Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome is considered to be a neurological disorder, with no known cause, although a number  of health conditions may be associated with it, also some prescription drugs may cause the problem, or exacerbate the condition.

Restless leg syndrome is characterized by sensations in the lower limbs which are often described as burning, creeping, or crawling, medically these sensations are described as paresthesias, they can cause mild discomfort, or be very painful.

The condition appears to only occur at night when lying down in bed, the person feels an irresistible urge to move the leg, the sensation is felt between the knee and ankle. If the leg is kept in motion the condition is alleviated, consequently the person experiencing the problem fails to enjoy quality sleep, but rather is kept awake by the urge to move the leg. Restless leg syndrome mostly occurs in middle-aged people of both genders, although it may be more prevalent in women. As the person ages the disorder appears to increase in severity.

Periodic limb movement disorder is often found in people with restless leg syndrome, this involves an  involuntary movement of the limb as opposed to the restless leg syndrome where the person experiencing the sensation voluntarily moves the leg to alleviate the irritation. The periodic limb movement disorder mostly occurs in non REM sleep, the movement occurs at 20-40 second intervals, and may continue for long periods during the night.

Restless leg syndrome may be found in people with low iron levels, the symptoms are reduced after restoration of iron levels. People with chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney failure, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy, cancer, chronic venous insufficiency, myelopathy, fibromyalgia,  and thyroid disease.Women who are pregnant may experience restless leg syndrome, the symptoms usually disappear after delivery.

Medications may trigger restless leg syndrome,  drugs taken to prevent nausea such as metoclopramide or prochlorperazine, antiseizure drugs such as phenytoin, drugs taken to prevent psychotic episodes such as haloperidol or phenothiazine may also cause restless leg syndrome, and allergy medications may exacerbate symptoms.

How is restless leg syndrome treated medically? Firstly the underlying disease which may be strongly associated with the syndrome is treated. Some cases may be resolved with ease by withdrawing caffeine and alcohol from the diet, stopping smoking, and implementing other measures, such as regular exercise, adding magnesium to the diet, and getting regular sound quality sleep.

If the foregoing measures fail to eliminate the symptom then medications are used which may include, levodopa, opinoids, tramadol, carbamazepine, clonazepam, diazepam, clonidine, gabapentin, baclofen. ropinirole and clonidine. These are heavy duty pharmaceuticals, and although they may alleviate the restless leg syndrome, the cost to your overall health may be far worse than restless leg syndrome.

Read more:Alternative Medicine for Restless Leg Syndrome

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