Restless Legs Syndrome

This is a sleep-related neurological condition characterized by an urgency to move your legs, associated with unpleasant feelings in the legs, like tingling pain, itching our burning sensations. These symptoms usually happen in the evening while resting, especially when the patient is in bed before sleeping, which makes it hard to fall asleep. They tend to improve with massage and movement, forcing the patient to get out of bed and ambulate. The same symptoms may appear while sleeping, in the middle of the night, awakening the patient.

Restless Legs Syndrome can run in the family, which suggests genetic transmission. Diagnosis is essentially clinical after going over a detailed history of the symptoms. It is common for patients to move their legs rhythmically when falling asleep, in which case a polysomnography may be recommended. Strict clinical evaluation is required for an accurate diagnosis, since other medical conditions can cause sensitivity disorders. Some cases of restless legs syndrome result from changes in the patient’s iron metabolism or folic acid deficiency, which could lead to symptoms in pregnant women.

After a medical evaluation, treatment initiates with the appropriate medication. Symptoms respond well to the treatment. In addition, healthy habits such as physical activity and good sleep hygiene are important recommendations for restless legs treatment.