5 Signs You Might Have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

About 7% to 10% of people in the United States have restless legs syndrome (RLS), a sleep and movement disorder. RLS, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, may cause symptoms that can sometimes be hard to explain. The legs may hurt at night, and the body often feels uncomfortable when trying to sleep.

RLS symptoms typically include unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations, such as aching or creeping in the legs. People often feel an irresistible urge to move or shake their leg, which affects sleep. Read on to learn more about restless legs syndrome symptoms, triggers, and more.

What Does Restless Legs Syndrome Feel Like?

You may feel uncomfortable sensations, such as creeping, itching, pulling, or throbbing, if you have RLS. Some of these sensations may seem like they are affecting your skin, but they are not. These feelings can occur within one or both legs.

Some people may not feel any of these sensations. The arms or other body parts can sometimes be involved in addition to the legs.

1. A Strong Urge To Move Your Legs

One of the hallmark symptoms of RLS is an intense urge to move your legs. This urge usually comes alongside any uncomfortable sensations you can feel in your legs.

2. Symptoms Begin or Worsen at Rest

The urge to move often begins or worsens during rest periods or inactivity, such as lying down or sitting. The longer you are at rest, the greater the chance you'll develop symptoms.

3. Moving Your Legs Improves Symptoms

You may find that only walking, stretching, or other movements relieve uncomfortable sensations. Moving may partly or wholly relieve discomfort. These feelings can go away soon after starting any physical activity. The relief also tends to last as long as you are moving.

Research has found that exercise is an effective treatment for sleep disorders, including RLS. More research on the effects of physical activity on RLS symptoms is needed.

4. Symptoms Are Worse in the Evening

RLS symptoms likely get worse at night. Your symptoms may not be RLS if they are not worse at night since this is one of the diagnostic criteria.

Some people with RLS can also have severe daytime symptoms. A study published in 2015 noted that one-third of people with RLS had symptoms starting in the early morning that worsened as the day progressed.

5. Nothing Else Could Be Causing Your Symptoms

The final requirement for an RLS diagnosis is that another medical or behavioral condition does not cause your symptoms. These health concerns may include leg cramps or habitual foot tapping.

People may confuse RLS with nocturnal leg cramps, which cause painful muscle movements. RLS, in contrast, typically causes creeping, crawling, and tingling feelings.

Risk Factors and Triggers

Some people have a high risk of RLS. Older adults and women are more likely to have RLS than others.

Other risk factors include:

• Anemia, or a lack of oxygen-rich red blood cells
  
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Diabetes
• Iron, magnesium, or folic acid deficiency
• Multiple sclerosis (MS), which affects the central nervous system
• Parkinson's disease, or a movement disorder that causes tremors
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Pregnancy
• Stopping sedative use

Triggers for RLS include alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine use. Certain medications can lead to RLS, like lithium, beta-blockers, and antidepressants.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

See a healthcare provider if you have RLS symptoms and experience discomfort. You'll want to contact a healthcare provider if you have disrupted sleep and worsening RLS symptoms.

A Quick Review

RLS is a sleep and movement disorder that causes unpleasant sensations in the legs. These sensations cause an irresistible urge to move your legs. RLS can be uncomfortable, but it's treatable. Diagnosing RLS can be tricky since symptoms mostly appear or worsen at night and are not always easy to evaluate. 

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