Because of lack of sleep, people with this disorder would also feel restless and exhausted. Due to this, these people won’t be able to socialize and get along with others. Aside from that, they also have the tendency to feel anxious and easily stressed out with their work. Depression is also commonly associated with restless leg syndrome.
Experts have found out that certain nerves in the brain which controls the reflex and sensation are dysfunctional in people with restless leg syndrome. Studies have also shown that this sleeping disorder have genetic predispositions.
Diagnostics
No single diagnostic test is available to determine restless leg syndrome. The physician’s diagnosis is mainly based on the symptoms mentioned by patient. Aside from that, a medical history and family history will also be needed to support the diagnosis. A blood test may also be needed to determine blood component abnormalities. However, neurological tests are often not ordered because there have been no abnormalities associated with this disorder.
Typically, the treatment for restless leg syndrome is only symptomatic or just directed to address the symptoms associated with the condition. Medications that contain iron are usually prescribed to patients with restless leg syndrome because anemia is often present in patients with this sleep disorder. Major lifestyle modifications would greatly help in the treatment of this disorder. Such modifications would include eating a well balanced and nutritious diet, as well as eliminating too much caffeine and alcohol consumption.
Medications
Medications such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, dopamine, and some opioid analgesics can also be given to patients with restless leg syndrome to relieve the symptoms. However, these drugs can’t totally provide cure. The sad part is that patients will need to take these medications to control the symptoms for the rest of their lives.
Another sleeping disorder that is almost the same as the restless leg syndrome is periodic limb movement disorder or PMLD. Both disorders affect the legs and the only difference lies on the time where the symptoms occur and the movements that occur. The symptoms of periodic limb movement disorder manifests only during sleeping and the limb movements occur involuntarily; unlike in the restless leg syndrome wherein symptoms may occur anytime and limb movements are voluntarily occurring.
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Nathan says: If you are familiar with this, or any other sleep disorder, I'd love to hear from you and learn more about your experiences.
Please feel free to comment below, or join the conversation on our Facebook Page!
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