Restless leg syndrome is just what it says it is. It is a feeling that your legs are restless, or that you want to move, accompanied by sensations such as creeping, burning, aching or itching.
Often you notice restless leg syndrome when you are still, for example in bed, and you will find that movement will alleviate the feeling. However, when you are in bed, you probably want to sleep!
It is thought that restless leg syndrome is under-reported because you don’t notice it during the day, and you are able to fall asleep in spite of the irritation. About one in 10 Canadians are bothered, with more women than men affected, as well as more older people and those with a family history.
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Children with hyperactive conditions and adults with sleep apnea often experience restless leg syndrome, as do pregnant women and dialysis patients.
The exact cause is not known, although it is thought to involve a malfunction in the nervous system, specifically with the nervous system chemical dopamine. While there are no specific medications for restless leg syndrome, drugs that affect the nervous system and especially dopamine are often useful. Drugs such as the dopamine agonists that are more commonly used for Parkinson’s disease are the drugs most often used, for example Sinemet, pramipexole, and ropinirole.
Sometimes, medications used for seizure control, for example carbamazepine or gabapentin, reduce symptoms, and pain relievers or sleep medications may help you get a good night’s sleep.
Unfortunately, you will probably need to try several medications before you find the most effective one or combination.
Restless leg syndrome can sometimes be caused by other conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, varicose veins, anxiety, obesity, diabetes nerve damage, fibromyalgia, breathing problems such as emphysema, and chronic headache. Obviously, treating these other conditions will reduce restless leg syndrome. Some drugs, for example antidepressants, antipsychotics, calcium channel blockers, antihistamines, decongestants and water pills, may worsen restless leg syndrome, so asking your pharmacist to check your medication history is a good idea.
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Walking will relieve the symptoms, as will kicking, flexing, or massaging the legs. An easy stretch for the legs is to stand about an arm’s length away from the wall, rest your palms on the wall, and slowly lean towards the wall then push back keeping your heels flat against the floor. Five to 10 repetitions are needed.
Good sleep hygiene will help minimize the symptoms. This means a regular bedtime routine along with a cool, dark, comfortable bedroom. A hot bath before bed, wearing long socks while sleeping, and stretching before bedtime may also help.
Your lifestyle can also contribute to restless leg syndrome symptoms. Smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, poor diet especially iron or folic acid deficiency, stress, fatigue, and even cold exposure are all associated with more symptoms.
If you are bothered by restless leg syndrome, keep a diary of your symptoms along with your activities and diet. You may notice something that you are doing is associated with worsening of symptoms.
Restless leg syndrome is often described as the feeling of running in bed, and you certainly won’t be able to rest well. If you do experience these disturbances, don’t dismiss them as a normal part of aging or as just bothersome. Get them checked out. Treatment will help you sleep better!
Marie Berry is a lawyer/pharmacist interested in health and education.
