What Is Restless Leg Syndrome?

Restless Leg Syndrome(RLS) is difficult to diagnose and often has a sneaky and annoying appearance; Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological(Having to do with nerves or the nervous system) disorder characterised by an irresistible urge to move one’s legs. This urge is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations in the legs, such as tingling, itching, or a crawling sensation.

The discomfort is typically worse at night or during inactivity, leading to difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Also known as Willis -Ekbom syndrome, people with Restless Legs Syndrome feel relief only when they move their legs or walk, especially when resting. Treatments for RLS include lifestyle changes, such as exercise and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, medication and compression socks.

But how do you identify restless leg syndrome? Can one find relief from this form of leg craving? What are the symptoms, causes and treatments for Restless Leg Syndrome? Read more below:

Restless leg syndrome, what is it?

Restless leg syndrome is part of sleep disorders; those affected struggle to rest their lower limbs and relax their legs completely when falling asleep. The causes could be a patient’s condition, taking certain medications, genetics, pregnancy status, etc. This varies according to the patient and their physical condition, with aggravation of symptoms with advancing age.

In many cases, this syndrome is inherited by nature. But, in others, it results from previous diseases, such as taking certain drugs or being pregnant. An individual with RLS feels constant leg tightness, itching or tingling. One can only find relief by moving their lower limbs.

What do these sensations feel like:

• • Creeping or crawling feeling

• • Tingling or prickling sensation

• • Burning sensation:

• • Aching or throbbing sensation

• • Itching sensation

• • Restlessness

To date, there is no way to diagnose Restless Legs Syndrome accurately. A  doctor will know by analysing the patient’s symptoms whether they have the disease. The symptoms, analysed and recognised by the doctor, are those established by the National Institutes of Health standards. As a neurological syndrome, the way it occurs to the patient is unannounced, sometimes even subtly.

What are the Symptoms?:

• • Impaired sensation in the lower limbs;

• • Involuntary leg spasms, which may also involve the upper limbs;

• • The instinctive desire to want to walk, shake the legs or otherwise move in search of immediate relief.

• • Difficulty falling asleep, Many people with RLS experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep due to the discomfort in their legs.

• • Intermittent leg movements during sleep

• • Fatigue

• • Relief with movement

Restless leg syndrome causes and classification

Having understood the extent of restless leg syndrome, we need to understand the two types in which this disease is classified and its causes.

Causes:

Genetics: RLS tends to run in families, suggesting that there may be a genetic component to the condition.

Iron deficiency: Studies have found that people with RLS often have low iron levels in their brain and spinal cord, which can contribute to developing symptoms.

Pregnancy: RLS is more common in pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester. Hormonal changes and increased blood volume during pregnancy may contribute to developing symptoms.

Chronic diseases: Certain chronic diseases, such as kidney failure, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, can increase the risk of developing RLS.

Medications: Some medications, such as certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antihistamines, have been associated with an increased risk of RLS or worsening of symptoms.

Classifications:

Primitive: inherited in nature, the symptoms are subtle and not immediately recognisable. The presence of RLS can be evident even months or years after its inception. With advancing age, the disease becomes increasingly apparent.

Secondary: of sudden onset and with an incidence mainly involving patients aged 40 years and above, is the categorisation strictly associated with pathologies or pharmacological treatments. Examples of diseases that can trigger it are Parkinson’s, diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, thyroid disease, venous insufficiency, etc.

The best medical devices/treatments for Restless leg syndrome

After careful consultation with your doctor, it is possible to adopt graduated compression socks to stimulate venous and lymphatic circulation. In particular, Solidea offers compression stockings – the Night Wellness 70 compression socks or Red Wellness from our preventative line.

This new model is highly suitable for night rest with graduated compression of 12/15 mmHg and soft and elastic Italian fabrics. These special graduated compression overnight socks will stimulate the limb at rest with a thermoactive action aimed at warming the muscles thanks to the natural thermal energy of your body.

Designed specifically for sleep, they are a valuable support for restless leg syndrome.

Discover all the models of Solidea’s graduated compression socks and medical compression stockings here, and after consulting your doctor, choose the graduated compression product that best suits your needs.