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 irrestible
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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