This condition is exactly how it sounds…you develop an urge to move your legs to alleviate unpleasant sensations. It’s usually at its worse when you’re trying your best to relax – namely when you’re laying your head down for the night.
Most patients with restless leg syndrome (RLS) also experience involuntary jerking of the limbs while they sleep, referred to as periodic limb movement of sleep (PLMS). Let’s take a closer look at six signs and symptoms of RLS…
1. Uncomfortable Sensations
People with RLS are often prompted to shake or stretch their legs out to help relieve unpleasant and sometimes unusual feelings that those without the problem can’t relate to. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says these sensations “are often difficult to define” but can include aching, throbbing, itching, crawling, or “creeping.”
The source notes the same sensations can sometimes affect the arms, and in rare instances, the chest or head. The feelings can range in severity from patient to patient, from being annoying to outright painful, it adds.
