Overview
Restless legs syndrome is a condition where there will be an urge to keep moving legs uncontrollably, usually due to some sort of discomfort or unpleasant sensations. It commonly happens at night. The abnormal movement helps to alleviate or eliminate problem.Signs and Symptoms
Nighttime leg twitching, Strange tingling, crawling, pricking sensations in the leg, Urge to move the limbs to relieve these sensations, Sleep disturbances, Daytime fatigueCommon Causes
Folate or magnesium deficiency, Amyloidosis, Diabetes mellitus, Lumbosacral radiculopathy, Lyme disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, Uremia, Vitamin B-12 deficiency, Frequent blood donation, Drugs (Diphenhydramine, Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)Risk Factors
HereditaryInvestigation Techniques
Full blood count, Ferritin levels, Iron levels, Transferrin saturation, Total Iron Binding Capacity, Neurologic examination, BUN, Creatinine, Fasting blood glucose, Magnesium, Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Vitamin B-12, Folate, Needle electromyography, Nerve conduction studies, PolysomnographyTreatment and Prevention
Dopaminergic agents (bromocriptine), Benzodiazepines (Clonazepam), Opiates (Codeine), Anticonvulsants (Gabapentin), Alpha2 agonists (Clonidine, Iron salt, Sleep hygiene measures, Exercise, Eliminate stimulating activity can coffee before bedtimePsychological Issues
Anxiety, stress, fatigue
