Restless leg syndrome? Our vein clinic can help
Posted: Wednesday, January 1, 2014 | Revised: December 18, 2013
Restless leg syndrome? Our vein clinic can help
More than 5 million men and women in the U.S. suffer from moderate to severe restless leg syndrome (RLS), a disorder that results in an irresistible desire to move the legs and most commonly strikes while trying to sleep or during other periods of rest. About five times that number suffer from a milder form of RLS, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Although the condition is a recognized medical disorder, many people who suffer from RLS avoid seeking medical treatment because they feel their symptoms are too minor or that they won’t be taken seriously. And because the condition is not very well understood, many physicians mistakenly attribute the symptoms to stress, depression, arthritis or that good old catchall – the “natural aging process.”
However, although the exact causes of RLS are unknown, recent research points to a possible link between RLS and venous insufficiency – which means delaying treatment or ignoring symptoms could result in more serious problems in the future.
Actually, the link between RLS and vein disease was first suggested about 70 years ago, but the association was largely ignored until recently. Now, research shows that many patients with RLS also suffer from vein disease, and treating underlying venous insufficiency through treatments like endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and sclerotherapy appears to improve or even resolve RLS symptoms.
RLS usually involves both legs and women are more commonly affected by the disorder than men. Although it can strike at any age, RLS is more common among middle-aged and older people, and if left untreated, the symptoms worsen with time. Because RLS usually occurs at night, the most common complaint is loss of sleep, causing an inability to concentrate, impaired memory or an inability to complete daily tasks at work and elsewhere. As a result, people who suffer from RLS for a prolonged period report a significant loss in quality of life that affects work and personal relationships.
Although the condition is not completely understood, RLS is typically triggered by periods of stress or or anxiety, or by prolonged periods of inactivity like a long car or airplane trip or even an evening spent sitting in a movie theatre.
The vascular surgeons at Michigan Vein Care Specialists are skilled at both diagnosing and treating a wide range of vascular disorders using state-of-the-art equipment in a modern, comfortable vein clinic. As the leading Michigan vein doctors, the surgeons at Michigan Vein Care Specialists are dedicated to creating individual care plans tailored to the unique needs of every patient and aimed at helping each patient achieve superior outcomes and lead more comfortable, more enriching lives.
If you’re one of the millions of men and women who suffer from RLS, there’s no reason to lose another night’s sleep. Treatment could be as simple as a minimally invasive procedure with little to no recovery time. To learn more about RLS or to schedule a consultation with our experienced vascular surgeon, call our office today.