Sleep:Restless Legs Syndrome

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Test Yourself: 5 Signs That You May Have Restless Legs Syndrome



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  1. You have a strong urge to move your legs that you may not be able to resist.
    This criteria is necessary for diagnosis: The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include: creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing.
  2. Your symptoms start or become worse when you are resting.
    This criteria is necessary for diagnosis: The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be.
  3. Your symptoms get better when you move your legs.
    This criteria is necessary for diagnosis: The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues.
  4. Your symptoms are worse in the evening, especially when you are lying down.
    This criteria is necessary for diagnosis: Activities that bother you at night do not bother you during the day.
  5. Your symptoms may cause difficulty falling or staying asleep.
    This claim may help support your doctor's diagnosis: Although it's not one of the four criteria necessary for diagnosis, it's often one of the chief complaints of restless legs syndrome. A substantial number of people who have RLS also have periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). These are jerks that occur every 20 to 30 seconds on and off throughout the night and can cause partial awakenings that disrupt sleep.
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Last Updated: April 18, 2008