Symptoms & Diagnosis

RLS is perhaps the most common condition you have never heard of, affecting more people than even type 2 diabetes. Up to 7-8% of the population has this neurological condition with 2–3% experiencing severe symptoms that affect their quality of life and require pharmaceutical treatment to manage their symptoms.

These five essential features must be present for a correct diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS):

• You have a strong urge to move your legs (sometimes arms and trunk), usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs.
• Your symptoms begin or become worse when you are resting or inactive, such as when lying down or sitting.
• Your symptoms get better when you move, such as when you walk or stretch, at least as long as the activity continues.
• Your symptoms are worse in the evening or night than during the day, or only occur in the evening or nighttime hours.
• Your symptoms are not solely accounted for by another condition such as leg cramps, positional discomfort, leg swelling or arthritis. RLS often causes difficulty in falling or staying asleep, one of the chief complaints of the disease. Many people who have RLS also have periodic limb movements (PLMs) - jerking of the arms or legs that is often associated with sleep disruption.

Remember, if you have RLS, you are not alone!

Your doctor should:

• Listen to a description of your symptoms and complete a diagnostic interview checking for symptoms listed under the essential criteria.
• Review your medical history.
• Rule out conditions that are often confused with RLS.

Your doctor might:

• Check your iron (ferritin) levels.
• Ask you to stay overnight in a sleep study lab to determine other causes of your sleep disruption.

To better serve our members, the Foundation maintains a directory of healthcare providers who have experience and knowledge in the treatment of RLS.

You can locate a provider in your area below. If you do not find a doctor in your area, try to broaden your search criteria or search by state. It is not necessary to enter a city to search.