End Fatigue

Restless Leg Syndrome

People with restless leg syndrome continually move their legs while sleeping. Although some people may have a disagreeable leg sensation and sense of restlessness, it is not uncommon for only your bed partner to be aware that your legs are kicking much of the night or are constantly moving. Although the cause of RLS is not clear, it can be aggravated by iron and other nutritional deficiencies, hypothyroidism, and low blood sugars while sleeping. If you have daytime fatigue and your blankets are scattered around when you wake up or your bed partner notes that your legs move a lot during the night, restless leg syndrome may well be a problem for you. Although a sleep study can make the diagnosis, it usually runs approximately $2,000 and you may simply choose to videotape yourself for an hour or two while sleeping, instead, to see if this is a problem.

There are both natural and prescription approaches to treatment. Natural remedies focus on diet and nutritional supplementation. Avoiding caffeine is important. Because RLS may be associated with hypoglycemia, eating a sugar-free, high-protein diet with a protein snack at night may be helpful. In addition, iron, vitamin C, tryptophan, and folic acid may also be helpful. In addition, Ambien, Neurontin, and Klonopin are medications that are highly effective in the treatment of RLS. I tell patients to adjust the dose to not only get adequate sleep, but to also keep the bedcovers in place and to avoid kicking their partners.