Restless Legs Syndrome – Description and Treatment, Including Natural Solutions

Can you imagine the sensation of insects crawling inside your legs? Or your legs suddenly starting to jump or jerk when you are driving? No, these are not scenes taken from some science fiction horror movie. It’s what some people experience. And it’s not just something in their head, it is a real ailment.

WHAT IS RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensation in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings. RLS sensations are often described by people as burning, creeping, tugging or like insects crawling inside the leg” and they range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. Sometimes these sensations occur in the feet, thighs or even arms.

Reading the testimonies of people suffering from RLS makes you realize how much it affects their lives. It’s not only about pain or discomfort; RLS can drastically affect the quality of your life. Richard Jefferson says: “I’ve had to plan my life around it.” Another person suffering from RLS say: “RLS is the bane of my life.” And it’s not hard to agree with them if you can only imagine what it would be like to have these sudden attacks in your right leg as you are driving, to jump up when somebody touches you, or to be unable to get some rest no matter how tired you are.

Most people who suffer from RLS experience the symptoms at night, and these sensations of creeping, jerky legs will obviously keep them from getting the rest they need. These episodes can go on for hours, for the whole night or for nights and nights in a row to what seems to take forever. As a result, they are exhausted, experience fatigue, find it hard to concentrate and accomplish their daily tasks.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF RLS?

The cause of RLS is unknown in most cases. In other cases, RLS appears to be related to some factors and conditions, such as obesity, smoking, iron deficiency, anemia, pregnancy, nerve disease, diabetes, kidney failure, hormone diseases. Caffeine and alcohol are also associated with RLS, along with H2-histamine blockers (like Zantac, Tagamet) and certain antidepressants (like Elavil). RLS appears to become more common with age, but people with a RLS family history tend to be younger when symptoms start.

TREATMENT

There is no cure for Restless Legs Syndrome, so the treatment is directed at relieving the symptoms and the discomfort and helping the patients to manage the condition.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) “for those with mild to moderate symptoms, prevention is key, and many physicians suggest certain lifestyle changes and activities to reduce or eliminate symptoms.” The reduction or, better, the elimination of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco can provide some relief. Maintaining a regular sleep pattern can also be helpful.

The treatment is also directed toward an underlying condition. For example a person suffering from anemia, magnesium or iron deficiency will be advised to take supplements.

Medication used to treat RLS consists of dopaminergics, opioids, benzodiazepines (central nervous system depressants) and anticonvulsants. In 2005, ropinirole became the only FDA approved drug for the treatment of RLS. This drug is also approved for Parkinson disease treatment.

“Unfortunately, no one drug is effective for everyone with RLS” says NINDS. “What may be helpful to one individual may actually worsen symptoms for another. In addition, medications taken regularly may lose their effect, making it necessary to change medications periodically.”

Alternative medicine treatments that can also be helpful include acupuncture, electric nerve stimulation and supplements, such as A to B Calm.

A to B Calm is a calcium magnesium natural supplement that can help people suffering from Restless Legs Syndrome. Calcium and magnesium are directly responsible for activating striated or skeletal muscle. If blood calcium concentrations fall, the nerves become hypersensitive, resulting in tetany, which is recognized clinically as severe muscle spasm. A to B Calm formula has been created over 20 years ago and has been used by more people than any other Calcium/Magnesium formula. This is the best way for the human body to assimilate the essential minerals Calcium and Magnesium and help avoid Restless Legs Syndrome.