Answer:

In order for you to be officially diagnosed with RLS, you must meet the criteria described in the four bullets below:

• You have a strong urge to move your legs which you 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.
• Your RLS symptoms start or become worse when you are resting. The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be.
• Your 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.
• Your RLS symptoms are worse in the evening especially when you are lying down. Activities that bother you at night do not bother you during the day.

RLS can also cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep which can be one of the chief complaints of the syndrome. A substantial number of people who have RLS also have periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). These are jerks that occur every 20 to 30 seconds on and off throughout the night. This can cause partial awakenings that disrupt sleep. Sleep deprivation can seriously impact your work, relationships, and health.

Answer:

Chances are, if you are reading this answer, it is because you are concerned that you or someone you love may have restless legs syndrome (RLS). How many of the questions below are true for you?

• When you sit or lie down, do you have a strong desire to move your legs?
• Does your desire to move your legs feel impossible to resist?
• Have you ever used the words unpleasant, creepy crawly, creeping, itching, pulling, or tugging to describe your symptoms to others?
• Does your desire to move often occur when you are resting or sitting still?
• Does moving your legs make you feel better?
• Do you complain of these symptoms more at night?
• Do you keep your bed partner awake with the jerking movements of your legs?
• Do your ever have involuntary leg movements while you are awake?
• Are you tired or unable to concentrate during the day?
• Do any of your family members have similar complaints?
• Does a trip to the doctor only reveal that nothing is wrong and there is no physical cause for your discomfort?

If you answered "yes" to a majority of these questions, you may have RLS. If you do have RLS, you are not alone! Up to 10% of the U.S. population may have RLS. Many people have a mild form of the disorder, but RLS severely affects the lives of millions of individuals.

Answer:

Several options are available to you when attempting to find a healthcare provider to treat your RLS.

Answer:

On May 5, 2005, the FDA approved the first drug for treatment of restless legs syndrome: ropinirole (Requip). In 2006, the FDA also approved pramipexole (Mirapex). However, several drugs approved for other conditions have undergone clinical studies in RLS and have been found to be helpful. These medications fall into four major classes: dopaminergic agents, sleeping aids, anticonvulsants, and pain relievers. You should never adjust your medications without speaking to your doctor first. In addition to medications, there are other things you and your doctor can consider when trying to help you deal with RLS.

Answer:

In addition to medications, there are other things you and your doctor can consider when trying to help you deal with RLS. These options may include:

• Checking to see if there is an underlying iron or vitamin deficiency and then possibly supplementing your diet with iron, vitamin B12 or folate.
• Looking at medications you may be taking which make RLS worse. These may include drugs used to treat high blood pressure, heart conditions, nausea, colds, allergies and depression.
• Looking at any herbal and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking to see if they could be worsening your RLS.
• Identifying habits and activities that worsen RLS symptoms.
• Looking at your diet to assure it is healthy and balanced.
• Discussing whether or not antihistamines could be contributing to your RLS.
• Eliminating your alcohol intake.
• Looking at various activities that may help you personally deal with RLS. These could include walking, stretching, taking a hot or cold bath, massaging, acupressure, or relaxation techniques.
• Attempting to keep your mind engaged with activities like discussions, needlework or video games when you have to stay seated.
• Implementing a program of good sleep habits.
• Possibly eliminating caffeine from your diet to aid in general sleep hygiene.

By arming yourself with information, you have taken the first step toward defeating RLS. However, your optimum plan requires that you work together with your healthcare provider. Some things that you can do to help eliminate or reduce the need for drugs include:

• Living a healthy lifestyle.
• Eliminating symptom-producing substances.
• Taking vitamin and mineral supplements as necessary.
• Engaging in activities which help take your mind off of RLS.
• Avoiding or eliminating foods or medicines that aggravate your symptoms.

If you do need medication, careful trials may be necessary to find the medication and dosage that works best for you, and sometimes a medication that worked well in the past may become ineffective. Because no single treatment for RLS is entirely effective for everyone, continued research is of vital importance. Until we find the cause of RLS and a cure for it, your best approach is to work closely with your healthcare provider, join a local RLS support group, and explore both non-drug and drug treatments. These strategies offer the most reliable approach to living a happy and productive life in spite of having RLS.

Answer:

Yes, RLS can affect the arms or even the trunk.

Answer:

If an underlying iron or vitamin deficiency is found to be the cause of your restless legs, supplementing with iron, vitamin B or folate (as indicated) may reduce or even alleviate your symptoms. Because the use of even moderate amounts of some minerals (such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium) can impair your body's ability to use other minerals or can cause toxicity, you should use mineral supplements only on the advice of your healthcare provider.

Answer:

Yes. These drugs include calcium-channel blockers (used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions), Reglan (metoclopramide), most antinausea medications, some cold and allergy medications, major tranquilizers (including haloperidol and phenothiazines), and the antiseizure medication, phenytoin. One report indicates that medications used to treat depression increase the symptoms of RLS. Always be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all the medicines you are taking, including herbal and over-the-counter medications.

Answer:

The use of caffeine often intensifies RLS symptoms. Caffeine-containing products, including chocolate and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks should be avoided. The consumption of alcohol also increases the span or intensity of symptoms for most individuals.

Answer:

While RLS is most often diagnosed in middle-aged individuals, RLS affects people of all ages. however, people can usually trace their symptoms back to their childhood. They often remember hearing things like, "Those are growing pains" or "Quit wiggling so much."

Answer:

Your doctor should:

• Listen to a description of your symptoms.
• Complete a diagnostic interview checking for symptoms highlighted on the previous page.
• Review your medical history.
• Complete a thorough physical exam.
• Rule out conditions that may be confused with RLS.

Your doctor might:

• Check your iron (ferritin) levels.
• Ask you to stay overnight in a sleep study lab to determine other causes of your sleep disturbance.

Your doctor cannot:

• Use lab tests to confirm or deny the presence of RLS (no tests are available).

Answer:

RLS often runs in families. Researchers are currently looking for the gene or genes that may be responsible for RLS.

Answer:

Extensive research into the cause of RLS is occurring worldwide. A single unifying cause has not been identified, but we are getting closer. Here is what we do know:

• RLS often runs in families. This is called primary or familial RLS. Researchers are currently looking for the gene or genes that cause RLS.
• RLS sometimes appears to be a result of another condition, which, when present, worsens the underlying RLS. This is called secondary RLS.
• Up to 25% of women develop RLS during pregnancy but symptoms often disappear after giving birth.
• Anemia and low iron levels frequently contribute to a worsening of RLS.
• RLS is very common in patients requiring dialysis for end-stage renal disease.
• Damage to the nerves of the hands or feet (i.e., peripheral neuropathy) from any number of causes including diabetes contributes to RLS.
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is common in children and adults with RLS.

Answer:

Rigorous epidemiologic studies into the true prevalence of RLS are underway. However, several studies have been conducted that look at the rate of response to questions such as "Do you have a creepy, crawly sensation in your legs at night when you attempt to sleep?" Positive rates have ranged from 3% to 15%.

Answer:

If augmentation occurs, your usual dose of a dopaminergic agent will relieve your symptoms so that you are able to sleep at night, but eventually, the unpleasant sensations will develop earlier in the day. Augmentation of RLS symptoms may occur after an initial period of relief with dopaminergic agents, and unfortunately, increasing your dosage will probably worsen your symptoms. If augmentation occurs, you and your doctor can work together to find a new drug regimen that will work for you.

Answer:

In 2006, a small study found that a combination of moderate aerobic exercise and lower-body resistance training three days a week reduced symptom severity by about 50%. The study found that it took six weeks to see maximum benefit from the exercise program. Generally, people with RLS have reported that moderate exercise seems helpful and that strenuous exercise may worsen their RLS.

Answer:

Each medication you use carries risk of side effects. For details on specific side effects, it is best to discuss your prescription with your physician. Helpful online resources include:

Answer:

The RLS Foundation depends on people like you to continue our mission. Here are just a few of the ways you can make a difference in our organization: