More common than many people know
More differentiated than even many health care professionals know
Basic criteria in three steps:
Restlessness when you try to rest
You feel a strong and almost irresistible urge to move your limbs.Instant relief when you walk
Your discomfort and restlessness does almost instantly disappear when you move.Instant return of restlessness
Your discomfort and restlessness return almost instantly when you try to go back to rest.
Big individual differences
A minor problem for some. A severe problem for others; serious sleep disorders and problems sitting still in different situations. Pain can be associated. Both symptoms and mechanisms can be different.
Different patients react differently to different treatments. Lifestyle changes and some food supplements can be effective. Addition of iron can be helpful. When drugs are needed, dopamine agonists, gabapentinoids or/and opioids can be used, but risks and possible side effects must be considered.
