When most people think of restless legs syndrome (RLS), they immediately assume it’s about having a sensation of restlessness in the legs. That is after all, what the syndrome is commonly called.

Another name for RLS is Willis-Ekbom Disease and perhaps that would alleviate some of the confusion – as RLS can be so much more than restlessness in the legs. And so much more distressing than the dismissive tone I’ve heard when RLS is mentioned.

“Restless” is an understatement

“Restless” seems like such a subtle term for the intense sensations often experienced. Descriptions vary widely – aching, burning, cramping, crawling, creeping, itching, pulling, throbbing, tingling.

For me, it’s the creepy, crawly march of the tiger beetles. Like many others I’ve anecdotally heard, the restlessness is not limited to my legs. And it is not always limited to evenings. But more significantly, I learned some years ago that pain can be associated with RLS.

To continue reading please visit:

https://restlesslegssyndrome.sleep-disorders.net/living/wrong-assumptions/

Image and links courtesy of Health Union and Restless Legs Syndrome Health Info & Community (sleep-disorders.net)