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Restless Leg Syndrome affects an estimated 2.7% of the general population in the U.S.A..

Often sufferers think they are the only ones to be afflicted by this peculiar condition and are relieved when they find out that many others also suffer from it. The severity and frequency of the disorder vary tremendously. Many people only experience symptoms when they try to sleep, while others experience symptoms during the day. It is common to have symptoms on long car rides or during any long period of inactivity (like watching television or a movie, attending a musical or theatrical performance, etc.) Approximately 80-90% of people with RLS also have PLMD, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, which causes slow “jerks” or flexions of the affected body part. These occur during sleep (PLMS = Periodic Limb Movement while Sleeping) or while awake (PLMW - Periodic Limb Movement while Waking).

About 10 percent of adults in North America and Europe may experience RLS symptoms, according to the National Sleep Foundation, which reports that “lower prevalence has been found in India, Japan and Singapore,” indicating that ethnic factors, including diet, may play a role in the prevalence of this syndrome

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 About 47 million Americans are sleep deprived while doctors report the average adult should snooze for about six hours a night.

However, catching some “Z’s” might be hard if you have a medical condition like restless leg syndrome (RLS).

Experts on sleep disorders are meeting this week at the Minneapolis Convention Center to talk about the latest technology.

One new invention is helping people understand what it’s like for patients with RLS. The invention is called a restless leg syndrome simulator and it’s a big boot that mimics the horrible symptoms that RLS patients feel.

“It’s described as a burning, itching, pulling, drawing sensation, and it’s better when they get up and walk and it’s worse when they’re resting,” said Dr. Patrick Wright with the Minnesota Sleep Institute in Minneapolis.

Up to 10 percent of the U.S. population may have this neurological condition. It makes it hard for patients to fall asleep and get an entire nights sleep.

“Often we find that people with RLS because of their symptoms are unable to sleep, and the symptoms sometimes don’t become alleviated until late very into the night, sometimes, the early morning,” said Katherine O’Connor with Boehringer Ingelheim, the maker of the simulator.

“Restless legs during the day, may equal periodic limb movements or leg kicking at night and that disturbs their sleep and then they’re tired the next day,” said Wright.

The simulator also visually shows the drowsy effects of a sleep deprived person. However, it’s hard to really to imagine what the condition is like unless you step into the shoes of a RLS suffer.

“It does give a sensation of buzzing or tingling in your legs, which is what many patients describe,” said Wright.

There is no known cause for RLS, but there are some things you can do to help with the sometimes painful symptoms.

“Trying to avoid caffeine helps, exercise is helpful, hot baths are helpful, but when we gets beyond the point of that, then we need to use some medication,” said Wright.

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What treatments are available for Restless Legs Syndrome?

Although no cure exists for Restless Legs Syndrome, different types of treatment can be used to manage the condition and relieve discomfort.

There are three treatment approaches for RLS:

• Self-help (see below) - If your symptoms are mild, self-help may be sufficient treatment.
• Medications (see below) - For those with severe RLS, where the disorder disrupts sleep or daily activities, medications may be the proper treatment approach.
• Treatment of the underlying condition – If your Restless Legs Syndrome is caused by an underlying condition, your doctor will treat that condition. Treatment of the underlying condition often cures the RLS.

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Is my sleep environment the cause of my insomnia?

Your sleep environment, along with your sleep habits, make up your sleep hygiene. You can usually change your sleep environment to improve your sleep. Examples of your sleep environment are the quality of your mattress and the temperature of your bedroom.

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https://www.rls.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?&id=245

On this site are the results of Phase III clinical trial of experimental RLS drug. It’s in PDF Format.

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The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of the men, women, and children who live with this often devastating disease. The organization’s goals are to increase awareness of restless legs syndrome (RLS), to improve treatments, and through research, to find a cure.

The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation began in 1989 when eight people with RLS began sharing letters and discussing their “rare” condition. In 1993, the Foundation was incorporated as a nonprofit organization to address the growing need for research and information about this unknown condition. In the beginning, the Board of Directors would gather around the kitchen table of Executive Director Pickett Guthrie (now a member of the Board of Directors) to discuss their experiences with the disease and what courses of action would provide the most relief for persons with RLS. Their goals were simple and yet groundbreaking: increase awareness, improve treatments, and, through research, find a cure.

Today those goals have taken on a life of their own. The Foundation has grown from a simple volunteer staff to a staff of nine employees in their Rochester, Minnesota location. Our understanding of restless legs syndrome has also grown. We now know that the condition is not rare at all. In fact, recent research suggests that up to 10 percent of the general population has this neurologic condition. It is perhaps the most common condition you have never heard of, affecting more people than even type 2 diabetes.

Increase Awareness

Since its inception, the Foundation has been working tirelessly to increase awareness of this disease by raising its profile and educating the public and medical communities alike. The RLS Foundation is spreading the word about RLS ? a serious, yet treatable condition with a very significant impact on quality of life. By educating healthcare providers about RLS symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, the RLS Foundation helps patients receive the quality care they both need and deserve. In the past year alone the Foundation has provided information to healthcare providers at 12 exhibit meetings, including the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Improve Treatments

The Foundation continually strives to be the most reputable source of information on RLS. Our renowned Medical Advisory Board, composed of leading RLS experts from all over the world, has written several publications on the diagnosis and treatment of RLS. These include our comprehensive RLS Medical Bulletin , our patient brochure, and our brochures on special topics including concerns for surgery, depression, pregnancy, and children.

Through Research, Find a Cure

The Foundation has taken giant strides to further RLS research, funding grants for 27 research projects. Among the most distinguished research projects the Foundation has put its resources behind is the ongoing Stanford Epidemiology Project (epidemiology is the branch of medicine that deals with the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations). Although it is still underway, the Foundation recognizes that the highly anticipated results of the Stanford Epidemiology Project, including the creation of a world standard questionnaire used to accurately diagnose RLS, could be spectacular. Eventually this questionnaire may help researchers understand the health consequences of RLS and identify other conditions and diseases that are associated with or exacerbated by RLS.

Web Site- rls.org

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Keeping a detailed sleep history or sleep diary can help you identify lifestyle factors related to insomnia. A sleep diary should record all sleep-related information, including:

• time you went to bed and woke up (total sleep hours)
• quality of your sleeptimes that you were awake during the night and what you did (e.g., stayed in bed with eyes closed, or got up, had a glass of milk, and meditated)
• types and amount of food, liquids, caffeine, or alcohol you consumed before bed and times of consumption
• feelings and moods before bed ­– happiness, sadness, stress, anxiety
• drugs or medications taken, amounts taken, and times of consumption

A sleep partner can add observations to your sleep diary as well. The details can be important, and a sleep diary might reveal that your pre-bedtime behavior is thwarting your chance for a good night’s sleep. For example, a two-week sleep diary might reveal that you don’t sleep well if you have had more than two alcoholic drinks before bedtime or that you have more trouble falling asleep on days when you haven’t exercised.

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Can certain foods and drugs cause insomnia?

Your diet and the medications you take can affect your ability to sleep. Some people may have no trouble getting a good night’s rest after a heavy meal or caffeinated beverages in the evening, whereas others will be unable to sleep. Additionally, aging may cause certain foods, drinks, and medications to affect your sleep more than they previously did.

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What are the mental causes of insomnia?

Surprisingly, your mental attitude can significantly affect how you sleep. Often, sleep difficulties stem from having too much on your mind or being unable to quiet your thoughts and allow yourself to sleep. Being awake at night compounds these mental troubles and often intensifies an overactive mind. Learning to relax and think positively about sleep can help you sleep better. 

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