How to detect and understand restless leg syndrome

It's a scenario that many people experience daily. You're lying in bed or relaxing in a chair and suddenly you feel a tingly, itchy sensation in your legs. The only way to alleviate the discomfort is to kick or jiggle your legs. According to the National Research Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, as many as 10 percent of the American population suffers from Restless Leg Syndrome. Because many sufferers do not believe their symptoms are severe enough to warrant medical attention, RLS can be difficult to diagnose and treat without a basic understanding of the condition.

Instructions

• 1

  Research what RLS feels like. Many people who suffer are unaware that their symptoms are those of RLS. You might feeling anything from a gnawing, cramping feeling to one that is itchy and tingly as though your legs were falling asleep. Exhaustion is a major difficulty for RLS sufferers because the constant leg movement is disruptive to your sleep cycle.

• 2

  Recognize the symptoms. RLS symptoms can occur sporadically, and may leave for a period of days or persist for weeks on end, depending on the severity of the disease. You might pace frequently at work or when watching TV in an attempt to alleviate the uncomfortable sensations in your legs. Though typically noticed at nighttime, RLS sensations can occur any time you are lying down, reclining or simply not moving. You are more likely to note the disruptive movement prior to sleep, especially if you're tired and are trying to lie still. The symptoms often decrease in the early morning. The frequency and length of RLS symptoms increase with age.

• 3

  Rule out other possible causes of RLS symptoms with your doctor. Certain anti-psychotic and serotonin-increasing medications can increase RLS symptoms, as can drugs, alcohol and sleep deprivation. Women in the third trimester of pregnancy are frequently susceptible to RLS, although symptoms usually subside after the delivery.

• 4

  Discuss your symptoms with your physician. Your doctor will first rule out other possibilities through blood tests. He may also order a sleep test to record your breathing, oxygen levels and brain patterns. A good doctor will always complete a comprehensive medical assessment, rather than provide an immediate diagnosis.

• 5

  Take prescription medication. In cases of severe RLS, your doctor may prescribe one of several drugs in that may reduce your symptoms by increasing your dopamine levels. He may also prescribe an opiate to reduce the pain or an anti-convulsant to decrease the sensations. Treatment and recommendations will vary between individuals.

• 6

  Ease your RLS symptoms through lifestyle changes. You can reduce, but not eliminate symptoms of minor severity through lifestyle changes, such as reducing caffeine, alcohol and tobacco, or applying heating pads to your legs prior to sleeping.