Help for Restless Legs Syndrome.

Do you need help for restless legs? Find out more information on RLS causes, symptoms, medication, treatment, remedy, and much more.

I created this page for people who need help for restless legs.

While no one really knows what causes RLS it is clear that it tends to run in families in about 25 to 75% of cases. Hereditary RLS usually starts at a young age and rate of deterioration is then slow.
RLS affects around 10 to 15% of the population. It is a neurological disorder thought to be related to abnormalities in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that help regulate muscle movements or in the part of the central nervous system that controls automatic movements.

Stress, fatigue and many psychiatric conditions play a larger part in RLS.  In the case of secondary RLS there are a number of physical causes such as diabetes, anemia (low haemoglobin levels) and a condition called Peripheral Neuropathy which involves damage to the nerves in the arms and legs. This in turn causes pain numbness and  tingling. Related to RLS is a condition called PLMS  (periodic limb movements of sleep) previously called Myoclonus.
Other lifestyle factors play a part in RLS such as caffeine consumption, and side effects arising from the use of anti convulsant drugs eg methsuximide, phenytoin, anti-depressant drugs such as amiptriptyline, paroxetine, beta blockers, H2 blockers, lithium and neuroleptics (antipsychotics). Also implicated are withdrawal symptoms from vasodilator drugs, sedatives or imopramine.

RLS is also linked to cigarette smoking as well as  nutritional deficiencies especially  lack of iron,  magnesium and B12. It is linked to severe kidney disease especially where dialysis is involved, amoloidosis, Lyme disease, damage to the spinal nerves, rheumatoid arthritis, sjogren syndrome and uremia which is kidney failure due to build up of toxins in the body. Linked to Parkinson Disease, stomach surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tumours and varicose veins. hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, acute intermittent porphyria (rare), fragments of cholesterol in the blood vessels and fibromyalgia.

Topics on Restless Legs Syndrome.