Do you often find it hard to rest? If you feel an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, sometimes accompanied by tingling, crawling, or aching sensations, you could be experiencing what is called restless leg syndrome (RLS).
While it can be bothersome at the very least, if it interferes with your ability to sleep at night, it’s worth investigating what’s causing your symptoms.
Our experts at Goldman Vein Institute, Alexander Goldman, MD, RVT, RPVI, and Saluja Varghese-Goldman, MD, RVT, RPVI, treat restless leg syndrome on a regular basis, especially when it’s caused by issues with the vascular system. Read on to learn more about the causes of restless leg syndrome and why it worsens at night.
During the day, you’re more likely to be on the go, helping blood circulate through your legs. When you’re walking and even standing, your circulatory system works more efficiently.
At night, when you lie down, the calf muscles that help with circulation are also at rest. If your veins are less efficient at returning blood upward when they aren’t getting help from muscle movement and gravity, you may experience pressure and discomfort in your legs.
One possible reason restless leg symptoms may worsen at night is chronic venous insufficiency. In people with weakened vein valves, blood can pool in the legs instead of flowing efficiently back to the heart, leading to discomfort, heaviness, aching, or restless sensations that tend to become more noticeable during periods of rest.
Signs that circulation may be playing a role include:
In these cases, what feels like “restlessness” may actually be a combination of pressure, heaviness, and poor circulation that can sometimes improve when your legs are elevated or when you wear compression socks.
Fortunately, if blood flow is the issue, a duplex ultrasound can easily evaluate valve function and blood flow.
Not all restless leg symptoms are caused by vein issues. Sometimes, the symptoms may be caused by a neurological condition.
Neurological conditions often lead to restless leg syndrome that isn’t accompanied by aching or discomfort. Instead, it’s linked to an urge to move your legs, and the urge is relieved by movement. Some antidepressants may also increase your risk, as increased serotonin activity can trigger symptoms.
Iron deficiency can also trigger symptoms, as it disrupts dopamine production in the brain, a neurotransmitter known to help control movement.
Restless legs at night are often the result of multiple overlapping factors, but in the hands of the right medical providers, those factors can be identified and managed so you can enjoy restful sleep.
If you’re experiencing symptoms and want to get to the root of the issue, contact us online or by phone today to schedule an appointment at our offices in Jupiter or Wellington, Florida.
