Restless Leg Syndrome: What is it and, how do you know if it’s what’s causing your leg issues?
“It’s like my legs just can’t be still.”, “It always happens at night when you really just want to be sleeping!”, “It doesn’t hurt, necessarily, but it’s soooo uncomfortable!”
What is it?
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you might have a condition known as Restless Leg Syndrome. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system disorder that causes an urge to move the legs (and sometimes arms). Because it usually interferes with sleep, it also is considered a sleep disorder.
What are the symptoms?
Commonly, people have a hard time pinpointing the exact sensation they are having in their legs. RLS is associated with the following symptoms:
- Feeling an urge to move your legs and sometimes your arms
- While at rest, symptoms increase and are worse when lying down or sitting for long periods of time
- Loss of sleep due to legs feeling antsy, creepy and uncomfortable
- Movement seems to improve symptoms temporarily
What are the treatment options?
The first step is to speak to your primary care physician. Did you get an actual diagnosis of “Restless Leg Syndrome”? If so, you may be taking neurological medications or iron supplements to soothe the symptoms.
If you are taking the medications and still have no improvement? You could be one of the 30 million or so individuals with “Restless Leg SYMPTOMS”.
What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
For some patients, restless leg symptoms are associated with a vein problem called Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Once you’ve consulted with your family doctor, if you are still seeking answers, Dr. Lam at Lam Vascular & Associates can conduct an advanced Venous Doppler (ultrasound) study in the office to analyze your veins. Chronic Venous Insufficiency is one of the leading causes of:
- Pain, itching, burning, tingling in the legs
- Cramps in the legs and sometimes feet (often in the early morning)
- Swollen legs
- Varicose veins, spider veins
- Skin color and/or texture changes
- Venous ulcers (sores on the legs)
Should your study result in a positive diagnosis for Chronic Venous Insufficiency (aka: vein disease, venous reflux), Dr. Lam can identify your condition and treat the problem which causes your symptoms.
Venous ablation treatment is covered by most insurance plans because it’s not a cosmetic procedure. Advances in technology have made the procedure less invasive, resulting in less pain, less bruising and a faster recovery time.
The information contained in this article is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice. Patient results will vary based on risk factors, age, disease and medical history and are not guaranteed in any way.
