Have you ever felt a tingling sensation in your legs to the point where you find it difficult to go to sleep? You may have experienced Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).

Not many people have heard of this condition, but there are many people who have experienced it. RLS is the disorder where you feel like your legs need to move as they feel uncomfortable. This results in a rather unpleasant feeling in your legs. RLS often occurs in both legs at the same time, but some people have been known to only feel it in one leg or alternating legs. 

Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome

Because there are no specific tests to determine whether you have RLS, it all comes down to the symptoms you present to your general practitioner. The main symptom is the overwhelming feeling to move your legs. But, you may also just feel an overall sensation or discomfort in your legs. It is a difficult feeling to describe but you may feel itching, crawling, burning or even a cramping sensation in one or both of your legs. These are general indicators of the syndrome which your doctor may ask you about. Many people find they can get temporary relief from this unpleasant feeling with movement. Some people will resort to getting up in the night and walking around the house or doing some stretches in order to make the feeling go away in their legs.

Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome

Unfortunately, there aren’t any known causes of restless leg syndrome, which makes it hard to understand why people experience it. There may be a hereditary factor in whether you experience it or not. Secondary restless leg syndrome can be caused by different factors such as a dopamine imbalance in the brain or various deficiencies in the body such as iron deficiency. But, this hasn’t been a conclusive study or determination.

Women Experiencing Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome is almost twice as common in women as it is in men. Because of this reason, this syndrome isn’t completely understood. Causes and reasons why people will experience it and not others is still yet to be determined.

There have been some studies on why women experience it more than men. The initial findings show that oestrogen level changes may aggravate certain feelings and symptoms within the body. Another condition that is also more common in women is iron deficiency. Many people who experience iron deficiency also experience restless leg syndrome. Although we have this information on hand, there is still a lot of study and work to be done to fully understand restless leg syndrome.

Getting Treatment For Restless Leg Syndrome

If you are experiencing restless leg syndrome, or you think you are, it’s always best to speak to a medical practitioner. Your doctor is the best person to have a chat with who can determine what your symptoms are and see whether any further testing needs to be completed in order to determine whether you have restless leg syndrome. Your doctor will be able to give you the best advice on your symptoms and any other conditions which may be present. Once it is determined that you have restless leg syndrome, your doctor will be able to provide you with a care plan and management advice to hopefully reduce the occurrence of the syndrome altogether. When in doubt, always chat with your general practitioner or seek medical advice.