Imagine What It Feels Like To Have RLS
Imagine for a moment what it must feel like to never be able to sit or stand without feeling uncomfortable feelings in your legs that feel like creepy crawlies inside of them. You have the undeniable urge to get up and move and are unable to sit for any length of time without feeling extremely uncomfortable. You have to stay in constant motion in order to find relief from the symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Men and women are both affected by this RLS. Kids, young adults, and the elderly all are subject to experiencing the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
Individuals who suffer from RLS find that they have disrupted sleep, which can lead to daytime drowsiness that can cause havoc at work and in school.
Any activity that requires one to sit still for any length of time like you would do in a movie theatre, at your desk at work, while driving a vehicle are all activities that you find difficult to do because of the strange sensations in your legs while you are sitting. You want to get up and move but are required to be seated.
You might possibly have told your doctor about what you are experiencing only to be told that you are fine and nothing physically is wrong with you. This frustrates you to no end because you know that it is not "all in your head", you feel these sensations especially in the evening and when you are trying to sleep. You just want it to stop and do not know how to accomplish that.
You can find relief by searching for a medical professional experienced in dealing with RLS patients. Do a search online for RLS and you can find directories of physicians in most any location experienced with treating restless legs syndrome.
You will be required to have a physical examination when you go in for a medical appointment in hopes of receiving a diagnosis and treatment. You will also be asked all kinds of questions about your past medical history, any diagnoses, and any medications or supplements that you are taking. You may also be asked questions about your lifestyle, eating habits and if you smoke or drink alcohol. These questions may seem too personal, and you may be embarrassed to answer truthfully, but doing so, will help your doctor to arrive at the right conclusion.
You want to feel better, to get sleep at night and not have to deal with the constant urges to get up and move when all you want to do is rest. You want answers and most of all you want results. You need these strange sensations to stop so that you can feel normal again. They need to stop so that you can get a good night’s rest again.
After the interview and medical examination you may be sent for some laboratory tests and possibly a sleep study. The answers from the tests and study will help your doctor to give you a diagnosis.
If the diagnosis is restless legs syndrome then you will have the answer to your questions about what it is that is wrong with your legs. Now, you need to know what can be done to make it all better.
The treatment plan will be a combination of lifestyle improvements, and self-help techniques that you will be taught how to do in order to help yourself deal with the strange sensations in your limbs. You may be given a referral for physical therapy to learn exercises that can help you to deal with the sensations in your legs. Your doctor may also give you some simple relaxation techniques.
If the lifestyle improvements, therapy and techniques do not do enough to relieve your symptoms then your doctor may give you medication prescriptions. Medication is given as a last resort due to the possible side effects or possible addiction to some of them. Your doctor will guide you on dosage and what side effects to look out for.
Imagine what it feels like to have RLS and finally get relief so that you can get some sleep?
