Restless Legs Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by leg discomfort that can range from kicking and jerking to rolling and tossing in bed to an inability to relax your legs at night or while in a resting position.
A recent study suggest that close to 23% of people suffer from this horrible condition.
Most people experience restless legs in the late afternoon or evening which can result in loss of sleep for you and your spouse.
Some people get RLS so severely that they're unable to sit still long enough to travel in an automobile or airplane or to see a movie.
One third to one half of all cases of RLS seem to be inherited. When we ask people who has RLS, if they recall their parents complaining about discomforts in their legs, the old proverbial light bulb goes on and they begin to recall their parents' frequent complaints of similar leg pains.
Usually a person experiences a strong urge to move their legs which they may not be able to resist. The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include: creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing.
Other Facts about Restless Legs Syndrome:
- RLS symptoms start or become worse when you are resting. The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur.
- RLS symptoms get better when you move your legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues.
- RLS symptoms are worse in the evening, especially when you are lying down.
- RLS can also cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep which can be one of the chief complaints of the syndrome.
- People with mild cases will complain of waking up in the middle of the night to toss and turn and are unable to fall back to sleep.
- Also, bed partners are affected by a person's RLS due to the constant moving and twitching.
