Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that triggers uncomfortable sensations in your leg or legs. These triggers can occur at any time when you aren’t physically active but are most noticeable at night when you’re trying to rest. To make matters worse, the discomfort doesn’t subside until you move your legs, giving the syndrome its name.
According to the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, as many as twelve million Americans live with RLS every day. Unfortunately, RLS can be difficult to diagnose despite its prevalence, with physicians relying on patients to report symptoms to detect it. However, just because it’s challenging to recognize doesn’t mean it’s hard to treat. You can reliably treat RLS at home with a simple pair of compression socks.
What Causes RLS?
While the medical community has conducted a great deal of research into the source of RLS, no tell-tale cause has been proven for sure. One leading theory is that a dopamine imbalance could be the culprit. Others have proposed that a build-up or lack of folic acid could cause involuntary muscle movements.
However, it has been shown that restless leg syndrome is prevalent in pregnant women and thought to result from hormonal changes. In these cases, RLS is observed to end after childbirth in most cases. Restless leg syndrome can also be hereditary, primarily when it occurs in a younger person.
Treatments for Restless Leg Syndrome
The strange sensations that RLS causes usually don’t occur while you’re active. Instead, they strike when you’re resting, forcing you to move your legs to curb the bizarre feeling. RLS attacks are most common at night when you’re trying to sleep. Even though RLS isn’t harmful itself, its disruption to your sleep cycle can be detrimental to your physical and mental health.
Restless leg syndrome treatment comes in many forms, including medication. However, there are many conservative vein treatments you can perform at home to treat symptoms without disrupting your lifestyle. One such treatment is wearing compression socks.
What Are Compression Socks?
Compression socks are specially made footwear that applies extra pressure evenly throughout your lower leg. They can be found and bought in stores or be recommended (and even provided) by physicians. Compression socks are sold in ranges with increasing pressure and can successfully treat several ailments, including poor circulation.
Compression socks rank high among restless leg syndrome treatments because of how simple they are. You wear them like you would your regular socks. The applied pressure serves to offset the discomfort caused by RLS. However, it’s a gentle squeeze that itself shouldn’t make you uncomfortable. If it does, you can try a pair with a lower pressure range. Patients who find the right fit often report that they don’t even notice the extra pressure after a short while.
Here is how compression stockings can help with this condition:
- Enhanced Blood Flow: RLS symptoms are often exacerbated by poor circulation in the legs. Compression stockings exert pressure on the veins, helping to push blood upward towards the heart more efficiently. This can alleviate some of the discomfort associated with RLS.
- Reduced Swelling: Many individuals with RLS experience swelling in their legs, which can intensify symptoms. Compression stockings can help reduce this swelling by preventing the pooling of blood in the lower extremities.
- Minimized Restlessness: RLS is characterized by an urge to move the legs to relieve unpleasant sensations. Improved circulation from compression stockings can help reduce this restlessness and the need for constant leg movement.
- Improved Sleep: One of the primary goals in managing RLS is improving sleep quality. Compression stockings can help individuals with RLS achieve a more restful sleep by reducing discomfort and minimizing nighttime awakenings.
Other treatments for restless leg syndrome range from home treatments like massage to prescription medication. Compression socks are a great option because they don’t require wear and carry no side effects. Regardless of what may be causing your RLS, compression socks are a viable option for finding relief.
Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment Near Me
While compression socks have worked for many patients with RLS, they may not work for you. Should you discover that to be the case, let Bass Vein Center help you. If you want professional, personal help exploring potential treatments for restless leg syndrome, our staff at the Bass Vein Center can guide you through the options and make recommendations based on your medical history. Visit our office today or contact us to schedule your first appointment.
FAQs
Symptom Relief: Many individuals experience a reduction in the severity and frequency of RLS symptoms with regular use of compression socks, particularly during times typically associated with worse symptoms, like the evening or overnight.
How many hours do you wear compression stockings? ›
Taking care of your compression socks
You can wear your compression socks all day by putting them on when getting dressed in the morning, and take them off before bed (unless your doctor advises otherwise).
What is the latest help for restless legs? ›
Medicines that increase dopamine in the brain.
Rotigotine (Neupro), pramipexole (Mirapex ER) and ropinirole are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe RLS . Short-term side effects of these medicines are usually mild and include nausea, lightheadedness and fatigue.
How to stop restless legs immediately in bed? ›
During an episode of restless legs syndrome, the following measures may help relieve your symptoms: massaging your legs. taking a hot bath in the evening. applying a hot compress to your leg muscles.
What makes restless leg syndrome worse? ›
Certain medications may aggravate your RLS symptoms, such as some anti-nausea drugs, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants that increase serotonin, and cold and allergy medications that contain older antihistamines.
How do you reset restless legs? ›
Up-to-Date
Home remedies like massage, heat, and exercise can relieve symptoms of RLS. If lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques before bed do not alleviate restlessness, talk to your doctor. Devices that provide compression or vibration can reduce RLS discomfort.
Is there a downside to wearing compression socks? ›
Is there a downside to wearing compression socks? Compression stockings are generally safe but can cause you pain or even cut off your circulation if you don't wear the proper size. The pressure also can cause minor bruising or skin ulcers, and tightly fitting socks also can cause dry skin, redness, and itching.
Is it OK to leave compression stockings on overnight? ›
“There is no benefit to wearing compression stockings to bed — when the leg is flat in bed, gravity does not affect blood flow,” Kim said. “That being said, it doesn't hurt to wear them to bed if you please. Just keep in mind that wearing them in bed doesn't mean you don't have to wear them during the daytime.
Can I skip a day of wearing compression stockings? ›
Be sure to wear the stockings as prescribed, whether putting them on as soon as possible in the morning and wearing them until bedtime, or wearing them for the entire day and night. If you forget to wear them, your legs may swell, making it difficult or impossible to get the stockings on again.
What drink helps restless legs? ›
Drinking a 6-ounce glass of tonic water each night before bed might calm your restless legs. Tonic water contains quinine, which stops repeated muscle contractions. Some people say even a sip or two before bed helps.
Conclusion. Taking magnesium and vitamin B6 supplements can reduce the severity of symptoms of RLS/WED patients and improve their sleep quality.
What is the strongest medication for restless leg syndrome? ›
Dopamine agonists: These are most often the first medicines used to treat RLS. These drugs, including pramipexole (Mirapex), rotigotine (Neupro), and ropinirole (Requip), act like the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Side effects include daytime sleepiness, nausea, and lightheadedness.
What food calms restless legs? ›
Diet for Restless Leg Syndrome
Incorporate a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet with an emphasis on dark leafy greens. Eat a variety of iron-rich foods like lean meat. Include seeds, tree nuts, and legumes in your diet. Avoid processed foods, sugar, and fried foods that may make you gain weight.
What is the best position to sleep with restless legs? ›
But you can also sleep on your side; just add a pillow between your legs from the knees to the thighs for extra support and improved circulation. You can also try elevating your legs to a 45-degree angle to better increase blood flow to your legs and make sleeping more comfortable.
Do bananas help with restless leg syndrome? ›
Bananas contain potassium and magnesium, two nutrients that play a role in muscle contraction, which may help restless legs syndrome, but consuming one food cannot cure an ailment.
Is it good to sleep with compression stockings on? ›
Should you sleep with compression stockings? For over-the-counter compression socks, there's often no benefit to wearing them overnight. Taking them off overnight gives your skin a break to avoid damage. If you have prescribed compression stockings for medical use, your doctor may tell you to wear them overnight.
Is restless leg syndrome bad circulation? ›
In the context of RLS, it is thought to be caused by a combination of poor circulation and nerve damage. The skin on the legs can become discolored in people with poor circulation. This is because the blood vessels in the skin are not getting enough oxygen, which can cause the skin to turn red, blue, or purple.
Should I elevate my legs with restless leg syndrome? ›
Elevation: Elevate your legs to encourage blood flow back to the heart, which can help relieve symptoms caused by circulatory issues.
Are leg compression massagers good for restless leg syndrome? ›
One study noted that the use of the compression therapy system resulted in a reduction of RLS symptoms in 90% of patients. Typically, patients wear the compression sleeves for an hour before bed, and sometimes while going to sleep if desired.
