If your partner complains that you kick all night you may have restless leg syndrome. Named for the inability to keep one’s feet and legs still, it causes many sufferers and their bedmates to loose sleep.
It is pointless to tell the person to be still, because they can’t. RLS symptoms are worse at rest (usually during the night), and can worsen throughout sleep. Symptoms can also occur when sitting for long periods of time. Alcohol, tobacco and caffeine use might aggravate RLS in some patients.
It is a neurological disorder that causes twitching and pain in the legs. Some patients describe a crawling feeling and others experience more of a cramp. The cause is unknown, but it seems to run in families.
Many patients have trouble keeping their legs still during waking hours as well. Though moving and shifting positions provides temporary relief, suffers are often wakened many times during the night and can’t get a full, uninterrupted sleep. Sleep depravation can affect all aspects of a person’s life, including work and home life. Depression is common in patients who suffer an ongoing loss of sleep.
RLS is more common in women than men. It usually gets worse as a person gets older. There are other conditions closely related to RLS, and only a doctor can diagnose the correct problem and treatment.
There is no cure for RLS, but some medicines have been very effective. Though there are only a few prescriptions developed to treat the symptoms, many doctors prescribe off-label medications. The drugs vary greatly in price, and all have possible side effects. Some patients build tolerances to the medications, and their doctors may increase their dosage or prescribe a different drug.