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Restless legs and limb movements
Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder. Board-certified sleep medicine for children, teens and adults.
General information, not medical advice. Read our disclaimer.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes an uncomfortable urge to move your legs, most often in the evening or at night. It can make it hard to fall asleep. A related problem, periodic limb movement disorder, causes leg movements that repeat during sleep. At Universal Sleep Solutions in Leander, Texas, Dr. Minal Patel treats both in adults and children.
What does RLS feel like?
- Uncomfortable feelings — crawling, tingling or aching in the legs.
- A strong urge to move — that is hard to resist.
- Worse at rest — and worse in the evening.
- Moving helps — walking or stretching brings relief for a while.
How do we find out what is going on?
- A careful talk — RLS is mainly diagnosed by your symptoms.
- Iron tests — Low ferritin (the iron your body has stored) is a common cause that can be treated.
- Blood tests — to check your kidneys and look for other causes.
- Sleep study — if Dr. Patel thinks you may have leg movements in sleep or another sleep problem. See sleep studies.
How is RLS treated?
- Iron — if your ferritin is low.
- Medicines — such as gabapentin or pregabalin, or medicines that act on dopamine, a brain chemical.
- Daily habits — regular exercise, and less caffeine and alcohol.
- Sleep habits — a steady bedtime and a calm wind-down routine.
Read more about restless legs syndrome.
How do you get started?
- Pre-register online — Fill out the secure form on our patient portal. We will contact you to set up your visit.
- Ask your doctor — Your doctor can fax a referral to (877) 569-2885.
- Call us — Have questions first? Call (512) 931-1575, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Common questions
Can children have restless legs?
Yes. Restless legs can happen in children too. Dr. Patel is also a pediatrician and sees children with restless legs.
Why check iron for restless legs?
Low stored iron (ferritin) is a common cause of restless legs that can be treated. A simple blood test checks it.
What causes restless leg syndrome?
RLS can be caused by low iron, kidney disease, pregnancy, nerve damage (neuropathy), or some medicines. In many cases, it runs in families. A blood test to check your iron is often the first step.
Is RLS a serious condition?
RLS is not life-threatening. But it can badly hurt your sleep and your daily life. If it is not treated, it can lead to long-term insomnia and trouble getting through the day.
Trusted medical sources
This page follows guidance and research from leading medical organizations.
Further reading
- NIHRestless Legs Syndrome
- Sleep FoundationRLS
- NIHRestless Legs
- AASMRestless Legs Syndrome
- NIHSleep Disorders
- AASMSleep Education