Personal Trainers Forum

[Personaltrainer]

Restless Legs Syndrome

An irresistible urge to move the legs is called "Restless Legs
Syndrome." The urge to move the legs is usually due to
unpleasant feelings in the legs that occur when at rest.
Movement eases the feelings for a while. Although symptoms
mostly affect in the legs, they can also affect the arms.

There are two types of restless legs syndrome, they are:

1.Primary: Cause is not know, but tends to run in families, and
is the most common
2.Secondary: Caused by another disease or condition or by
taking certain medicines.

Restless legs syndrome is common in pregnant women and usually
occurs during the last months of pregnancy. It usually improves
or disappears within a few weeks after delivery.

People with restless legs syndrome describe their symptoms with
words like creeping, crawling, tingling or burning sensations.
The unpleasant feelings may also occur in the arms.

People with RLS often don't get enough sleep because RLS can
make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. They are often
tired and sleepy during the day which makes it difficult to:

•Concentrate, learn and remember things
•Work
•Carry out other usual daily activities
•Take part in family and social activities

Not getting enough sleep can also cause depression or mood
swings.

People with RLS usually also have a condition called periodic
limb movement disorder. PLMD is characterized by leg twitching
or jerking uncontrollably about every 10 to 60 seconds usually
during sleep. The legs are usually most affected, but PLMD can
also affect the arms.

Although RLS is unpleasant and uncomfortable, there are some
simple self-care approaches and lifestyle changes that can help
in mild cases. RLS symptoms often improve with medical
treatment. There is ongoing research to better understand the
causes of RLS and to develop better treatments.

Medicines that can cause RLS

RLS symptoms usually go away when medicine is stopped, if the
RLS symptoms are actually caused by the medicine. You should
never stop taking any kind of medicine that is prescribed by
your doctor unless he or she instructs you to do so. Medicines
that can cause RLS are:

•Antiseizure medicines
•Antinausea medicines
•Antidepressants
•Some cold and allergy medicines
Other substances that can cause RLS symptoms or make them worse
include:
•Caffeine
•Alcohol
•Tobacco

Although RLS affects both men and women, the disorder occurs
more often in women than in men. The age group in which RLS
mostly occurs is middle age; however, in up to two out of every
five cases, the symptoms of RLS begin before age 20. People who
develop RLS early in life usually have a family history of the
disorder. The disorder is also more common in persons of
northern European descent.

Signs and Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome include:

•An almost irresistible urge to move the legs or arms when
sitting or lying down
•An unpleasant feeling in the legs
•Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep because of the
unpleasant feelings in the legs or arms
•Daytime sleepiness that results from a lack of restful sleep
due to the repeated limb movements

Restless legs syndrome gets its name from the urge to move the
legs when sitting or lying down. Typical movements include:

•Pacing and walking
•Jiggling the legs
•Stretching and flexing
•Tossing and turning
•Rubbing the legs

To help your doctor take a medical history, and to provide you
with an appropriate diagnosis, provide him or her with answers
to the following questions:

•Can you describe your symptoms?
•When did your symptoms first begin?
•When during the day or night do the symptoms usually occur?
•When are your symptoms worse?
•Do symptoms interfere with your sleep?
•What time do you go to bed and get up?
•What is your routine before going to bed?
•What kind of noise, light, interruptions are there in the room
where you sleep?
•Do you snore?
•Are you tired and sleepy when you wake up and during the day?
•Do you have trouble concentrating?
•Do you doze off or have difficult staying awake doing routine
tasks, especially while driving?
•Do other members of your family have similar symptoms?
•What medicines (over-the-counter and prescription) do you
take?
•Do you gasp for air during sleep?
•Do you use caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol?

Listed below are some lifestyle changes to improve and relieve
symptoms of RLS:

•Avoid things that can make symptoms of RLS worse such as
tobacco, alcohol, foods and beverages that contain caffeine such
as chocolate, coffee, tea, and some soft drinks
•Medicines: Only at the advice of your doctor should you stop
taking medicines that have been specifically prescribed for you.
There are some medicines that can make the symptoms of RLS worse
and they include: Antidepressants, antinausea medicines,
antipsychotic medicines, antihistamines.
•Adopt good sleep habits such as keeping your bedroom or sleep
area cool, quiet, comfortable and free of unnecessary light. Use
your bedroom for sleeping, not for watching TV or using
computers or the telephone. Go to bed every night at the same
time and wake up at the same time every morning.
•Follow a program of moderate exercise
Other activities that may also help relieve symptoms include:
•Walking or stretching
•Taking a hot or cold bath
•Massaging the leg or arm
•Using heat or ice packs

Doctors prescribe medicines to treat RLS in people who:

•Have clearly defined symptoms
•Those who have symptoms that cannot be controlled by lifestyle
and non-drug treatments.

There is no single medicine that is helpful in all persons with
RLS. It sometimes takes several changes in medicines and dosages
to find the best approach. Always talk to your doctor before
taking any medicines or over-the-counter medicines for your
symptoms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved
ropinirole to treat moderate to severe RLS.

Restless legs syndrome is very often a lifelong condition. The
symptoms may come and go frequently or they may disappear
completely for long periods of time. They may even get worse
over time. Lifestyle changes and medicines can help control and
relieve symptoms of restless legs syndrome. Discuss with your
doctor about lifestyle changes and medicines that might help
your symptoms. As research continues new treatments are being
developed.