New to MyHealth?
Manage Your Care From Anywhere.
Access your health information from any device with MyHealth. You can message your clinic, view lab results, schedule an appointment, and pay your bill.
ALREADY HAVE AN ACCESS CODE?
DON'T HAVE AN ACCESS CODE?
NEED MORE DETAILS?
MyHealth for Mobile
Get the iPhone MyHealth app »
Get the Android MyHealth app »
Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
RLS symptoms can range from the very mild or transient (for example a few times during pregnancy) to severe, occurring every evening and being excruciatingly painful. The following symptoms are characteristic of RLS:
Patients may displays one or more of the following symptoms:
- A strong urge to move the legs, which may be irresistible.
- Uncomfortable sensations in the legs. Words used to describe these sensations include: painful, creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing.
- RLS symptoms start or become worse when resting. The longer patients are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be.
- RLS symptoms are worse in the evening especially when lying down.
- RLS symptoms get better when the patient move the legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity (for example walking). Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues.
- RLS can cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep which can be one of the chief complaints of the syndrome.
Diagnosing restless legs syndrome (RLS)
The diagnosis of RLS is primarily clinical, and sleep studies are generally not needed. To meet criteria for RLS, the urge to move and abnormal leg sensation must be worse in the evening and at rest, and must be relieved with movement such as walking or stretching the legs. These criteria differentiate RLS from other neurological problems such as those involving peripheral nerve damage. The major issue in RLS is to sufficiently severe and frequent to require treatment.
RLS can affect children and may be difficult to diagnose in this population. RLS symptoms in children may include "growing pains" or problems with "attention and hyperactivity disorders."
As mentioned above, a work up of RLS requires measuring blood ferritin level and a CBC, if not done prior to the visit to the Sleep Medicine Center. A careful medical and drug history is also needed to exclude confounding/exacerbating factors or associated problems.
Our Clinics
See a Stanford specialist to learn about your treatment options. Visit one of our clinics to make an appointment.