Restless legs syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming, irresistible urge to move the legs. It can also cause an unpleasant crawling or creeping sensation in the feet, calves and thighs. The sensation is often worse in the evening or at night.
Anxiety can make legs feel weak and less controllable, often described as feeling like “jelly” The primary cause of this feeling is blood flow changes from adrenaline, though there are other anxiety-related causes. Anxiety “jelly legs” tends to be fairly temporary.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS)—also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease, primary RLS, and idiopathic RLS—is a neurological disorder that causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in your legs and an irresistible urge to move them.
Anxiety can cause agitation and leg restlessness that resemble RLS. Depression and RLS symptoms also overlap. Certain types of antidepressant drugs, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, can increase periodic limb movements during sleep.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological sleep disorder with frequent (39%) coexisting psychiatric comorbidities. Patients with any psychiatric comorbidity had fewer periodic leg movements in sleep. Psychiatric disorders should be taken into account in patients with RLS.
Restless legs syndrome is not life threatening, but severe cases can disrupt sleep (causing insomnia) and trigger anxiety and depression. The charity Restless Leg Syndrome UK (RLS-UK) provides information and support for people affected by restless legs syndrome.
Restless legs syndrome is a lifelong condition that might get worse with age. But some people go into remission and don't have symptoms for days to years. Keep your doctor updated on how you're doing. If you start to feel worse, they might suggest lifestyle changes or medications.
Soaking in a warm bath and massaging the legs can relax the muscles. Apply warm or cool packs. Use of heat or cold, or alternating use of the two, may lessen the limb sensations. Establish good sleep hygiene.
Often, there's no known cause for RLS . Researchers suspect the condition may be caused by an imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine, which sends messages to control muscle movement.
Dopamine levels naturally fall towards the end of the day, which may explain why the symptoms of restless legs syndrome are often worse in the evening and during the night.
Taking magnesium and vitamin B6 supplements can reduce the severity of symptoms of RLS/WED patients and improve their sleep quality.
Having an inconsistent sleep schedule, using electronic devices in bed, and eating too late at night are examples of habits and routines that can lead to restless sleep.
Two of the most common sleep disorders linked with ADHD are periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) and restless legs syndrome (RLS). For these reasons, kids with ADHD are more likely to have daytime drowsiness than those without ADHD.
Here are some common restless legs triggers, plus tips to help you overcome them and get some sleep: Stress and anxiety. Rachel Salas, MD, an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, says that stress and anxiety are big restless legs triggers.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common condition that is frequently unrecognized, misdiagnosed and poorly managed. It is characterized by uncomfortable sensations deep in the legs developing at rest that compel the person to move; symptoms are worst at night and sleep disturbance is common.
These sensations can last for an hour or longer, slowly increasing in severity. While the sensations are most often bilateral, some patients experience them only on one side of the body. The most common time for RLS to occur is at night when the person lies down to sleep.
There are no cures for primary restless legs syndrome, or RLS, although various treatments often can help relieve symptoms. Treatment for secondary restless legs syndrome (RLS caused by another medical problem) involves treating the underlying cause.
Symptoms of restless legs syndrome include: Leg (or arm) discomfort: These uncomfortable limb sensations are often described by adults as creeping, itching, pulling, crawling, tugging, throbbing, burning or gnawing. These sensations usually occur at bedtime, but can also happen at other times of limb inactivity.
For example, it may help to take a short, easy walk before bedtime or do some gentle stretching. But if you exercise too hard -- even early in the day -- it may make your symptoms worse. Stress -- RLS symptoms can be amped up during times of stress.
Since the symptoms of the syndrome appear or worsen in resting and immobility times, these symptoms may improve by moving. Therefore, moderate exercise can be helpful (2). Exercises like walking, massaging, stretching, swimming, and stationary cycle can help relieve symptoms (12).
After adjusting for all other significant factors in the multivariate logistic model, vitamin D was significantly associated with RLS (OR 3.1, P < . 002, 95% CI 1.51–6.38).
Fast facts on restless legs syndrome:
The condition is often caused by a combination of mental and physical factors.
The early-onset form begins before age 45, and sometimes as early as childhood. The signs and symptoms of this form usually worsen slowly with time. The late-onset form begins after age 45, and its signs and symptoms tend to worsen more rapidly.
Make sure to share your symptoms with your physician. The following criteria may be used to evaluate RLS: An uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often joined with uncomfortable feelings like itching, crawling, tingling, or aching. Symptoms that begin or worsen when seated or lying down.