What is Restless Legs Syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects 10-15% of the general population. Patients describe an irresistible urge to move their legs that is relieved by walking, pacing the floors or stretching their legs.

Universally, symptoms are precipitated by sitting, lying down, or resting for prolonged periods of time and they generally worsen with nightfall.

Those who suffer form RLS find ordinary activities, such as traveling by car, airplane, or sitting in theaters, almost impossible because their legs simply won’t allow them to sit still.

RLS can make sleeping very difficult, leading to insomnia, fatigue, chronic sleep deprivation, and often has a severe negative impact on quality of life.

RLS can begin at any age including infancy but is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 60. Symptoms almost invariably progress with age unless treated.

What is the Relationship between abnormal veins and RLS?

It is widely recognized that superficial venous insufficiency (varicose vein disease) is a common secondary cause of RLS symptoms.

Healthy veins return blood to the heart and lungs to be re-oxygenated. Normal veins have valves that, along with calf muscle contractions, direct blood upward against gravity. When these valves fail, blood flows backward (reflux), toward the feet and causes blood to pool and stagnate in the veins. This can lead to buildup of toxic metabolic waste which in turn can cause aching, throbbing, cramping, fatigue, and symptoms of restless legs syndrome.

Treating these abnormal veins results in improvement or complete resolution of RLS in 80-98% of patients. Many patients with venous reflux have visible, large varicose veins and/or smaller spider veins. However, many others have no visible evidence of varicose veins. For this reasons, all patients with Restless Leg Syndrome should have their legs evaluated by a trained vein specialist.

Treatment of varicose veins is safe, easy, and relatively painless. Closure of the abnormal veins using EVLT (endovenous laser treatment) or sclerotherapy will improve the circulatory health of affected legs resulting in dramatic improvement in restless legs syndrome, aching, leg fatigue and swelling. It also reduces the risk of more serious medical problems such as phlebitis (inflammation of the vein), leg ulcers, deep vein thrombosis (blood clots), and even stroke in some patients.

Before you resign yourself to a lifetime of medication, it is important to know that there may be a simple solution to resolving your restless legs and sleepless nights.

Restless legs syndrome is common in patients with varicose and spider vein disorders and responds frequently and rapidly to treatment of abnormal veins.

Schedule a consultation with our Physician today by calling
The Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center @ (850)233-0264

You are not alone. Unattractive leg veins plague more than 80 million Americans both female and male.