Restless Legs Syndrome: Symptoms and Treatment

When there is no obvious cause, which is the case with the majority of cases of restless leg syndrome, it is known as primary or idiopathic restless legs syndrome. This can run in families.

Secondary restless legs syndrome is where there is an underlying condition that causes the condition. Some of these causes can include iron deficiency anaemia, nerve damage, or kidney disease. It can also be a side effect of certain medications and it is also a common symptom during pregnancy, affecting 25% of pregnancies in the final trimester (29 - 40 weeks). The symptoms often get better shortly after delivery. 

Restless legs syndrome is a very unpleasant condition in which you get an irresistible urge to move your legs. It can also create an unpleasant feeling of something crawling or irritating your lower legs. It is difficult to stop or settle and the symptoms are often worse at night.

It is easy to understand how these symptoms can be really distressing for individuals as they feel there is nothing you can do to stop them from happening and nothing you can do to make them go away. Occasionally, it can be related to a condition known as'periodic limb movement disorder' during sleep, which is sudden uncontrollable jerking of the legs or arms.

Restless legs syndrome is commonly a lifelong condition. There is no cure, although there are various management techniques and therapies that are used to try and reduce the symptoms and disturbance to daily function.