Restless leg syndrome affects about 5% of people. Most of the patients report  a desire to move their legs, restlessness and worsening of symptoms at rest and a relief with walking and the symptoms are worse at night. Patient usually described a sensation as crawling, creeping, tingling, cramping, pulling, pain or electric tension, or discomfort or itching in their legs. Some patients may feel the sensation in their arms as well. These patients may have difficulty sitting for a prolonged ride in a car or plane, watching television and sitting in movie theatre without getting up and walking to relieve the abnormal feelings in their legs.

The exact cause of restless leg syndrome is not known but in some cases it could be inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Symptoms of RLS could occur secondary to other conditions like polyneuropathy, renal failure, iron deficiency and pregnancy.

Patients with Restless Leg Syndrome may have a rapid jerking of their arms or legs when they are sleeping; this is called PLMS or periodic limb movements of sleep. Their spouses usually report these patients have kicking movements of legs when they are sleeping, these may be irregular and random. The incidence of this condition increases with age.

DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis is clinical by history. The periodic limb movements of sleep could be diagnosed with a sleep study.

TREATMENT: The iron deficiency , polyneuropathy, electrolyte abnormalities, renal insufficiency , degenerative disc disease of spine and thyroid dysfunction should be ruled out in these patients. The  treatment include Dopamine agonists such as pramipexole, ropinarole, levodopa,  gabapentin and opioids medications.