Restless legs syndrome is a disorder where you have an uncontrollable urge to move your legs. It happens with other sensations like pulling, throbbing, aching, and burning in your legs. The sensations often occur when lying in bed or sitting for prolonged periods. Restless leg syndrome El Paso can affect anyone, but it is more common in women than men. It can result from a family history of RLS, iron deficiency, hypothyroidism, depression, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia. Restless legs syndrome is treatable, and the technique your doctor recommends depends on the intensity of your symptoms.
Symptoms of restless legs syndrome
Leg discomfort: People describe the ache as creeping, itching, pulling, throbbing, or burning. They mostly occur during bedtime but can also happen when your limbs are inactive for a long period.
Urge to move legs: You can experience the uncontrolled urge to move your legs when resting, like when sitting or lying down. This urge to move happens because your body tries to relieve discomfort.
Sleep disruption: You may need additional time to fall asleep because of the uncontrolled urge to move your legs. Sometimes it can also be challenging to stay asleep.
Daytime sleepiness: The difficulties of falling and staying asleep can lead to daytime sleepiness.
Treatments for restless legs syndrome
Non-drug treatments
Your doctor will recommend non-drug treatments, especially if your symptoms are mild. These treatments include:
Exercise: Getting regular exercise like walking can help reduce your symptoms. Always avoid intense exercise a few hours before bedtime.
Observe good sleeping habits: Avoid reading or using electronic gadgets while lying in bed. Insufficient sleep can worsen your RLS symptoms.
Home treatments: Certain home treatments like applying a heating pad, cold compressors, and rubbing your legs can temporarily relieve leg discomfort.
Iron supplementation
If your restless leg syndrome results from iron deficiency, your doctor can recommend iron supplementation.
Medications
Your healthcare provider will likely prescribe medications if your RLS symptoms are frequent or severe. The common medicines recommended include:
Dopamine agonists
Dopamine agonists control your urge to move, ease sensory leg symptoms and minimize involuntary leg jerks during sleep. Pramipexole and rotigotine patch are some dopamine agonist drugs approved by the FDA to treat restless legs syndrome.
Antiseizure
Antiseizure drugs can help slow or block pain signals from your leg nerves. The medications can be beneficial if restless legs syndrome pain results from neuropathy. Gabapentin enacarbil is the only antiseizure drug approved by FDA, but others are also effective.
Benzodiazepines
Your doctor can prescribe benzodiazepines, particularly clonazepam, if your restless leg syndrome is severe. They are commonly used in extreme cases because they have potential and addictive effects like drowsiness.
Opioids
Opioids like methadone and oxycodone can help relieve RLS symptoms. Doctors prescribe these drugs when other medications are ineffective or, in severe cases, because they have addictive effects.
Restless legs syndrome is a disorder where you have an uncontrollable urge to move your legs. You may experience leg discomfort, the urge to move your legs, daytime sleepiness, and sleep disruption. Your doctor can recommend medications or non-drug treatments to manage your RLS, depending on the severity of your symptoms. Schedule an appointment at Desert West Vein & Surgery Center for restless legs syndrome to improve the quality of your sleep.
