
Some people are troubled by an uncomfortable sensation in their legs, difficult to describe, but often occurring around bedtime and preventing them from falling asleep because the only way to ease the discomfort in their legs is to move. This disorder can affect the arms too, but most often just the legs. Sometimes people find that these symptoms are worse when they do not maintain adequate iron levels in their diet. Other people experience restless legs due to underlying diabetes or neuropathy. Medication and substance side effects are always important to consider, including nicotine, alcohol, antidepressants and antihistamines. We try to identify if simple lifestyle changes can help, but some patients need to pursue medications. A thorough evaluation is needed for this diagnosis. Sleep testing is not typically needed.
