RLS
symptoms worsen during periods of relaxation and decreased
activity. RLS symptoms also tend to follow a set daily
cycle, with the evening and night hours being more troublesome
for RLS sufferers than the morning hours. People with
RLS may find it difficult to relax and fall asleep because
of their strong urge to walk or do other activities to
relieve the sensations in their legs. Persons with RLS
often sleep best toward the end of the night or during
the morning hours. Because of less sleep at night, people
with RLS may feel sleepy during the day on an occasional
or regular basis. The severity of symptoms varies from
night to night and over the years as well. For some individuals,
there may be periods when RLS does not cause problems,
but the symptoms usually return. Other people may experience
severe symptoms daily.
Many people with RLS also have a related sleep disorder
called periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS). PLMS is
characterized by involuntary jerking or bending leg movements
during sleep that typically occur every 10 to 60 seconds.
Some people may experience hundreds of such movements
per night, which can wake them, disturb their sleep, and
awaken bed partners. People who have RLS and PLMS have
trouble both falling asleep and staying asleep and may
experience extreme sleepiness during the day. As a result
of problems both in sleeping and while awake, people with
RLS may have difficulties with their job, social life,
and recreational activities.
Common
Characteristics of Restless Legs Syndrome
Some
common symptoms of RLS include:
*
Unpleasant sensations in the legs (sometimes the arms
as well), often described as creeping, crawling,
tingling, pulling, or painful;
*
Leg sensations are relieved by walking, stretching,
knee bends, massage, or hot or cold baths;
*
Leg discomfort occurs when lying down or sitting for
prolonged periods of time;
*
The symptoms are worse in the evening and during the
night.
Other
possible characteristics include:
*
Involuntary leg (and occasionally arm) movements while
asleep;
*
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep;
*
Sleepiness or fatigue during the daytime;
*
Cause of the leg discomfort not detected by medical
tests;
*
Family members with similar symptoms.
