dr.reham
10-26-2010, 07:35 PM
Restless Legs
What is RLS?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder that causes burning, creeping, or pulling sensations in the legs, as well as an uncontrollable urge to move in order to stop the discomfort. Experts estimate that 5% to 15% of the people in the U.S. suffer from the condition.
For some, it’s a mild annoyance. It severely disrupts the lives of others. The symptoms are usually worse at night, and often lead to loss of sleep. This results in feelings of exhaustion and irritability during the day.
About 80% of the people with restless legs syndrome also suffer from a separate condition called periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS). Periodic limb movements in sleep are involuntary jerking movements in an extremity; the extremity repeatedly moves or jumps. You can have PLMS without having RLS, and vice versa.
While there is no cure for most types of RLS, you can treat the underlying causes, if any, and adopt changes in lifestyle and diet to help reduce symptoms.
Classic symptoms of restless legs syndrome include burning, creeping or pulling sensations, and the uncontrollable urge to move in order to stop the discomfort. The uncomfortable sensations have also been described as pulling, drawing, wormy, tingling, pins and needles, pricking, itching, or achy. About 20% of patients find the sensations to be painful. Symptoms may last for a few minutes, or for several hours. The symptoms seem worse in the evening, or when you are lying down or sitting.
RLS sensations usually occur between the ankle and the knee. However, you may also feel them in the feet, thighs, or sometimes the arms or trunk. Most often you will feel the sensations in both legs rather than just one. One side may seem more severe at times, or you may feel the sensations more often in one leg than the other.
Symptoms occur at night or when the legs are at rest. The sensations often prevent sufferers from falling asleep. You may become sleep-deprived, feel tired during the day, and have difficulty concentrating. Moving the limb temporarily lessens the sensations. Sufferers are sometimes referred to as nightwalkers, because they get up and walk to relieve the sensations. Not moving your legs while driving or watching television may bring on the symptoms. Symptoms often grow worse over time. Even if self-care lifestyle changes initially bring relief, the sensations are likely to come back and progress.
Drug Therapy
Your doctor is the best source of information on the drug treatment choices available to you.
Does TENS help?
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) may help relieve the sensations. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, or TENS, is a procedure in which electrode pads that emit mild pulses of electrical energy are placed on the various parts of the body. The electrical impulses act to block the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Some patients have found relief applying a TENS unit to the area for 15 to 30 minutes prior to bedtime. The pulses are not painful, and feel like a massage. With a doctor’s order, a physical therapist can teach you how to use the device.
What is RLS?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder that causes burning, creeping, or pulling sensations in the legs, as well as an uncontrollable urge to move in order to stop the discomfort. Experts estimate that 5% to 15% of the people in the U.S. suffer from the condition.
For some, it’s a mild annoyance. It severely disrupts the lives of others. The symptoms are usually worse at night, and often lead to loss of sleep. This results in feelings of exhaustion and irritability during the day.
About 80% of the people with restless legs syndrome also suffer from a separate condition called periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS). Periodic limb movements in sleep are involuntary jerking movements in an extremity; the extremity repeatedly moves or jumps. You can have PLMS without having RLS, and vice versa.
While there is no cure for most types of RLS, you can treat the underlying causes, if any, and adopt changes in lifestyle and diet to help reduce symptoms.
Classic symptoms of restless legs syndrome include burning, creeping or pulling sensations, and the uncontrollable urge to move in order to stop the discomfort. The uncomfortable sensations have also been described as pulling, drawing, wormy, tingling, pins and needles, pricking, itching, or achy. About 20% of patients find the sensations to be painful. Symptoms may last for a few minutes, or for several hours. The symptoms seem worse in the evening, or when you are lying down or sitting.
RLS sensations usually occur between the ankle and the knee. However, you may also feel them in the feet, thighs, or sometimes the arms or trunk. Most often you will feel the sensations in both legs rather than just one. One side may seem more severe at times, or you may feel the sensations more often in one leg than the other.
Symptoms occur at night or when the legs are at rest. The sensations often prevent sufferers from falling asleep. You may become sleep-deprived, feel tired during the day, and have difficulty concentrating. Moving the limb temporarily lessens the sensations. Sufferers are sometimes referred to as nightwalkers, because they get up and walk to relieve the sensations. Not moving your legs while driving or watching television may bring on the symptoms. Symptoms often grow worse over time. Even if self-care lifestyle changes initially bring relief, the sensations are likely to come back and progress.
Drug Therapy
Your doctor is the best source of information on the drug treatment choices available to you.
Does TENS help?
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) may help relieve the sensations. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, or TENS, is a procedure in which electrode pads that emit mild pulses of electrical energy are placed on the various parts of the body. The electrical impulses act to block the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Some patients have found relief applying a TENS unit to the area for 15 to 30 minutes prior to bedtime. The pulses are not painful, and feel like a massage. With a doctor’s order, a physical therapist can teach you how to use the device.