Anonymous
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Search
Editing
Restless legs syndrome
From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history
Namespaces
Page
Discussion
More
More
Page actions
Read
Edit
Edit source
History
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
[[File:RLS sleep patterns diagram - en.svg|400px|thumb|right|Sleep pattern of a Restless Legs Syndrome patient (red) vs. a healthy sleep pattern (blue). Y-Axis shows "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep#Sleep_stages Stage of Sleep]."]] '''Restless legs syndrome''' (RLS) is a condition in which you have an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually due to leg discomfort. It typically happens in the evenings or nights while you're sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news | url=http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/basics/definition/CON-20031101 | title = Restless legs syndrome - Symptoms and causes|work=Mayo Clinic|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en}}</ref> It is a [[neurological]] condition associated with abnormal sensation in the legs. Population affected is estimated at 5% with as many as 10% affected age 65 and older.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/restless-legs-syndrome/what-is-rls/index.html | title = What is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)? {{!}} The Johns Hopkins Center for Restless Legs Syndrome | last = Kieffer | first = Sara|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en}}</ref> == Disease name == Restless legs syndrome is now known as '''restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease''' (RLS/WED).<ref name=":0" /> The Willis-Ekbom name recognizes the first known description of the disease by Sir Thomas Willis in 1672 and first detailed clinical description by Dr. Karl Axel Ekbom in 1945.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rlcure.com/what-is-restless-legs-syndrome-willis-ekbom.html | title = What is Restless Legs Syndrome / Willis-Ekbom Disease?|website=rlcure.com|access-date=2018-08-28}}</ref> == Primary features == Johns Hopkins Medicine, Neurology and Neurosurgery, explains there are four primary features of RLS:<ref name=":1">{{Cite news | url=http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/restless-legs-syndrome/what-is-rls/index.html | title = What is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)? {{!}} The Johns Hopkins Center for Restless Legs Syndrome | last = Kieffer | first = Sara|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en}}</ref> *Uncomfortable sensation in the legs with a clear need or urge to move the legs *The symptoms are worse at night *The symptoms come on with rest *The symptoms are relieved with movement<ref name=":1" /> == Primary and Secondary types == Primary RLS/WED appear without any reason often in young people. It can be mild but worsen with age. After age 50 symptoms can become much more severe disrupting sleep. It appears to run in families so this type genetic.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amoils.com/treatment/restless-leg-syndrome-articles.html | title = Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment, RLS Treatment, Home Remedies|website=amoils.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-28}}</ref> Secondary RLS/WED is caused by other conditions such as:<ref name=":2" /> *Being low in [[iron]] (being anemic). If the levels of iron or the anemia itself can be corrected, there is often a reduction in symptoms. *Pregnancy. Fortunately RLS is usually a temporary symptom when linked to pregnancy (usually in the third trimester) and will disappear after the baby has been delivered. *Kidney problems or kidney disease. *Parkinson’s disease. *Diabetes. *[[Thyroid gland|Thyroid]] problems such as an over active or under active thyroid. *[[Spinal cord]] tumors, peripheral nerve lesions or even spinal cord injuries. *[[Sleep apnea]]. *Varicose veins or problems with the nerves in either the hands or the feet. *Alcoholism. *Certain medications or drugs may increase or trigger RLS symptoms. These include tricyclic antidepressants, anti-nausea and anti-seizure drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or [[lithium]]. Changing your medication may be all that is necessary to stop the RLS symptoms. *The use of some cold and [[allergy]] drugs can also cause RLS. *The withdrawal of sedatives can trigger RLS.<ref name=":2" /> *[[Fibromyalgia]]<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Viola-Saltzman | first = Mari | last2 = Watson | first2 = Nathaniel F. | last3 = Bogart | first3 = Andy | last4 = Goldberg | first4 = Jack| last5 = Buchwald | first5 = Dedra | authorlink5 = Dedra Buchwald | date = 2010-10-15 | title = High prevalence of restless legs syndrome among patients with fibromyalgia: a controlled cross-sectional study|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20957840|journal=Journal of clinical sleep medicine: JCSM: official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine|volume=6|issue=5 | pages = 423–427|issn=1550-9389|pmc=|pmid=20957840|via=}}</ref> == Treatment == "Pharmacotherapy for restless legs syndrome and peri-odic limb movements in sleep may include benzodiazepines, dopaminergic agents, or opioids. For mild cases of restless legs syndrome, patients may relieve symptoms by massaging the legs, exercising, and eliminating alcohol and caffeine intake."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/resources/sleep/pslp_pat.pdf | title = Problem: Sleepiness In Your Patient | last = Dinges | first = David | last2 = Ball | first2 = Eric | date = Sep 1997 | website = nhlbi.nih.gov|others=Kiley, James; Rogus, Susan; Shero, Susan|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date= | last3 = Fredrickson | first3 = Paul | last4 = Kryger | first4 = Meir | last5 = Richardson | first5 = Gary | last6 = Sheldon | first6 = Stephen | last7 = Wooten | first7 = Virgil | last8 = Zepf | first8 = Bill}}</ref> == See also == * [[Clonazepam]] * [[Sleep dysfunction]] == References == [[Category:Sleep disorders]] [[Category:Potential comorbidities]] [[Category:Diagnoses]] [[Category:Neurology]] {{Reflist}} [[Category:Sleep signs and symptoms]]
Summary:
Please make sure your edits are consistent with
MEpedia's guidelines
.
By saving changes, you agree to the
Terms of use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 3.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Templates used on this page:
Template:Cite journal
(
edit
)
Template:Cite news
(
edit
)
Template:Cite web
(
edit
)
Template:Main other
(
edit
)
Template:Reflist
(
edit
)
Module:Check for unknown parameters
(
edit
)
Module:Citation/CS1
(
edit
)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS
(
edit
)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration
(
edit
)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation
(
edit
)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers
(
edit
)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities
(
edit
)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist
(
edit
)
Module:No globals
(
edit
)
Navigation
Navigation
Skip to content
Main page
Browse
Become an editor
Random page
Popular pages
Abbreviations
Glossary
About MEpedia
Links for editors
Contents
Guidelines
Recent changes
Pages in need
Search
Help
Wiki tools
Wiki tools
Special pages
Page tools
Page tools
User page tools
More
What links here
Related changes
Page information
Page logs