People who feel an uncontrollable need to move their legs when they are at rest, or feel sensations or pain in their legs, may have restless legs syndrome, or RLS. You may have seen commercials on TV about medications to help RLS, but not really understand what it is.
This week on “Take Care,” Dr. Jacci Bainbridge, a professor in the department of clinical pharmacy at the University of Colorado at Denver and the Health Sciences discusses what RLS, it’s treatment and who’s most likely to get it. Bainbridge is also on the board of the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation.
Restless legs syndrome is a complicated sensory motor condition. There is much about this condition that is unknown and the disorder may be different in different people.
But RLS is found in anywhere from 2 to 10 percent of the population.
The syndrome impacts the central nervous system. People describe an urge to move their legs and their limbs. The symptoms can be anything from mild twitching to pain. Patients feel an urge to get up and relieve the symptoms, which can include, as Bainbridge describes it as a tugging or “creepy-crawly sensations” in your legs.
And it doesn’t have to be just your legs that are impacted. It generally starts in legs but may creep to arms or trunk of body, says Bainbridge.
The sensation also follows circadian rhythm, meaning it’s more commonly experiences in the evening or the night. Getting up or movement can relieve symptoms. Bainbridge also says patients can relieve symptoms by engaging their mind; participating in an activity to get their mind off the uncomfortable sensation or pain.
RLS is divided into two categories – primary and secondary.
Patients with primary RLS have symptoms earlier in life, even as children. It can get better, and then rear its head later in life.
Secondary RLS means there’s another underlying cause – like pregnancy, anemia, chronic disease, dialysis or kidney failure.
Women who experience RLS during pregnancy, most often do so during the third trimester. It can get better after pregnancy, but then some women experience it again later in life.
RLS is more likely to occur in people as they age, says Bainbridge, and the elderly population is particularly likely to have the condition. It affects women more than men. Worldwide, the highest rate is in among Caucasian Americans, and the lowest rate in Asian countries.
Bainbridge says there is a genetic component to RLS. In 40-60 percent of cases, she says, there’s a family history of it.
And it’s important to discuss that possible family history when you’re consulting a doctor about this syndrome. Bainbridge says usually RLS can be diagnosed by a physician who gets a detailed history from the patient and conducts a physical. But, she warns, RLS is often misconstrued and mistaken for something else.
If diagnosed with primary RLS, there are FDA-approved medications now, which can be useful, says Bainbridge. For many years no medication was approved for RLS.
For secondary RLS, medical professional treat the underlying condition.