By Erika Manis. MD
Sleep Medicine

Do you experience an urge to move your legs that is worse or only present at night, that starts when inactive or still and is better with movement? If so, you may have restless leg syndrome (RLS). 

It is a clinical diagnosis, meaning there is no test besides endorsing these symptoms. The sensation can be hard to describe (“an itch you can’t scratch,” “ants in your pants,” “heebie-jeebies in your legs”) but is not typically considered painful. It can occur intermittently or be chronic and run in families. Individuals with RLS may have trouble going to sleep due to the need to pace or stretch their legs at night or difficulty with prolonged commutes by car or plane. It may be commonly comorbid in patients with chronic kidney disease, neuropathy, or during pregnancy.