You know that feeling when you want to bounce your leg continuously and it happens when you least expect it, like at night? Well, it is not just your mind playing tricks on you and this is literally a sleep-related disorder. Here is everything you need to know about restless legs syndrome, including the symptoms so you know when to visit a sleep center Damascus, MD.
What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder associated with the sudden and very impulsive urge to move the legs. Whether you’re sitting, standing, or even lying in bed, you will feel the urge to bounce or move your feet.
Think of it as rocking the legs from side to side and even up and down. This is not exactly how you want your night to start. Instead of sleeping, you will be bouncing your legs at night, and even if you’re asleep, you can wake up in the middle of the night due to your restless legs shaking.
This disorder can occur independently or it can be due to another sleep-related issue. Usually, people who suffer from sleep apnea, sleep paralysis, and even insomnia can get restless legs syndrome, and the symptoms will be very intense.
Restless legs syndrome doesn’t usually have a specific age group that it targets. It can either occur in adolescence or even in adulthood. So, this is a very physically and mentally jarring disorder. There are even some celebrities who have restless legs syndrome.
Causes Of Restless Legs Syndrome
Now that you know what restless legs syndrome is, you might be thinking: Well, how do you know if I can get it or not? This is where the cause of a disorder comes in first. You need to know how certain things can cause restless legs syndrome and how they can alter your sleep for the worse.
- Usually, with a lot of sleep-related disorders, the cause can be really blurry. It can either be because of another ailment that you suffer from or it can have no reason to occur at all.
- When it comes to restless leg syndrome, there can be some causes that explain the occurrence of this bizarre leg movement.
- You might have a familial history of restless legs syndrome and this is something that can carry on for generations. If you have sleep issues in your family and genetics, then it is highly probable that you can suffer from restless legs syndrome.
- Pregnancy can also cause restless leg syndrome. Even though the full extent of the cause is not known, it may have something to do with the hormonal imbalance in the body or the fact that you’re growing a new life inside you, and it does mess up your mind’s regular bodily system.
Is Restless leg Syndrome Dangerous?
A lot of people think that restless legs syndrome is really dangerous, but on its own, you should know that it is not. However, that doesn’t mean that you can just forget about it and move on. There are certain risks that can be associated with restless legs syndrome and if you don’t catch them in time, then the results can be detrimental.
For instance, if you suffer from things like neuropathy, nerve damage, or hypertension, then those things combined with restless leg syndrome can be a recipe for disaster.
Symptoms Of Restless Legs Syndrome
The most important step in knowing if you have any sort of disorder is to know the symptoms. Here are some key symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
An urge To Move Your Legs
First of all, you will have the urge to move your legs continuously. You know how you subconsciously rock your legs and hands when you’re sitting idly. Restless legs syndrome is exactly that, but it makes it a bit more repetitive.
This is not really harmful by any means, but it sure can be uncomfortable and you will want to try and stop the movement but it will seem like you have no control over it.
Weird Sensations In The Skin
You will also feel weird sensations on the skin, or rather inside the skin, on your legs. These sensations include, but aren’t limited to, the feeling of something crawling on the skin, itching, light pulsing, electric buzzes, throbbing of the skin, aches in the skin, and so much more along the same line.
So, if you want to get a more distinctive overview of your diagnosis, then this particular symptom is one you want to look out for. This will differentiate between regular limb movements and restless legs syndrome.
A Jolt During Sleep
You might be asleep and suddenly, you will feel a jolt in your body. That is when you will wake up and realize that said jolt was your legs trying to move. This can be really uncomfortable and you will find it hard to fall back asleep.
Brief Relief After Moving Your Legs
Lastly, you will feel relieved when you rock or move your legs back and forth. You will try with all your might to stop the twitching and moving, but you will feel – you guessed it – restless, and until you move your legs, you will continue to feel this way. So, visit a sleep clinic Baltimore if you’re experiencing these symptoms of RLS.
How To Treat Restless Leg Syndrome?
Since there can be many underlying causes as to why you’re wanting to rock your legs all the time, there are different treatment options for it too.
Diagnosis
For diagnosing restless legs syndrome, a sleep doctor will perform your physical examination, along with checking your symptoms and medical history. If you want, you can also go for a detailed sleep study and this will give a detailed report on your brain activity and the things you do while asleep.
Supplements And Medication
Next, you might be given iron supplements with vitamin C to check for any deficiency, to combat that and get rid of the restlessness you feel when you have the urge to move your legs.
The doctor might also prescribe you anti-seizure medication, and this will help you keep the rocking minimum and you will feel a lot more at peace and the rocking will also stop.
More Tests
You might also get tested in very stressful situations to figure out if the restlessness is aggravated when you are under some sort of stress or are thinking about something too much.
Lifestyle Changes
Aside from medication, some lifestyle habits may also help to ease the symptoms of restless legs syndrome. Those include:
- Having a good exercise routine. You don’t need to do anything too intense. You just have to move your body and stretch it to try to rid of the tension in your limbs. You can try aerobics and yoga, and they will make a difference.
- You also want to reduce stimulation around you. You want to read a book or listen to something relaxing, other than scrolling on your phone or drinking a caffeinated beverage at night. This will immediately make you feel better and the difference will be clear as day too, so don’t skip this step.
Conclusion
Restless leg syndrome can be an independent disorder or it can be due to a couple of other sleep related problems. This is why you should not delay consulting a sleep specialist Walkersville if you have the symptoms.
