Diagnosing Restless Legs Syndrome (or RLS)

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a disorder most commonly found in Western Society that is though to be associated with lack of certain minerals in the body (particularly deficiency of iron and folate) or lack of iron receptors in the body. RLS is likely to be inherited and is more likely to affect women and pregnant women than men. Diagnosing the disorder is vital so that appropriate treatment can be administered, as though the disorder is not painful, the symptoms can create a negative impact on the life of the sufferer through discomfort, restlessness and inability to relax.

Diagnosis of Restless Legs Syndrome

The diagnosis of RLS is based on a medical and neurological examination as well as identifying key symptoms as described by the sufferer and analysis of the sufferers’ history. The examiner will usually look for indicators that lean towards the disorder such as: an uncontrollable desire to move the limbs (particularly the legs), motor restlessness, symptoms of the restlessness worsening during rest (such as lying down or sitting) with at least partial and temporary relief through activity, and the worsening of symptoms during the evening and/or night.

There are other factors that physicians may consider when diagnosing RLS, including: difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep, involuntary movement of the legs (or arms) that occurs whilst at rest or when sleeping, a family history of the disorder, the absence of associated neurological findings evident through a complete neurological evaluation, or the noticing of the progression of the disease with advancing age.

Tests For Diagnosing RLS

As there are a number of causes believed to cause RLS, diagnosing the disorder through analysis of symptoms and history is generally the most effective way of diagnosing the disease. However, testing can also be beneficial in trying to distinguish the cause or severity of the disease. Testing for the level of ferritin, for example, can indicate the level of iron in the body to determine if the disorder is diet related.

Another test to see if PLMS is present can indicate that the patient is in fact suffering from RLS, and if it is a severe case. This is done through monitoring the patient’s sleep leg activity during sleep for several nights. The frequency of periodic limb movements (also known as PLMS) is recorded, and from this, a specialized test known as polysomnogram episodes of PLMS can be analyzed. PLMS is a strong indicator that RLS is present, as it is unlikely that someone can suffer from PLMS without suffering from RLS as well. PLMS also indicates a severe case of RLS in the patient.

Could You be Affected?

If you feel that you may be suffering from Restless Legs Syndrome, the best thing to do is to see your family doctor. Or, to find out more, you can look up the RLS website at www.rls.org/. Here you can view a complete list of symptoms, information on treating the disease, and contacts for seeking help should you suffer from the disorder.