Restless legs syndrome (RLS) can feel frustrating, exhausting, and hard to explain. The strange tingling or aching in your legs often strikes just as you’re ready to sleep. For many people, that nightly discomfort spirals into fatigue and disrupted days.
If your legs seem to have a mind of their own at night, you’re not imagining it. RLS is a recognized neurological condition that interferes with sleep and daily routines.
In this post, we’ll explain what restless legs are, what causes them, and how you can start managing the symptoms to feel more comfortable.
What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a neurological disorder that disrupts normal nervous system function. It creates uncomfortable sensations in the legs, often described as crawling, tingling, or aching.Â
Many people feel an overwhelming urge to move their legs to ease the discomfort. These sensations tend to worsen when you’re resting, especially at night or during prolonged periods of sitting.Â
People with severe RLS often experience sleep disruption and have trouble falling asleep. Moving the legs provides temporary relief, but the sensations usually return once you stop.
How to Recognize Symptoms of Restless Legs
Restless legs syndrome symptoms are difficult to put into words. You may feel an irresistible urge to move your legs to get some relief. The symptoms usually get worse in the evening and can make it hard to fall asleep.Â
Some people also have involuntary leg movements during sleep, called periodic limb movement disorder.
In some cases, symptoms of restless legs spread to the arms or become more intense over time. Recognizing these patterns helps you know when it is time to seek medical care.
What Causes Restless Legs Syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome often begins with changes in the brain chemical dopamine, which helps regulate muscle movement. Disruptions in dopamine levels can trigger uncomfortable sensations and an overwhelming urge to move.Â
People with a family history have an increased risk and may develop restless legs syndrome earlier in life. Several medical or behavioral conditions can also cause RLS or make symptoms worse. These include:
- Iron deficiency or low iron stores
- Kidney failure
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Certain medications, such as antihistamines or antidepressants
Some people also notice RLS symptoms worsen due to lifestyle factors such as high caffeine or alcohol intake. Addressing these triggers may help relieve discomfort and reduce symptoms over time.
How Is Restless Legs Syndrome Diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose restless legs syndrome by asking about your symptoms, sleep habits, and medical history. They focus on the urge to move your legs at rest, especially at night. This pattern helps them separate RLS from other sleep disorders.
The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reports that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends checking iron levels with a simple blood test. Low ferritin or transferrin saturation can make RLS symptoms worse.
In some cases, doctors may suggest iron supplements or intravenous iron. These tests are usually done in the morning before taking any iron.
Some patients visit a sleep clinic to check for periodic limb movements during sleep. The involuntary movements can disturb your sleep and leave you tired during the day. Doctors also review medications, as some can trigger or exacerbate symptoms.
What Lifestyle Changes Can Help With Restless Legs Syndrome?
Healthy daily habits can help manage RLS and improve sleep quality over time. The Mayo Clinic Proceedings notes that lifestyle changes are often the first step before medications. These adjustments may not cure RLS, but can help symptoms decrease and reduce nighttime discomfort.
Some habits may help prevent restless legs syndrome from worsening. These include avoiding stimulants, keeping good sleep habits, and staying physically active. Overexertion and inconsistent sleep schedules can worsen RLS symptoms for many people.
A few helpful practices include:
- Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco because they may worsen RLS symptoms and cause difficulty falling asleep.
- Keeping a regular bedtime and creating a dark, quiet bedroom to support good sleep habits.
- Doing light to moderate exercise during the day, while avoiding activity that triggers leg cramps or worsening of symptoms at night.
- Massaging your legs or soaking them in a warm bath to ease tension before bedtime.
Some RLS patients also find deep breathing or meditation calms the urge to move.Â
While these habits cannot fully treat RLS, they may help reduce discomfort and improve nightly rest.
Medical Treatments for Restless Legs Syndrome
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, medical treatments may help reduce symptoms and improve sleep. Doctors choose therapies based on your RLS diagnosis and the severity of your discomfort.Â
Some medications are helpful for patients with early onset RLS that becomes more frequent over time.
Dopamine Agonists for Restless Legs Syndrome
Dopamine agonists are a common treatment for restless legs in patients with persistent symptoms. These medications work by improving how your brain regulates movement. They can reduce the irresistible urge to move and may help you fall asleep more easily.
Doctors sometimes recommend these drugs when restless legs syndrome occasionally worsens despite good sleep habits and healthy routines.Â
While dopamine agonists help many patients, they are not always suitable for everyone and may cause side effects in some.
Iron Therapy for Low Iron Levels
Low iron levels are linked to restless legs symptoms in many patients. Doctors may recommend intravenous iron supplementation when blood tests show ferritin or transferrin levels below normal.Â
Restoring iron balance can improve how the nervous system controls muscle movement and reduce nightly discomfort.
Other Medications for Severe Symptoms
In more severe cases, doctors may use other medications. These include anti-seizure drugs, opioids, or sedatives, depending on the specific symptoms and how RLS occurs for you.Â
Patients are monitored closely because some treatments carry a risk of side effects or worsening of symptoms.
Get Personalized Care for Restless Legs at Wellness and Pain
Restless legs can keep you awake and leave you exhausted during the day. The treatment of restless legs begins by identifying what triggers your discomfort. Wellness and Pain provides care that addresses both your symptoms and the root cause.
Their team combines advanced diagnostics, minimally invasive procedures, and supportive therapies to help you sleep better and feel healthier. Wellness and Pain offers whole-body care to address vein issues, nerve dysfunction, and other conditions linked to restless legs.Â
Some of the services you can explore include:
- Pain management, chiropractic care, neurologic testing, and minimally invasive therapies to ease muscle and nerve discomfort.
- Vein treatments for heavy, cramping, restless, or swollen legs using advanced ultrasound techniques and covered procedures.
- Supportive therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and sleep apnea studies to improve circulation and promote deeper sleep.
If restless legs are disrupting your sleep, Wellness and Pain can help you find relief. Book your consultation with Wellness and Pain today!
FAQs about Restless Legs
How do you calm down restless legs?
Stretching and walking around the room can help ease the discomfort for a short time. Massaging your legs or using warm or cool packs may also reduce the urge to move. Practicing good sleep habits, like keeping a regular bedtime, may help symptoms decrease over time.
What is the cause of restless leg syndrome?
Researchers believe RLS may develop due to changes in dopamine, which is a brain chemical that controls movement. In some cases, low iron, kidney disease, or an impulse control disorder can also trigger or worsen symptoms.
How to stop restlessness immediately?
Getting out of bed and walking for a few minutes often helps calm the sensations. Gentle stretching or moving your legs can bring temporary relief and help you return to sleep more easily.
What causes restless legs in the evening?
RLS symptoms may feel more intense at night because the body is at rest and dopamine activity naturally slows. Remaining still for long periods can make the discomfort more noticeable and harder to ignore.
