RLS Treatment: Stopping the Movement

There are a lot of things that can make us nervous, and create nervous twitches, but when we have to move our bodies to stop pain or discomfort that is another story. RLS, or restless leg syndrome is one example of this, and finding the right RLS treatment to help stop your moving legs is a good choice. Before consider what RLS treatment is right for you, it is probably best to first know what causes this disorder. RLS or restless leg syndrome is a disorder in which irritating, burning or crawling sensations are felt within the legs. This is often experienced when the body is as rest, and thus can cause mild to extreme discomfort, even pain. Movement of the legs can create relief to the sufferer, but the relief is only temporary. There is not a distinct cause for restless leg syndrome, or RLS. For the most part, it is usually a symptom of an existing disorder such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, anemia or a neurological disorder. Because RLS is aggravated at night, most suffers experience sleep deprivation as a result, which can impede performance in daily activities, as well as affect work and relationships.

Treatment for RLS

RLS treatment does not come in one form only. Because the reasons for this disorder are still largely unknown, depending upon the severity of your restless legs, doctors will prescribe different methods for different levels. For mild to moderate irritation, your physician will recommend a change in lifestyle; cutting back on caffeine, smoking and alcohol consumption will help to fade the RLS symptoms. Also, a more practical form of RLS treatment is just more exercise, better sleep patterns and taking daily supplements. Most people have found that this form of RLS treatment has helped.

For severe RLS, physicians will usually prescribe a low dosage of a depressant such as benzodiazepines or anticonvulsants. Ropinorole is the only approved drug RLS treatment by the FDA. The side effects of these may vary, and what works for some may not work for others. In the end, the best way to find a good RLS treatment that will work for you is to consult your physician. What may seem like restless legs could be a sign of a disease and your physician will need to determine that through testing and diagnoses. He will be able to help guide you through your RLS treatment.