Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome

Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Restless Legs Syndrome includes the 28 symptoms listed below:

• Abnormal leg sensations
• Painful leg sensations
• Calf muscle sensations
• Leg tingling
• Leg pain
• Leg crawling
• Leg pulling sensation
• Urge to move the legs
• Sudden muscle jerks
• Characteristics of symptoms
  • Daily cycle of symptoms
  • Worsening symptoms in evening and night
  • Worse symptoms from lengthy sitting
  • Worse symptoms from lying down
• Sleep-related symptoms
  • Sleep onset insomnia
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Difficulty staying asleep
  • Involuntary leg movements during sleep
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Fatigue
• Crawling sensation on legs
• Unpleasant leg sensation
• Urge to move legs
• Cold feet
• Cold lower legs
• Anemia
• Pins and needles sensation
• more information...»

Research symptoms & diagnosis of Restless Legs Syndrome:

• Overview -- Restless Legs Syndrome
• Diagnostic Tests for Restless Legs Syndrome
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Complications -- Restless Legs Syndrome
• Doctors & Specialists
• Misdiagnosis and Alternative Diagnoses
• Hidden Causes of Restless Legs Syndrome
• Other Causes -- causes of these or similar symptoms

Restless Legs Syndrome: Complications

Review medical complications possibly associated with Restless Legs Syndrome:

• Problem sleepiness
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (see Drowsiness)
• Social problems
• more complications...»

Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms: Book Excerpts

• Signs and symptoms - Complex regional pain syndrome
• Signs and symptoms - Pain disorder
• Signs and symptoms - Complex regional pain syndrome

Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic testing of medical conditions related to Restless Legs Syndrome:

• Physical exam
• Neurological exam
• Blood iron level - to test for anemia as an underlying cause.
• Sleep study
• more tests...»

Research More About Restless Legs Syndrome

Do I have Restless Legs Syndrome?

• Restless Legs Syndrome: Introduction
• Restless Legs Syndrome: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Restless Legs Syndrome
• Failure to Diagnose Restless Legs Syndrome
• Hidden Causes of Restless Legs Syndrome
• How serious is it?
• Treatments for Restless Legs Syndrome
• More about Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome: Medical Mistakes

• Insomnia -- Health Mistakes
• Sleep Disorders -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Restless Legs Syndrome:

• Sleep Disorders: Home Testing
  • Home Sleep Tests
  • Sleep Apnea Diagnostic Tests
• more home tests...»

Wrongly Diagnosed with Restless Legs Syndrome?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Restless Legs Syndrome includes:

• ADHD - adolescents with RLS seem hyperactive because of needing to move the legs.
• Hyperactivity
• Periodic leg movement syndrome
• Alcohol-related neuropathy (see Neuropathy)
• Akathisia
• more diagnoses...»

See the full list of 30 alternative diagnoses for Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome: Research Doctors & Specialists

• Sleep/Insomnia Health Specialists:
  • Sleep Medicine (Insomnia & Sleep Disorder Specialists)
• more specialists...»

Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

More about symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome:

More information about symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Restless Legs Syndrome
• Underlying causes of Restless Legs Syndrome
• Associated conditions for Restless Legs Syndrome

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Abnormal leg sensations - see all causes of Leg paresthesia
• Anemia - see all causes of Anemia
• Calf muscle sensations - see all causes of Leg paresthesia
• Characteristics of symptoms
• Cold feet - see all causes of Cold feet
• Cold lower legs - see all causes of Coldness
• Crawling sensation on legs - see all causes of Leg paresthesia
• Daily cycle of symptoms
• Daytime sleepiness - see all causes of Drowsiness
• Difficulty sleeping - see all causes of Insomnia
• Difficulty staying asleep - see all causes of Insomnia
• Fatigue - see all causes of Fatigue
• Involuntary leg movements during sleep - see all causes of Sleep symptoms
• Leg pain - see all causes of Leg pain
• Leg tingling - see all causes of Leg paresthesia
• Painful leg sensations - see all causes of Leg pain
• Sleep onset insomnia - see all causes of Insomnia
• Sleep-related symptoms - see all causes of Sleep symptoms
• Sudden muscle jerks - see all causes of Muscle spasms
• Urge to move the legs - see all causes of Leg symptoms
• Worse symptoms from lengthy sitting
• Worse symptoms from lying down
• Worsening symptoms in evening and night

Medical Books Online about Restless Legs Syndrome

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Restless Legs Syndrome are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Restless Legs Syndrome.

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome.

Complex regional pain syndrome: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Patients usually report severe and constant pain; severe pain is common with CRPS2 in particular. The affected area may have altered blood flow, feeling either warm or cool to the touch, with discoloration, sweating, or swelling. In time, skin, hair, and nail changes may occur along with impaired mobility and muscle wasting, especially if adequate treatment is delayed.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Pain disorder: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The cardinal feature of pain disorder is a history of chronic, consistent complaints of pain without confirming physical disease. The patient may relate a long history of evaluations and procedures at multiple settings without much pain relief. Because of frequent hospitalizations, the patient may be familiar with pain medications and tranquilizers, ask for a specific drug, and know correct dosages and administration routes. She may openly behave like an invalid.

Physical examination of the painful site reveals that the pain doesn’t follow anatomic pathways. The patient may not display typical nonverbal signs of pain, such as grimacing or guarding. (Sometimes such reactions are absent in the patient with chronic organic pain.) Palpation, percussion, and auscultation may not reveal expected associated signs. Psychosocial assessment may reveal a patient who’s angry with health care professionals because they’ve failed to relieve her pain.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Complex regional pain syndrome: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Patients usually report severe and constant pain. The affected area may have altered blood flow, feeling either warm or cool to the touch, with discooration, sweating, or swelling. In time, skin, hair, and nail changes may occur along with impaired mobility and muscle wasting, especially if treatment is delayed.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome:

NINDS Restless Legs Syndrome Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Individuals affected with the disorder describe the sensations as pulling, drawing, crawling, wormy, boring, tingling, pins and needles, prickly, and sometimes painful sensations that are usually accompanied by an overwhelming urge to move the legs. Sudden muscle jerks may also occur. Movement provides temporary relief from the discomfort. In rare cases, the arms may also be affected. Symptoms may interfere with sleep onset (sleep onset insomnia). (Source: excerpt from NINDS Restless Legs Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

Restless Legs Syndrome: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder in which a person experiences unpleasant sensations in the legs described as creeping, crawling, tingling, pulling, or painful. These sensations usually occur in the calf area but may be felt anywhere from the thigh to the ankle. One or both legs may be affected; for some people, the sensations are also felt in the arms. These sensations occur when the person with RLS lies down or sits for prolonged periods of time, such as at a desk, riding in a car, or watching a movie. People with RLS describe an irresistible urge to move the legs when the sensations occur. Usually, moving the legs, walking, rubbing or massaging the legs, or doing knee bends can bring relief, at least briefly.

RLS symptoms worsen during periods of relaxation and decreased activity. RLS symptoms also tend to follow a set daily cycle, with the evening and night hours being more troublesome for RLS sufferers than the morning hours. The severity of symptoms varies from night to night and over the years as well. For some individuals, there may be periods when RLS does not cause problems, but the symptoms usually return. Other people may experience severe symptoms daily. (Source: excerpt from Restless Legs Syndrome: NWHIC)

Restless Legs Syndrome: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Some common symptoms of RLS include:

• Unpleasant sensations in the legs (sometimes the arms as well), often described as creeping, crawling, tingling, pulling, or painful;

• Leg sensations are relieved by walking, stretching, knee bends, massage, or hot or cold baths;

• Leg discomfort occurs when lying down or sitting for prolonged periods of time;

• The symptoms are worse in the evening and during the night.

Other possible characteristics involuntary leg (and occasionally arm) movements while asleep difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; sleepiness or fatigue during the daytime; cause of the leg discomfort not detected by medical tests; and family members with similar symptoms. (Source: excerpt from Restless Legs Syndrome: NWHIC)

Restless Legs Syndrome as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions

When considering symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome, it is also important to consider Restless Legs Syndrome as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Restless Legs Syndrome may cause:

• Involuntary muscular movements
• Myoclonus
• Sleep disturbance

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Restless Legs Syndrome
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Restless Legs Syndrome
• How serious is Restless Legs Syndrome?
• More about Restless Legs Syndrome
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome. This signs and symptoms information for Restless Legs Syndrome has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Restless Legs Syndrome signs or Restless Legs Syndrome symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Restless Legs Syndrome symptoms.

 » Next page: Diagnostic Tests for Restless Legs Syndrome

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