What makes restless legs go away

Many people with RLS report they are often unable to concentrate, have impaired memory, or fail to accomplish daily tasks. Untreated moderate to severe RLS can lead to about a 20 percent decrease in work productivity and can contribute to depression and anxiety. It also can make traveling difficult. It is estimated that up to percent of the U. RLS occurs in both men and women, although women are more likely to have it than men.

It may begin at any age. Many individuals who are severely affected are middle-aged or older, and the symptoms typically become more frequent and last longer with age. PLMS is characterized by involuntary leg and sometimes arm twitching or jerking movements during sleep that typically occur every 15 to 40 seconds, sometimes throughout the night.

Fortunately, most cases of RLS can be treated with non-drug therapies and if necessary, medications. People with RLS feel the irresistible urge to move, which is accompanied by uncomfortable sensations in their lower limbs that are unlike normal sensations experienced by people without the disorder. The sensations in their legs are often difficult to define but may be described as aching throbbing, pulling, itching, crawling, or creeping. These sensations less commonly affect the arms, and rarely the chest or head.

Although the sensations can occur on just one side of the body, they most often affect both sides. They can also alternate between sides. The sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. Because moving the legs or other affected parts of the body relieves the discomfort, people with RLS often keep their legs in motion to minimize or prevent the sensations.

They may pace the floor, constantly move their legs while sitting, and toss and turn in bed. A classic feature of RLS is that the symptoms are worse at night with a distinct symptom-free period in the early morning, allowing for more refreshing sleep at that time. Some people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. They may also note a worsening of symptoms if their sleep is further reduced by events or activity.

RLS symptoms may vary from day to day, in severity and frequency, and from person to person. In moderately severe cases, symptoms occur only once or twice a week but often result in significant delay of sleep onset, with some disruption of daytime function. In severe cases of RLS, the symptoms occur more than twice a week and result in burdensome interruption of sleep and impairment of daytime function.

People with RLS can sometimes experience remissions—spontaneous improvement over a period of weeks or months before symptoms reappear—usually during the early stages of the disorder.

In general, however, symptoms become more severe over time. People who have both RLS and an associated medical condition tend to develop more severe symptoms rapidly. In contrast, those who have RLS that is not related to any other condition show a very slow progression of the disorder, particularly if they experience onset at an early age; many years may pass before symptoms occur regularly.

However, RLS has a genetic component and can be found in families where the onset of symptoms is before age Specific gene variants have been associated with RLS. Evidence indicates that low levels of iron in the brain also may be responsible for RLS. Considerable evidence also suggests that RLS is related to a dysfunction in one of the sections of the brain that control movement called the basal ganglia that use the brain chemical dopamine.

Dopamine is needed to produce smooth, purposeful muscle activity and movement. Disruption of these pathways frequently results in involuntary movements. Sleep deprivation and other sleep conditions like sleep apnea also may aggravate or trigger symptoms in some people. Reducing or completely eliminating these factors may relieve symptoms.

The five basic criteria for clinically diagnosing the disorder are:. Individuals may be asked about frequency, duration, and intensity of symptoms; if movement helps to relieve symptoms; how much time it takes to fall asleep; any pain related to symptoms; and any tendency toward daytime sleep patterns and sleepiness, disturbance of sleep, or daytime function.

However, they can also cause impulse control disorders, such as compulsive gambling, and daytime sleepiness. It may take several trials for you and your doctor to find the right medication or combination of medications that work best for you. Sometimes dopamine medications that have worked for a while to relieve your RLS become ineffective, or you notice your symptoms returning earlier in the day or involving your arms.

This is called augmentation. Your doctor may substitute another medication to combat the problem. Most drugs prescribed to treat RLS aren't recommended during pregnancy. Instead, your doctor may recommend self-care techniques to relieve symptoms. However, if the sensations are particularly bothersome during your last trimester, your doctor may approve the use of certain drugs. Some medications may worsen symptoms of RLS. These include some antidepressants, some antipsychotic medications, some anti-nausea drugs, and some cold and allergy medications.

Your doctor may recommend that you avoid these drugs, if possible. However, if you need to take these medications, talk to your doctor about adding drugs to help manage your RLS. Making simple lifestyle changes can help alleviate symptoms of RLS :. RLS is generally a lifelong condition. Living with RLS involves developing coping strategies that work for you, such as:. If you have symptoms of RLS , make an appointment with your doctor. After an initial evaluation, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in conditions affecting the nervous system neurologist or a sleep specialist.

Some basic questions to ask your doctor about RLS include:. Restless legs syndrome care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis Your doctor will take your medical history and ask for a description of your symptoms.

A diagnosis of RLS is based on the following criteria, established by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group: You have a strong, often irresistible urge to move your legs, usually accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Your symptoms start or get worse when you're resting, such as sitting or lying down. Your symptoms are partially or temporarily relieved by activity, such as walking or stretching. It can also cause an unpleasant crawling or creeping sensation in the feet, calves and thighs.

The sensation is often worse in the evening or at night. Occasionally, the arms are affected, too. Restless legs syndrome is also associated with involuntary jerking of the legs and arms, known as periodic limb movements in sleep PLMS. Some people have the symptoms of restless legs syndrome occasionally, while others have them every day. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe. In severe cases, restless legs syndrome can be very distressing and disrupt a person's daily activities.

In the majority of cases, there's no obvious cause of restless legs syndrome. This is known as idiopathic or primary restless legs syndrome, and it can run in families. Some neurologists specialists in treating conditions that affect the nervous system believe the symptoms of restless legs syndrome may have something to do with how the body handles a chemical called dopamine.

Dopamine is involved in controlling muscle movement and may be responsible for the involuntary leg movements associated with restless legs syndrome. In some cases, restless legs syndrome is caused by an underlying health condition, such as iron deficiency anaemia or kidney failure.