Restless Leg Syndrome – Overview

Transcript

Restless leg syndrome is a neurologic disorder that occurs in about two to 15% of the population. It’s characterized by five things. The first thing is an irresistible urge to move the legs. It’s always the legs, but it may also include the torso or the arms. And it’s often associated with a creepy crawly, irritable, indescribable, uncomfortable sensation. Some people say it’s burning. Some people say it’s itching. Some people actually don’t have a feeling at all, but just a really strong desire to move. When one moves, the sensation goes away, but shortly it comes right back. So people often walk or rub their legs or stretch or jump up and down or ride a bike, whatever they need to do to move, to make the sensation go away. When they go back to rest, the sensation comes back again. Symptoms typically occur in the evening hours and they always occur at rest while the patient’s moving, they don’t have any weird sensations, but at rest, whether it’s sitting or lying or trying to fall asleep at night, the sensation comes back. It also can’t be explained by any other medical condition.