Restless Leg Syndrome?....Help!

PLMD = Periodic Leg Movement Disorder. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a disorder involving the motor neurons that results in repetitive leg jerks during sleep. During a sleep study, PLMD is generally noted in stage 2 sleep showing as leg movement arousals, however hypnic jerks occur at sleep onset or stage 1 sleep. hypnic jerk - also called sleep starts; the sensation of falling and then a physical jerk into wakefulness, usually at sleep onset or during Stage 1 sleep. Hypnic jerk is usually a full body jerk. PLMD and RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome) are similar in that they are both neurological disorders and treated with the same class of medications, however PLMD occurs during sleep where as RLS symptoms manifest during non-sleep hours, usually when at rest and disrupt sleep onset. The PLM index measures the number of events per hour of sleep. Mild-between 5 and 25 events per hour Moderate -between 25 and 50 events per hour and Severe - greater than 50 events per hour. The PLM arousal-index measures the number of arousals resulting from limb movements. Greater than 25 arousals per hour is considered severe. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common, under diagnosed, and treatable condition. A neurologic movement disorder, RLS is often associated with a sleep complaint. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a disorder involving the sensory neurons that results in a variety of leg sensations (creeping, crawling, tingling or itching) that interfere with sleep onset and produce insomnia in affected individuals. Patients with RLS can suffer an almost irresistible urge to move the legs, usually due to disagreeable leg sensations that are worse during inactivity and often interfere with sleep. Direct results of RLS include discomfort, sleep disturbances and fatigue. Disrupted sleep and an inability to tolerate sedentary activities can lead to job loss, a compromised ability to enjoy life and problems with relationships. The above is from my Talk about Sleep chat information. Now if anyone wants to chat. I'm online every Monday night from 9 to 11 PM. www.talkaboutsleep.com . Jeanne

Hi Theresa, It seems a lot of us has this RLS. I also have RLS, I sometimes get it during the day if I am just sitting around. I also get muscle fatigue in the evenings and sometime it's hard to tell the difference. It get's to the point that I have to go to bed and relax myself before it will stop. If it's RLS then I will not fall asleep at least until 3:00am. I just started on meds for it (Requip). You cannot go without sleep for any period of time so take the meds. I also take a muscle relaxer to relieve the muscle fatigue. You have to know if you have RLS or muscle fatigue. Their both a pain in the legs...........hahaha