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Restless leg syndrome symptoms and treatments

If you feel a need to move your legs without your control, you’re not alone.

Restless legs syndrome is a neurological disorder impacting three percent of adults that causes an urge to move your legs to avoid sensations like aches and tingling. The disorder is more active at night and can impact sleep.

“Some patients can feel hard to describe their sensations, and so they just say, hey, I need to move, I have really a bad urge to move, I need to move my legs, and it’s not a involuntary movements of the leg.”

Dr. Elias Karroum, UVA Health neurologist and specialist in restless leg syndrome

Risk factors for restless legs include genetics, kidney disease, pregnancy, and autoimmune disorders.

There is no cure for the syndrome, but it is treatable. iron infusions, seizure medications like gabapentin, and dopamine agonists are common treatments. For more severe cases low doses of opiates are also an option.


About the Author
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Char Morrison joined the WSLS team as a Content Gatherer in fall 2024.