If you have been diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), the odds are that you have experienced the sensation of pins and needles in your legs or arms, itchiness, or a creepy-crawling feeling. Your legs or arms may feel heavy and fatigued. You might experience an urgent need to move your legs and keep them moving when sitting still or laying down.
They just feel restless. It may worsen when you try to sleep. While these are all documented symptoms associated with RLS, they can also be associated with varicose veins and venous insufficiency. A call to vein clinic in Orlando, Florida Vein Care, should be the next step in exploring all underlying causes and potential solutions to this uncomfortable syndrome.
RLS affects approximately 10% of the population in the United States, and it occurs statistically more in women than men. Early onset has been observed in some patients, but usually middle age to older people experience the most severe symptoms. There is no definitive way to diagnosis RLS although there is suggestion that it may in part be hereditary. Patients are diagnosed based on the symptoms they experience and family history of the condition.
There are suggested treatments such as the use of ice and heat, massage, warm baths, and even increased sleep periods, all of which are moderately successful depending on the severity of the symptoms. Prescription medications are available to assist in the management of RLS, but, to date there is no cure. There is, however, evidence which suggests that some RLS patients have venous insufficiency that is either the underlying cause of the RLS or at least a contributor to the symptoms they experience.
It is strongly recommended by Dr. Bragg and the staff at Florida Vein Care Center that patients who have been diagnosed with RLS make an appointment to see a vein care specialist and have a venous Doppler scan performed. A Doppler scan is a completely non-invasive procedure that is used to observe blood flow in your veins. If venous insufficiency is diagnosed, then a plan of care can be discussed and implemented to permanently resolve the insufficiency.
Putting an end to the venous issues may alleviate many of the symptoms experienced with Restless Leg Syndrome. Some patients have reported all of their RLS symptoms have been completely eliminated following restoration of normal blood flow in their veins. Please call 407-805-8989 for an appointment with our vein clinic in Orlando today.