Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment:

by treatrlssymptoms.com on October 21, 2011

Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment:

What is Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), also known as Wittmaack-Ekbom’s Syndrome, is a neurological disorder that can cause discomfort and sometimes painful sensations in the arms, torso, and most commonly the legs. RLS is classified as a spectrum disease, meaning the severity of the symptoms can range greatly between patients. RLS pain and discomforts are most often discomfort is described as a creepy, crawly, itchy, achy, or tingly sensation. These symptoms are usually temporarily relived while movement of the limb(s) occurs.

What Causes Restless Leg Syndrome

Although the cause of restless leg syndrome is unknown it is believed to be linked to many different health complications such as iron deficiency, anemia, an imbalance of dopamine, nerve disease, diabetes, obesity, pregnancy and smoking. RLS has also been thought to be hereditary, giving a predisposition or hypersensitivity to developing symptoms.

Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome

    • Leg Pain
    • Creepy Crawly Feeling
    • Tingling (like a limb has ‘fallen asleep’)
      Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment
  • Muscle Cramping
  • Itching
  • Aching
  • Feeling of stretched muscles
  • Burning
  • Uncontrollable urge to move legs
  • Uncomfortable feeling can spread to other limbs (arms, torso, feet)
  • Occurs most often when sitting or lying down especially for lost periods of time.

Diagnoses of Restless Leg Syndrome

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created criteria for the diagnoses of restless leg syndrome (RLS). These criteria are as follows:

    1. An urge to move the limbs with or without sensations.
    2. Improvement with activity. Many patients find relief when moving and the relief continues while they are moving. In more severe RLS this relief of symptoms may not be complete or the symptoms may reappear when the movement ceases.
    3. Worsening at rest. Patients may describe being the most affected when sitting for a long period of time, such as when traveling in a car or airplane, attending a meeting, or watching a performance. An increased level of mental awareness may help reduce these symptoms.
    4. Worsening in the evening or night. Patients with mild or moderate LS show a clear circadian rhythm to their symptoms. With an increase in sensory symptoms and restlessness in the evening and into the night. 

Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment

Although there is no cure, there are several medication and holistic treatments to alleviate discomforts.  Treatment for restless leg syndrome will vary between patients and any existing medical conditions.

There are several different medications available to manage pain and prevent insomnia from the constant movements and pain during the night. These different medications are usually dopamine agents, sleeping agents (benzodiazepines), anticonvulsants, and pain relievers (opioids). Because these different types of medications only target specific symptoms, RLS is often never completely eliminated and because long-term use of any drug will decrease its effectiveness it is also necessary to continuously change doses and even medication.

If you are someone who would rather treat your restless legs with vitamins and/or supplements then there are several main vitamin deficiencies that have been known to cause symptoms for restless leg syndrome. The most common supplements used are iron, vitamin B-12, magnesium, and folate. There are also several lifestyles changes that can significantly improve RLS.

  • Limiting caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, stress
  • Developing a regular sleep schedule
  • Moderate exercise such as yoga, meditation, stretching, aerobics, and resistance training
  • Apply heat/ice packs, take a hot bath, massaging/shaking legs, wrapping the legs tightly
  • electric nerve stimulation, acupuncture
  • stay hydrated
  • lose weight
  • sleep with a pillow between knees
  • Avoid such medication as antihistamines, anti-nausea, and antidepressants which can worsen RLS symptoms.

 

References:

  1. http://ww.rls.org
  2. http://www.helpguide.org/life/restless_leg_syndrome_rls.htm
  3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001810/
  4. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/restless_legs/detail_restless_legs.htm
  5. http://www.medicinenet.com/restless_leg_syndrome/article.htm
  6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restless_legs_syndrome

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