Restless Legs Syndrome

There is almost nothing worse than having an episode of restless leg syndrome (RLS) when you are trying to go to sleep, or if you are just trying to rest. RLS can be most irritating and uncomfortable. RLS will cause discomfort even when you are sitting up in a chair. Usually the only thing to make this awful feeling go away is to get up and walk around a bit. RLS manifests in both males and females at any age. The problem seems to become more severe as we age.

I have RLS and as soon as I hit the bed my feet and legs start moving. It takes a long time to get to sleep because of the constant moving of my limbs. I can focus on keeping my legs quiet, but this is very unnerving and causes anxiety, so it is easier to let the legs move. As a result, my sleep during the night is limited and I sometimes get sleepy during the day.

The sensations of RLS differ with different people. You might get creeping and crawling feelings inside your legs. It feels like something is inside your leg moving around. (I used to say I had worms inside my legs.) Sometimes RLS sufferers complain of burning or aching feelings in their calf muscles. Other sensations of tingling and jitters may be reported. RLS can present in all extremities, not just the legs. Some people have these same feelings in their arms.