Restless Legs Syndrome (HBS) is a movement disorder that is described as restlessness, numbness, tingling, and the need to move when the legs are in sleep or at rest. Patients feel unwilling to move their legs at night. Symptoms vary from patient to patient. Most patients have trouble describing the uncomfortable sensations in their legs. It is often described as 'numbness' or 'tingling'. Sitting still and lying still increases these unpleasant sensations in the legs. Moving and stretching the legs reduces the complaints temporarily and temporarily.
Some patients have similar complaints with the legs and arms. Some HBS patients' complaints are not continuous, while others appear every night. Therefore, the sleep quality of most patients is impaired. They may be very tired during the day as a result of good sleep. For this reason, it may disrupt their professional and social lives. Day-to-day sleepiness is just one of the problems that HBS creates. These patients can often have a hard time driving or traveling. Similarly, they have difficulties in cinema, theater and business meetings, where they have to sit for a long time. HBS can lead to anxiety and depression as it causes poor quality sleep and causes sleep divisions.
Most patients with RLS also have 'Periodic Leg Movement Disorder in Sleep'. When patients sleep, there is often a backward twist in the toes. This can be accompanied by joint movement in the form of stretching the ankle, knee and hip. Sometimes these movements are described by the spouses as throwing in the leg or kicking. Periodic leg movements tend to occur at regular intervals. Their intervals are usually 20-40 seconds. They appear more often in the first half of the night. Like HBS, this disease can also occur with the legs, sometimes in the arms. Unlike the 'Periodic Leg Movement Disorder in Sleep' RLS, it is almost always asleep. Patients are not aware of this situation, so they are unlikely to control it. On the other hand, symptoms of RLS can occur during the day and legs are moved voluntarily due to unpleasant sensations in the legs.
Is RLS a common disease?
It occurs in both women and men. In our country, three out of every 100 people have this disease. Even higher rates are reported in western countries. It is rare for the disease to regress spontaneously. It often goes on the same course for years without any underlying cause. It is more common in women than in men. Children with RLS in their families may also have RLS.
What is the reason for RLS?
The RLS develops as a result of a decrease in 'dopamine', a substance that acts as an intermediary in the brain. In some diseases, the incidence of RLS is high. These diseases are as follows:
Anemia due to iron deficiency
• Blood circulation disorder in the legs
• Hernia or impaired leg nerves
• Kidney diseases - Muscle diseases
Alcoholism
• Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies
HBS can be genetically transitive. The probability of having RLS in one of the relatives of RLS patients without one of the above diseases is 50%. This is a sign that the disease may be genetically transitive. This genetically transitive form can often start at a young age, and sometimes childhood, and its treatment is more difficult than in a non-genetic form. Some depression medications, allergy medications, and pain relievers can aggravate or reveal RLS symptoms. Caffeine, alcohol, and smoking aggravate the symptoms of the disease.
How is RLS diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made by the physician taking a detailed history of the disease and performing a physical examination. RLS findings are usually quite typical and additional tests are not required for diagnosis. If there is suspicion in diagnosis or if there is an additional disease that facilitates the emergence of RLS, blood tests, EMG or all night sleep tests may be required to determine this.
If you have the following complaints, you have HBS:
1. Feeling uneasy on both legs and the desire to move accordingly
2. This feeling is temporarily reduced or lost by moving your legs
3. When complaints remain motionless and appear at night or become more pronounced
How is RLS treated?
First of all, it is necessary to determine whether there is another disease that facilitates or causes the emergence of RLS. These diseases include iron deficiency anemia, diabetes and arthritis. The use of some drugs may also increase RLS complaints. Treatment of these diseases or discontinuation of medications can sometimes make the complaints lessen and rarely disappear. However, although these facilitating diseases are treated in the most appropriate way, complaints about RLS continue. In the mild forms of HBS, hot bath, leg massage, hot towel, ice application, pain relief, which the patient mostly discovers further measures such as regular exercise and avoiding caffeinated beverages can be helpful. However, these measures are insufficient in patients with moderate and severe RLS and they should use the drugs used in RLS treatment. The effectiveness of drugs can vary from patient to patient. Factors such as concomitant diseases, age, and severity of the disease should be taken into account in drug selection.
Exp. Dr. Hüsniye Aylin HAKYEMEZ
Medilife Çapa Hospital Neurology Specialist
Some patients have similar complaints with the legs and arms. Some HBS patients' complaints are not continuous, while others appear every night. Therefore, the sleep quality of most patients is impaired. They may be very tired during the day as a result of good sleep. For this reason, it may disrupt their professional and social lives. Day-to-day sleepiness is just one of the problems that HBS creates. These patients can often have a hard time driving or traveling. Similarly, they have difficulties in cinema, theater and business meetings, where they have to sit for a long time. HBS can lead to anxiety and depression as it causes poor quality sleep and causes sleep divisions.
Most patients with RLS also have 'Periodic Leg Movement Disorder in Sleep'. When patients sleep, there is often a backward twist in the toes. This can be accompanied by joint movement in the form of stretching the ankle, knee and hip. Sometimes these movements are described by the spouses as throwing in the leg or kicking. Periodic leg movements tend to occur at regular intervals. Their intervals are usually 20-40 seconds. They appear more often in the first half of the night. Like HBS, this disease can also occur with the legs, sometimes in the arms. Unlike the 'Periodic Leg Movement Disorder in Sleep' RLS, it is almost always asleep. Patients are not aware of this situation, so they are unlikely to control it. On the other hand, symptoms of RLS can occur during the day and legs are moved voluntarily due to unpleasant sensations in the legs.
Is RLS a common disease?
It occurs in both women and men. In our country, three out of every 100 people have this disease. Even higher rates are reported in western countries. It is rare for the disease to regress spontaneously. It often goes on the same course for years without any underlying cause. It is more common in women than in men. Children with RLS in their families may also have RLS.
What is the reason for RLS?
The RLS develops as a result of a decrease in 'dopamine', a substance that acts as an intermediary in the brain. In some diseases, the incidence of RLS is high. These diseases are as follows:
Anemia due to iron deficiency
• Blood circulation disorder in the legs
• Hernia or impaired leg nerves
• Kidney diseases - Muscle diseases
Alcoholism
• Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies
HBS can be genetically transitive. The probability of having RLS in one of the relatives of RLS patients without one of the above diseases is 50%. This is a sign that the disease may be genetically transitive. This genetically transitive form can often start at a young age, and sometimes childhood, and its treatment is more difficult than in a non-genetic form. Some depression medications, allergy medications, and pain relievers can aggravate or reveal RLS symptoms. Caffeine, alcohol, and smoking aggravate the symptoms of the disease.
How is RLS diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made by the physician taking a detailed history of the disease and performing a physical examination. RLS findings are usually quite typical and additional tests are not required for diagnosis. If there is suspicion in diagnosis or if there is an additional disease that facilitates the emergence of RLS, blood tests, EMG or all night sleep tests may be required to determine this.
If you have the following complaints, you have HBS:
1. Feeling uneasy on both legs and the desire to move accordingly
2. This feeling is temporarily reduced or lost by moving your legs
3. When complaints remain motionless and appear at night or become more pronounced
How is RLS treated?
First of all, it is necessary to determine whether there is another disease that facilitates or causes the emergence of RLS. These diseases include iron deficiency anemia, diabetes and arthritis. The use of some drugs may also increase RLS complaints. Treatment of these diseases or discontinuation of medications can sometimes make the complaints lessen and rarely disappear. However, although these facilitating diseases are treated in the most appropriate way, complaints about RLS continue. In the mild forms of HBS, hot bath, leg massage, hot towel, ice application, pain relief, which the patient mostly discovers further measures such as regular exercise and avoiding caffeinated beverages can be helpful. However, these measures are insufficient in patients with moderate and severe RLS and they should use the drugs used in RLS treatment. The effectiveness of drugs can vary from patient to patient. Factors such as concomitant diseases, age, and severity of the disease should be taken into account in drug selection.
Exp. Dr. Hüsniye Aylin HAKYEMEZ
Medilife Çapa Hospital Neurology Specialist