Do I have RLS?
Do strange and unpleasant sensations in your legs keep you up at night? Are you bothered by an irresistible urge to move your legs when you lie down or relax? Do you feel better when you get up and move around? If so, you may have restless legs syndrome (RLS), which is a nervous system disorder.
Not all people with RLS have the same symptoms. Common descriptions include:
- “creepy-crawly” feeling, tingling, itching, pricking, burning, pulling, tugging and aching.
- bugs are crawling up my legs
- fizzy soda is bubbling through my veins
- deep bone itch
- “painful”, uncomfortable, disturbing
Symptoms are occasionally seen in the arms, chest and other areas of the body. RLS can lead to sleep difficulty, daytime tiredness, and overall poor quality of life. People with RLS may have difficulty sitting for long periods of time, and with long travel on the bus and plane.
RLS is seen more in older adults and women, but is present in all age groups including children. Mild symptoms may start in early adulthood and become more severe with age.
Although 1 out of 10 people suffer from RLS, the diagnosis is often missed and people with this condition may not receive proper treatment. Part of the problem is that symptoms are hard to explain and sufferers are often dismissed as being “nervous.” Even doctors may not take it seriously, if they fail to recognize the symptoms.
