General Information About Restless Legs Syndrome
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a movement disorder originating from the nervous system where a person can only relieve the tingling, pulling, or numb sensation felt inside their legs by moving, walking, or shaking their legs.
An imbalance of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which controls muscle movements in the brain, is the most important cause. In addition, severe iron deficiency in the blood, kidney failure, and pregnancy strongly trigger this syndrome.
The most typical feature of the disease is that it is linked to the circadian rhythm (body clock). There are no complaints when moving during the day; they begin when resting on the couch in the evening or when lying in bed at night.
Yes, patients constantly toss and turn in bed or are forced to get up and walk to alleviate the sensation in their legs. This makes falling asleep impossible, leading to severe chronic insomnia and daytime fatigue.
Diagnosis is established by a neurologist evaluating the characteristic features of the symptoms described by the patient (starts at rest, relieves with movement, worsens in the evening) and checking iron storage (ferritin) levels.
If ferritin is low in the blood, providing iron supplementation can completely resolve the symptoms. In cases where no cause is found, medications used to treat Parkinson's that increase dopamine levels in the brain, and neuropathic pain pills are very effective.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
