Mathias Busekist
A common condition could be the reason for you restless nights.
When Karla Dzienkowski’s 11-year-old daughter began waking her at night, unable to sleep due to stabbing leg pain relieved only by walking, the family was puzzled. However, soon after she also became cranky and exhausted, and even fell asleep on a bench during a family trip – and now the family knew something was wrong.
And right they were, even though it took them three years to get a diagnosis. The little girl had restless legs syndrome (RLS). Now a nurse and executive director of the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, Dzienkowski says too many people, and even doctors, don’t recognize or properly treat the condition.
RLS is a neurological disorder marked by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often triggered by uncomfortable sensations like tingling, crawling, or throbbing. Dr. John Winkelman of Massachusetts General Hospital explains that symptoms strike during rest, especially at night, and are temporarily relieved by movement.
Because it disrupts sleep, RLS is classified as a sleep disorder. In severe cases, symptoms can occur nightly and delay sleep by hours.
RLS often runs in families and is linked to low iron levels. Those most at risk include people who are pregnant, menstruating, anemic, on dialysis, vegetarian, or taking SSRI antidepressants. It’s about twice as common in women and more prevalent with age – but children can get it too.
Treatment starts with addressing contributing factors like alcohol, certain medications, and sugar intake. Iron supplementation can be effective, even if levels are only borderline low.
Dzienkowski recommends a “bag of tricks” for symptom relief: warm or cold packs, massage, short walks, or brain-engaging activities like puzzles.
If symptoms persist, medications such as gabapentin or pregabalin may help. Dopamine agonists are now used less frequently due to potential long-term side effects, while opioids are reserved for the most severe cases.