Restless legs

By Dr Sarah Brewer

If you get an annoying twitch in your legs after settling down to watch TV, or are driven mad by an urge to keep moving your legs when you're trying to get to sleep, you could have restless legs syndrome. Dr Sarah Brewer explains.

This odd phenomenon is surprisingly common and affects most people at some time in their life. Around one in 20 people experience it on a regular basis.

Restless legs syndrome (or Ekbom's) is associated with an unpleasant creeping sensation in your lower limbs, sometimes accompanied by twitching, pins and needles, burning sensations or even pain, along with an irresistible urge to move your legs. Symptoms tend to occur when you are tired, and typically come on around an hour or so after you settle down to rest. In some severe cases, leg twitching or jumping can even stop you getting off to sleep.

Cause

The exact cause of restless legs is unknown, but is thought to be associated with poor oxygenation of tissues. It is also possible that the sudden movement of the limbs is designed to pump more oxygen-rich blood into tired muscles. Another theory is that restless legs are a symptom of nerve irritation (perhaps due to a build up of metabolic wastes such as lactic acid) linked with fatigue, anxiety, stress and smoking. The condition is common in pregnancy, and in people with diabetes, kidney problems, chronic respiratory illness and stroke - all of which are associated with changes in circulation or metabolism.

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