Could this be restless legs syndrome? - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Could this be restless legs syndrome?

LuckyPanda1 profile image
10 Replies

Hello people of this forum,

I don't wish to bother you but I haven't had to deal with this before so I don't know who to turn to. Yesterday I went to my doctor and told him that my hamstrings felt strange. I didn't know how to describe the sensation so I just told him that they felt irritated if that makes sense. I also told him that it seems to happen at random and that a few nights ago it kept me awake for a while . After some thinking he told me that it could be rls but he can't say for sure and to come back if the problem persists for more than a week. After coming home I googled what rls was all about and I dont think my symptoms quite match up.

1. It says that the main symptom of rls is an unstopable urge to move that can be accompanied by strange sensations that have been described as crawling,creeping,electricity, burning etc. I don't think I have an urge to move or do whatever with my legs really and the feeling doesn't feel like any of the descriptions.

2. It says that its most prevalent at night. Mine seems to come at random.

3.It is relieved by movement and worsens at times of discomfort. I think that my symptoms may fit this criteria as I usually don't notice it if I am walking but after stopping it becomes noticeable.

What should I do if this persists? Are there any other conditions that mimic rls?

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LuckyPanda1 profile image
LuckyPanda1
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10 Replies

It's no bother!

There are actually five criteria for the diagnosis of RLS.

The principal defining criteria is the urge to move. All the other criteria all revolve around that.

Simply put the criteria are

You have an urge to move whether accompanied by sensations or not.

The urge is worsened when relaxing, sitting or lying down.

The urge is relieved by moving.

The urge is worst at night.

The urge cannot be explained by anything else.

In which case, at least on the face of it, since you say you don't have the urge to move, then you don't have RLS.

There are conditions that mimic RLS, but they usually involve some degree of restlessness.

Although loss of sleep isn't mentioned in the criteria, it's one of the things people with RLS complain of. However, this is mainly because the urge to move/sensations occur when you're lying down to try to sleep thus preventing you.

Unfortunately, I'm not really in any position to offer any alternative explanation for your symptoms. You'll need to discuss your symptoms with your DR again. Think about ALL the symptoms you're experiencing at this time, not just your legs and also what else is happening in your life generally as there may be information in this which you might not see yourself as relevant.

Note also that sensations that are experienced in one part of the body, may actually originate in another.

LuckyPanda1 profile image
LuckyPanda1 in reply to

Thank you for the response. I would like to ask another question if you don't mind. From what i understand from the internet this feeling of restlessness is unmistakable right? If someone had rls they'd instinctualy try to move their legs in a way right?

in reply to LuckyPanda1

I find it quite difficult to answer that.

You can feel "restless" for other reasons, that might not be RLS so it's not really accurate to say the restlessness of RLS is distinctive or unmistakable. It's all five criteria added together that make up RLS, not just the urge to move on it's own.

Also, it's not as if you have to try to move, you have to actually try NOT to move. It's similar to holding your breath.

In my case, and many others also mention this, I very rarely experience the urge to move and when I do it only lasts briefly. Quite often when I have an "episode" the first thing I know is my legs move of their own accord, completely involuntarily. I call this "twitching".

If I deliberately try to stop them moving, after a few seconds they jerk and may go into spasm. I can't stop it.

You will find RLS sufferers often say their symptoms "kick in", a pun, because it can literally be like that.

If you find it diffcult to describe the sensation in your legs see if any of the following words help - (use all that apply!)

Aching

Ants

Asleep

Biting

Burning

Buzzing

Chilling

Cold

Constant

Cool

Creepy

Crawling

Creepy-crawly

Electric current

Fiery

Flickering

Fluttering

Freezing

Funny bone

Gnawing

Hot

Humming

Hurting

Ice bolt

Ice cold

Insects

Insensitive

Itching

Nettle

Nipping

Numb

Pins and needles

Pressure

Pricking

Prickling

Pulsating

Quivering

Rasping

Rushing

Scalding

Scorching

Senseless

Sensitive

Sharp

Shivering

Shooting

Spasm

Stabbing

Stinging

Tickling

Tingling

Thrilling

Tension

Throbbing

Tremor

Vibrating

Warm

Water current

LuckyPanda1 profile image
LuckyPanda1 in reply to

Thanks for the extensive response. I don't think that my legs feel restless in the way you describe it and I dont think that any of the words fit exactly.

in reply to LuckyPanda1

OK, I tried! :-)

Munroist profile image
Munroist in reply to

I think that comparison to holding your breath is a good one which I hadn’t heard before. If feels like maybe you can resist a bit longer but you know that ultimately you will have to give in and for me these is a similar physical squirming sensation.

Runedrun26 profile image
Runedrun26 in reply to

Bravo manerva well said thank you from runedrun.

Rfranklin38 profile image
Rfranklin38 in reply to LuckyPanda1

How about seizures of the legs? That is how I describe them.

carolynashlee profile image
carolynashlee

It sounds like internal tremor

Runedrun26 profile image
Runedrun26

Keep consulting with your doctor.

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