“Twitching” and Restless Legs
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME TRIGGERS. . . Note that even THIS article mistakenly lists “twitching” as an RLS symptom.
But note these triggers:
Changes in sleeping patterns
Too much caffeine or sugar
Certain antihistamines and other over-the-counter medications (including stimulants, e.g., pseudoephedrine)
Certain prescriptions such as antidepressants and anti-psychotic medications (e.g., dopamine blockers)
Easing the Discomfort of Restless Legs Syndrome
Article ID: 700909 Released: 21-Sep-2018
Source Newsroom: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
“People with restless legs syndrome (RLS) experience twitching and discomfort in the legs, usually during the evening and night time hours. “The feeling is usually accompanied by a strong urge to move your legs, to keep them active and lessen the uncomfortable sensation,” says Jacqueline Chang, MD, a pulmonologist in BIDMC's Sleep Disorders Clinic. “ . . . most describe RLS as an aching, burning, itching, crawling or tingling sensation,” she says. “This feeling only gets better when you move your legs, which can lead to other sleep-related issues.”
Exactly what causes RLS is unknown, but it is often linked to common triggers or another disease or condition.
Common triggers for RLS include:
Changes in sleeping patterns
Too much caffeine or sugar
Certain antihistamines and other over-the-counter medications
Certain prescriptions such as antidepressants and anti-psychotic medications
“If someone is suffering from a mild case of RLS, we can usually address it by making a few behavioral changes,” Chang says.
Common behavioral changes include:
Adequate sleep hours and healthy sleep habits, including going to bed at the same time every night and reducing the amount of light (natural or electronic) before bed
Avoiding caffeine and foods high in sugar
Exercising and meditating
Changing medications
“I often recommend some sort of physical or mental stimulation for RLS, like placing a hot pack to the area, massage, or even mental stimulation, like doing a crossword puzzle,” Chang says.
These articles can help:
Please go to the Encyclopedia of Polio and PPS. Look in the Index under the topics: “Sleep” and “Abnormal Movements” for more information on RLS and PLMS (Periodic Leg Movements in Sleep).