Restless Leg Syndrome
Do you ever feel like your legs are driving you crazy when you lay down and try to sleep? Or even when you try to sit still? Do they feel like they are tingling, ithing, or creeping, until you move them around or get up and walk? You may be relieved to know that you are not alone, and the urge to move your legs to relieve the extremely unpleasant feeling is not just in your head!
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There are neurological factors that lead to this condition which is known as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). As you know if you suffer from RLS, it can cause extremely disrupted sleep which affects every aspect of your life and can lead to other health problems. However, we want you to know there is relief! Many advances are being made into RLS and its treatment.
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Research has shown links to several factors contributing to RLS. The function of your neurotransmitters dopamine (affecting your muscle movement) and glutamate (affecting your wakefulness) as well as other factors like BID (brain iron deficiency) are involved. Once diagnosed, there are effective treatments for your Restless Leg Syndrome or other Periodic Limb Movement Syndrome, so it is important to get help.
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How we can help
If you suffer from poor sleep that you feel may be due Restless Leg Syndrome, we can help you get to the root causes of your problem. Our team at Garrett County Sleep Center will work with you on an individualized diagnostic and treatment plan to help you sleep well.
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The diagnostic process may include a health overview to determine contributing factors such as certain medications, deficiencies and chronic illnesses. In addition, an important step in diagnosing RLS may be an overnight sleep study. also called polysomnography testing.
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An on-site polysomnography (PSG) test is often very helpful in the diagnosis of RLS because it provides information about leg movements, their frequency and duration, and how they impact each phase of your sleep. Often times RLS patients know their leg sensations cause a lot of trouble getting to sleep, but they may not realize they continue to move their legs throughout the night, causing disrupted sleep patterns and overall poor quality sleep. We can uncover these patterns and develop a treatment plan targeting the cause of your sleep disruptions. Contact us to schedule your appointment!
