Have you had strange sensations in your legs that are hard to describe to other people, especially after you train or do cardio? It happens after you finally sit down and stretch out to relax, or lie down to sleep. Then the uncontrollable urge to move or kick your legs happens. You wiggle around, change positions, finally get up and walk around, and finally it stops. Then you get back to bed, and within minutes, it happens again. It can start anytime you are sitting or lying down for a while, even when sitting in a movie theater. It can cause havoc with your sleep cycle and cause daytime tiredness and is a cause of fatigue.
This condition is called Restless Leg Syndrome. It is classified as a Periodic Limb Movement Disorder which can cause difficulty with sleeping, but may occur while the patient is awake. It happens in the evening, usually when the patient is seated or lying down. The sensation experienced is difficult to describe – a crawling feeling, like bugs are under the skin; jumpy legs; quivering. There is no pain, no spasms or cramps, nor any numbness or tingling. This differentiates other types of leg pains from RLS.
The condition is actually from a deficiency in dopamine, one of the many neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain. It is similar in that sense to Parkinson’s disease, in that both are dopamine deficiency disorders. There is no relationship with a progression of RLS to Parkinson’s disease.
Sometimes RLS is just genetic bad luck; it is predominantly found in women, and typically when questioned, the mother and grandmother as well as sisters all have it. It can run in families. RLS can result from other conditions, such as iron deficiency anemia. Sometimes, RLS can happen after a surgical procedure for an unrelated condition; there is a correlation with certain types of anesthesia precipitating it. It is one of the few conditions which is worsened by exercise! Particularly leg exercises! Cardio, of any type involving the legs, generally will make this condition worse.
Simple blood tests can determine if there is a treatable precipitating cause of RLS. If these are all within normal limits, a polysomnogram (sleep study) can be performed to ensure that there truly is a periodic limb movement disorder during sleep.
Remember, if you cannot sleep regularly you cannot recover from your training. You will impede your progress if you are not able to get restorative sleep.
The good news -there is treatment for RLS. If after reading this article, you think that you may have this condition, please contact me at my website www.DrMarilynLajoie.com I have a Telemedicine for Athletes heading for alternatives to office visits.
Thanks to Tonia Moore for loaning us her fabulous legs!
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