What are Restless Legs?
When a person with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) wants to rest they may experience uncomfortable sensations such as crawling, tingling, or a feeling like electrical current. They may experience motor restlessness (the urge to move) and sufferers may need to walk, stretch, jump up and down or rub their legs to relieve the symptoms. RLS and the associated lack of sleep can cause different problems: • Partners sleeping in separate beds • Daytime exhaustion • Fall asleep while driving • Difficulty concentrating • Dreading the night • Anxiety, frustration, moodiness and depression The International RLS study group criteria for positive diagnosis of RLS are: • Desire to move extremities usually associated with discomfort • Motor restlessness- patients move to relieve discomfort or rub legs to provide counter stimulus • Symptoms are worse with rest • Symptoms worse later in day or at night Restless Legs can occur in anyone. It is usually idiopathic and it can be hereditary. It is thought to af
