Finding Good Sleep One Step at a Time

By Teri Dematas,
January 2010

Your legs shake at night, you can’t sleep and are exhausted during the day. Are you going crazy? You’re not. It’s very likely that you are suffering from restless legs syndrome (RLS) — a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings. It’s estimated that up to ten percent of the population may suffer from it.

RLS sensations are often described by people as burning, creeping, tugging, or like insects crawling inside the legs. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful.

The condition occurs in both genders, although the incidence may be slightly higher in women. The syndrome may begin at any age, even as early as infancy, although most patients who are severely affected are middle-aged or older. In addition, the severity of the disorder appears to increase with age. Older patients experience symptoms more frequently and for longer periods of time.

Unfortunately lying down and trying to relax makes the symptoms worse. As a result, most people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue. Many people with RLS report that their daily living is strongly affected as a result of their exhaustion. They are often unable to concentrate, have impaired memory, or fail to accomplish daily tasks.

For those with mild to moderate symptoms, many physicians suggest certain lifestyle changes and activities to reduce or eliminate symptoms. Decreased use of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco may provide some relief.

In order to fully understand sleep patterns and diagnose RLS, various brain activities, body systems and their relationships must be monitored throughout the night. Often times patients are asked to participate in an overnight sleep study. At Rex Sleep Disorders Center, a recording of physiological measurements identify different sleep stages and classify various sleep problems.

All overnight sleep studies are conducted under the direction of a Medical Director who is board-certified in sleep medicine, and trained sleep technologists. Rex now has four convenient locations for sleep testing: Raleigh, Cary, Knightdale and Wakefield. All three locations have full size beds as well as cable television for patient comfort. Each of the rooms are similar to a hotel room, offering a tranquil night’s sleep to all patients.Unfortunately, RLS is generally a life-long condition for which there is no cure. Symptoms may gradually worsen with age. Nevertheless, current therapies can control the disorder, minimizing symptoms and increasing periods of restful sleep. In addition, some patients have remissions, periods in which symptoms decrease or disappear for days, weeks, or months, although symptoms usually eventually reappear.

More than 80 percent of people with RLS also experience a more common condition known as periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). PLMD is characterized by involuntary leg twitching or jerking movements during sleep that typically occur every 10 to 60 seconds, sometimes throughout the night. The symptoms cause repeated awakening and severely disrupted sleep. Unlike RLS, the movements caused by PLMD are involuntary-people have no control over them. Although many patients with RLS also develop PLMD, most people with PLMD do not experience RLS. Like RLS, the cause of PLMD is unknown.

If you believe you may have RLS or another sleep disorder, talk with your physician about having an overnight sleep study. It’s could be the first step to a good nights sleep.

Sources: Rex Sleep Disorders Center and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Teri deMatis is director of marketing for Rex Healthcare, Theresa.deMatas@rexhealth.com.